Help - Red Slime Remover Killing Reef

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ReeferGladness

New member
I think I made a huge mistake. For the past year I've had cyano in my 90gallon reef. After trying all the manual ways to remove it, I decided to try a chemical yesterday (something I've never done before).

I treated the recommended dose of Chemiclean's Red Slime Remover. Today all the cyano seems to be dying, but so are my corals!

I'm about to do a water change, add carbon, and I'll post pics soon. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY OTHER ADVICE?

Thanks in advance.
 
If you followed the directions to the "T" it's unlikely your corals are dying. This stuff has been around for many years and as long as you do exactly as it states you shouldn't have a problem. Most likely you're seeing a response to the chemical but nothing that should be long lasting or devastating.
 
Gdevine said:
If you followed the directions to the "T" it's unlikely your corals are dying. This stuff has been around for many years and as long as you do exactly as it states you shouldn't have a problem. Most likely you're seeing a response to the chemical but nothing that should be long lasting or devastating.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the optomism Gdevine. I mean no disrespect to the company that makes Chemiclean. Obviously I researched this product thoroughly, and decided to take the risk despite stories good and bad. I've just never seen my corals like this, so I'm worried.
 
A few years ago, I used chemiclean too; however, I neglected to maintain my oxygen level in the tank as instructed and within about 12 hours after treatment a lot of my corals looked bad. After correcting my error, everything eventually "perked" back up.

Last weekend I added chemiclean again and added additional oxygen via air pumps with air stones with no ill effects. So, I guess my question do you think that there is enough oxygen in your tank?
 
minnemoline said:
A few years ago, I used chemiclean too; however, I neglected to maintain my oxygen level in the tank as instructed and within about 12 hours after treatment a lot of my corals looked bad. After correcting my error, everything eventually "perked" back up.

Last weekend I added chemiclean again and added additional oxygen via air pumps with air stones with no ill effects. So, I guess my question do you think that there is enough oxygen in your tank?
Click to expand...


Great idea minnemoline! I had my skimmer off all day so maybe there is a lack of oxygen in the tank. I turned the skimmer back on and added a single airstone now. Thanks for the hint.
 
I have used it several times with my mixed tank. The second time, I failed to use an airstone and I noticed adverse affects. I'd take the cup off your skimmer and run it that way. I'd also adjust flow to get as much surface movment as you can and add some airstones.
 
bhammer said:
I have used it several times with my mixed tank. The second time, I failed to use an airstone and I noticed adverse affects. I'd take the cup off your skimmer and run it that way. I'd also adjust flow to get as much surface movment as you can and add some airstones.
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Thanks bhammer. Did you lose any corals or did they all come back?
 
I thought you said you researched it? It states to maintain oxygen level in BOLD letters right on the package. I just used this product with great results, and would use it again.
 
ReeferGladness said:
Thanks bhammer. Did you lose any corals or did they all come back?
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No I did not as I caught them looking real unhappy. Had a couple Birds nests that I thought I would loose but they eventually extended. Had a couple mushrooms that took several days to fully open again and my fish looked to be breathing more than usual for the evening.

I took an airstone right in the DT and one in the sump. I also took my skimmer airline and placed it outdoors to get as much O2 as possible.

I was prepared to run out where I work and grab an O2 bottle and feed my skimmer with it. :)
 
dcforester1 said:
I thought you said you researched it? It states to maintain oxygen level in BOLD letters right on the package. I just used this product with great results, and would use it again.
Click to expand...

I don't know about the OP, but for me it was a learning lesson to read the instructions each time you medicate. :worried2: I just forgot about that step the second time around. Now I read the directions for things that are not a normal part of husbandry....
 
Im dealing with some nasty red algae on my sand bed right now, besides the oxygen issue, does that product work well on the removal of the algae? also, does it affect other algae like chaeto?
 
Red SLime remover won't effect chaeto or macros in your tank. Cyano is not an algea, it is a bacteria. The Chemiclean stuff effects it in a different way. The oxygen part of the instructions definately is important. it makes a huge difference. I like the idea of running your skimmer without the cup. It is a great way to do it.
 
Keep in mind that while you are killing all of that bad bacteria, you are also taking out a large portion of the good bacteria. Watch for an ammonia spike and be ready with water for large changes. Also keep in mind that you are not dealing with the problem (too much nutrinets in the system fueling the growth) and that the cyano will return if you don't correct the root cause.
 
muttley000 said:
Keep in mind that while you are killing all of that bad bacteria, you are also taking out a large portion of the good bacteria. Watch for an ammonia spike and be ready with water for large changes. Also keep in mind that you are not dealing with the problem (too much nutrinets in the system fueling the growth) and that the cyano will return if you don't correct the root cause.
Click to expand...

Yeah. I have been dealing with the cyano for over a year. I would rather have not used any chemicals, but couldn't find the source of the problem. All of my parameters always look great, so the chemiclean was a last resort.

Thanks for the heads up about the ammonia spike. I'll keep an eye on my parameters and do another water change tonight.
 
dcforester1 said:
I thought you said you researched it? It states to maintain oxygen level in BOLD letters right on the package. I just used this product with great results, and would use it again.
Click to expand...

You are correct dcforester. It says to maintain oxygen level, but this seems subjective unless you have an oxygen meter (which I don't if they exist). I only had the skimmer off for about 12 hrs, but I guess that was long enough to have an adverse affect. Hopefully I don't have to use this again, but if I do, I'll make sure to add an airstone earlier.

Live and learn.
 
Here are some pics of my corals 24 hours after applying chemiclean. Previously, everything was open and happy. Perhaps they were just lacking oxygen and will spring back to life soon.

IMG_4148.JPG


IMG_4150.JPG


IMG_4153.JPG


IMG_4154.JPG


IMG_4159.JPG
 
I used this stuff twice, once before I had corals, and it worked fine.
Once when I had a ton of coral, and man, I'll never do it again.
All my corals browned out.
It took about 6months for colors to come back, some never totally came back.
This was w/ using multiple air pumps/stones.
 
Ok. I have to admit that I might have overreacted. I've done several water changes this week and 90% of my corals have come back to life now that its been a week since I treated the tank. Only the birdsnests look kind of bad. However the cyano is pretty much completely gone.

If I can change the title of this thread, I will.

Thanks to everyone who replied with their opinions and experiences. I will post pics of the coral soon.
 
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