Nuisance ID, please!

[Steve973]

I have a strange and very persistent nuisance that appears to be a bacterial film, but I am not sure what it is. It has not responded to the usual cyano treatments, and I even tried some of the popular dino treatments, and it hasn't responded to anything. For example, turning the lights out for 3 days results in no change. Chemiclean doesn't touch it. No difference with peroxide or DinoX, either. Thoughts?

 

[UNCsalt]

looks like red slime algae?

 

[Steve973]

looks like red slime algae?

I guess it's possible, but I mentioned that it is not responding to any of the cyano treatments. Wouldn't chemiclean or red slime remover have some effect?

 

[billdogg]

I vote for cyanobacteria as well. Increase flow, decrease nutrient availability and manually remove as much as you can with water changes. It will go away on it's own.

 

[Steve973]

looks like red slime algae?

I vote for cyanobacteria as well. Increase flow, decrease nutrient availability and manually remove as much as you can with water changes. It will go away on it's own.

Ok, so this seems to be the consensus. I can defer to the expertise of others. I am just curious about a few things, if you can indulge me: The color is kind of pink/beige. Have you guys seen cyano of this color? And have you seen cyano fairly unresponsive to photoperiod reduction and things like chemiclean and red slime remover?

I may get a gravel vacuum today and clean at least part of my sand bed.c That's gotta help reduce nutrients. It's tougher because I have a 20G nano, so I don't have much room to maneuver in there. I'll never use crushed coral again because it seems like quite a nutrient trap after a year or so.

 

[UNCsalt]

yes I have seen it that color as well. I would vacuum what you can and do small W/C's and like mentioned increase flow. It will gradually go away..

 

[billdogg]

I've seen it every shade from light pink to almost black.

Especially if you are using crushed coral, you should be cleaning a part of the sand bed every water change. I have been using the same Python Siphon for almost 30 years. I can't really imagine doing a water change without.