Red carpet algae on sand

[singold]

All parameters are in check, good water flow, not overfeeding, tank clean, 10k w/actinic lighting 8 hrs a day on 55 gal. Can't seems to stop red carpet agae from growing on sand. Is this something that is inevitable in saltwater tank, or is there something I am unaware of that could be causing it to grow on sand, especially in 2 areas in tank in particular?

 

[adamsaranluke]

I've got the same problem and my water is good too. I've cut feeding to almost starvation, I suck as much out as possible when I do my weekly water changes. I dont understand what I'm doing wrong. The only thing I can think of is that I dont have a RODI but I use the prime stuff and let the water sit for a day and a half with a powerhead in it before I put it in the tank.

 

[Larah]

Well it's not the RO/DI... I have RO water that I then add Prime to and then use Reef crystals... I just started having the same exact issue after 6 months of running a pristine tank...
I dunno what to do either...
I've done 40% water change over a weeks time, added Chemi-pure elite and phosban to the regimen as well as Purigen....
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!
Anyone ever used Chemi-Clean?
Or a product called "Clean water"?

 

[Larah]

Oh yeah and I've cut back feeding BIG time....
Didn't feed for 4 days straight....

 

[Larah]

Anyone???

 

[jph]

test your tank water for silicates.
test your freshly mixed salt water for silicates.


J.

 

[Larah]

Nope no silicates... I am running both Phosban and Chemi-pure Elite, so there shouldn't be any..
Plus I rinse my food a lot prior to feeding and have cut back hugely for the last week and a half...
I think for me it started with cleanignout my overflow box and some of the scunge getting into the water, plus using too much Phyto-Plankton and Selcon....
So now that I know what caused it, how do I GET RID of it!?

 

[jph]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12829183#post12829183 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Larah
Nope no silicates... I am running both Phosban and Chemi-pure Elite, so there shouldn't be any..

sorry... i meant phosphates, not silicates

the cyano (if that's what you're describing) is feeding off something.
and your chemical filtration isn't removing it fast enough bacause if it was, you woudn't have a red carpet. your cyano is removing the phosphates faster than your phosban.

also, low flow will promote it.

also, old bulbs will promote it.

how are those in your tank?

how much are you skimming? your skimmer pulling out a lot?


J.

 

[Flipper62]

Any chance someone can post a picture if it..This will really help.

If its a Red slimish, stringy kinda lookin crap, it could also be cyanobacteria.

cyanobacteria is known to be how everything on this earth started. If has been found in Million year old fossils

BUT...Please post a picture

 

[Flipper62]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12829303#post12829303 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jph
the cyano (if that's what you're describing) is feeding off something.

J.

jph....sorry, must have been typing at the same time

If it is cyano, ya..over feeding can do it. There also other ways you can get it.

Next time you buy a coral....look to see if your LFS has any cyano in their tanks.....if so, You will most likely get it your self.

There is a chemical the you can use to get rid of it. BUT, also turning off the lights for 3 to 4 days will also stop it. Cyano need light to servive. After 3 to 4 days with the lights off. Then suck it up with your syphon when doing your water change. If its stuck to any rocks, use a (new) tooth brush to scrub it off & hold the syphon right next to it & suck it up.

Good water flow will also help keep it away

 

[Flavum]

In my experience with this stuff it will always come up in the first year of your tanks life. I gave up fighting it and it seems to run its course. The chemipure works alright for a day or two but IMO its not worth it.

 

[che25]

I recently added MH lights to my system. Would this drive a cyno bloom?

 

[reefturkey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12830049#post12830049 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by che25
I recently added MH lights to my system. Would this drive a cyno bloom?

It sure can. Anytime you change your lights you can start a minor algae/cyano bloom. Now if your phosphate levels are near 0 you should not get this.

 

[Flipper62]

I dont think it will drive a cyano bloom....but its NOT gonna help.

If you have cyano, blast it with a turkey baster & suck it up with the syphon. Again....if its stuck to the rocks, scrub it off with a ( new) tooth brush & then suck it up.

Turning the lights off for 3 to 4 days will do the job.

 

[abulgin]

Weekly 10 percent water changes and siphoning off the cyano will go miles and miles towards battling cyano--it will take a few weeks, but it will make a difference. Some cyano is normal/inevitable especially in relatively young tanks. Massive cyano is not. Lights do not cause a bloom. Dissolved organics do. Cyano needs light to survive, but 3 days of darkness won't solve the problem. Careful feedings are always a rule, but do NOT starve your fish in an effort to kill cyano--unless you are really overfeeding or dumping liquid polution into your tank, you won't change much by eliminating food. If you are only using RO water, and not RO/DI, you aren't removing phophates/silicates. It's the DI stage that removes these. Consider employing a fuge with some macro algae.

Finally, and I can't stress this enough, DO NOT use red slime remover. This is erythromycin, a broad spectrum antibiotic. Guess what antibiotics kill? Bacteria. Guess what makes sure your animals aren't poisoned by ammonia and die? Bacteria.

 

[Flipper62]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12830308#post12830308 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by abulgin
Weekly 10 percent water changes and siphoning off the cyano will go miles and miles towards battling cyano--it will take a few weeks, but it will make a difference. Some cyano is normal/inevitable especially in relatively young tanks. Massive cyano is not. Lights do not cause a bloom. Dissolved organics do. Cyano needs light to survive, but 3 days of darkness won't solve the problem. Careful feedings are always a rule, but do NOT starve your fish in an effort to kill cyano--unless you are really overfeeding or dumping liquid polution into your tank, you won't change much by eliminating food. If you are only using RO water, and not RO/DI, you aren't removing phophates/silicates. It's the DI stage that removes these. Consider employing a fuge with some macro algae.

Finally, and I can't stress this enough, DO NOT use red slime remover. This is erythromycin, a broad spectrum antibiotic. Guess what antibiotics kill? Bacteria. Guess what makes sure your animals aren't poisoned by ammonia and die? Bacteria.

WELL there you go......PLEASE DONT TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY....:dance:

The 1 Year reef professor has spokin...........This must be the gospel

I have gone through this a few times......BUT I'm just guessing

 

[Everyones Hero]

I'm not trying to thread jack, but is cyano a brownish color?

I've started getting a lot of brown algae in my new 20g & I assumed it was due to my high nitrates, which will begin to drop w/ water changes & as it cycles.

 

[abulgin]

I didn't realize that cyano affects only "reef" tanks. I learned something today.

How exactly am I supposed to take that?? That was really an idiotic, unhelpful response to my attempt to be helpful/impart what information I know/have learned during 10 plus years of salt water experience.

Intelligence, research, education, background, and common sense will beat out 20 years of keeping a fish bowl any day of the week.

 

[Larah]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12830840#post12830840 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Everyones Hero
I'm not trying to thread jack, but is cyano a brownish color?

I've started getting a lot of brown algae in my new 20g & I assumed it was due to my high nitrates, which will begin to drop w/ water changes & as it cycles.

Nah, that's not Cyano that's just a diatom outbreak... Not to owrry it looks ucky but it'll go away all by itself in about a week or so... And it's not going to hurt anything...
But if you're anything like me you'll be driven nuts by it while it's there.. Sorry man...

 

[Flipper62]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12830855#post12830855 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by abulgin
I didn't realize that cyano affects only "reef" tanks. I learned something today.

How exactly am I supposed to take that?? That was really an idiotic, unhelpful response to my attempt to be helpful/impart what information I know/have learned during 10 plus years of salt water experience.

Intelligence, research, education, background, and common sense will beat out 20 years of keeping a fish bowl any day of the week.

Sorry..That was a SLAM...& A LOL....... Maybe came across as a Big SLAM.

Its just the way you came across in you reply.

I have been taking care of friends Reef tanks for 25 years, I started my Reef tanks over 10 years ago. I have had the Cyano stage 5...6...7...8 Times.

Yes...lights off for 3 to 4 days has worked most of the time & the cyano chem has also worked without any harm to the fish or corals.

Sorry...I know your a good guy & wanta help...But Please dont knock down a way to control things until you have a few years ( 3..4 ) with your own tank.

Plus, thease are all rem's that the RC Mods ( 40+ years) use.