Red slime algea

[shikhyung]

I wonder where the red slime algea comes from, I have not introduced any thing new in tank?
Thanks, Shin.

 

[ScubaDiver93]

its not an algae its a cyanobacteria. If you have it i recommend red slime remover but i dont remember by who. ill check later but it killed mine in lke 3 days.

 

[uscharalph]

Seems like all tanks go thru this.

 

[chrisjet]

could be old rodi unti producing bad water ??

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

check your nitrates/phosphates

 

[davidryder]

http://www.reefs.org/library/aquarium_net/996/996_2.html

http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/microalgae/a/aa092800.htm

 

[shikhyung]

Hi, the tank is 1 1/2 years old. I don't have this algea before. It kinds of rusty red chili color, I don't think it is cyano. I have not check Ni and Phos for along time, since 2 have only 4 fish.
Just change the RO filters, not the membranse...Maybe its time to check these 2.

 

[shikhyung]

do you think there is something from Mrs.Wage picking lime I just start to dose?

 

[davidryder]

Well you should take a look at those links I posted. Cyano can come and go and doesn't necessarily appear on newer tanks only.

If you can afford it pick up a powerhead or two to crank up the flow. Cyano will vanish in high-flow environments.

 

[shikhyung]

David, yes I read it after I post the reply. They did mention the use of Kalk. Do you think I got the precipitates phosphates ?

 

[davidryder]

I got from that article that dosing kalk precipitates phosphates into the water (extracts phosphates from the water and turns them into solids) allowing them to fall down on rocks and corals. I have never heard that myself and don't believe I have ever had that problem (I have dosed kalk since I've had a tank).

Red slime algae (cyanobacteria) can be easily overcome by increasing the flow in the tank. The stuff flourishes in low-flow environments and simply cannot exist in high-flow zones.

Another thing you can do is increase your water change regimen and cut back on your feeding schedule. But ultimately I believe that increasing your flow will fix your problem

 

[shikhyung]

Let me see if I can post the picture. I feed very little, and not everyday, sometimes come home so late, I don't event feed. I have 1 mag 18 for the return, 1 Rio2500, and 2 MJ mod 9( which I don't think they do 1200-2000GPH ;-) ) in a 100G tank.

 

[davidryder]

Have you tried playing with the flow at all? I would try to get flow in all parts of the tank... and if you have a 3"+ sandbed you could always add an orange spotted goby to keep the sand mixed up.

I struggled with cyano for almost 4 months when I picked up a hydor koralia 4 and since then my rocks have looked really nice. I also picked up a kole tang and foxface at the same time so they keep the rocks spotless. And the goby keeps the sand spotless.

My nitrates were always at 0 but for some reason cyano loved my tank (no skimmer probably had something to do with it)

 

[shikhyung]

Here is the pic. You can see the red algea and the precipitates. I wonder that precipitates from the 2 part dosing or from the lime?

 

[Æonic]

Cyano is really weird. I've had the stuff growing on the damn powerhead output and also skimmer output! Flow doesn't necessiarly kill it, however, I think settled detritis can promote it, so increasing flow is probably worthwhile especially if you have deadspots.

If you're having bad probs I'd suggest making sure the source water (after ro, etc) is clean. I had a problem with contamination after filtering - so like every topoff and water change I did, I was adding fuel to the fire. Maybe it's a no brainer, but I never really considered this as a potential risk before.

As far as where it comes from, I think it might always just be there, but it only blooms when conditions are right.