red slime in fuge

[Just Jim]

I don't have any red slime in my display, but lately I've been getting a lot in my fuge. I use 2 40w GE ecolux bulbs. It has nothing to do with the nitrates/phosphates, I can only figure it's the bulbs. Anyone know what kind of bulbs work well in a 4 foot fluorescent setup?

 

[krzyphsygy]

try putting some flow in there so there is no dead spots

 

[paulallen]

What do you have in the fuge? How is the flow?

 

[Just Jim]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11092059#post11092059 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by paulallen
What do you have in the fuge? How is the flow?

It's a 50g fuge with a little rubble rock and a lot of chaeto. There isn't much flow from the return (I have a seperate sump) But I also have a seio 820gph powerhead in there. My concern is also that the top of the water looks oily...

 

[demonsp]

This happens alot. Whene it showed in my new refug i just added small powerhead and in a few weeks was gone

 

[Just Jim]

I always see that thread about people turning off the lights in their tank for 3 days and the cyno is gone. First off does that work? Second would that kill off all my chaeto?

 

[demonsp]

Dont think so and no 3 days wouldnt kill the cheato. You need flow. If this is a new fuge setuo then lower amount of light time and increase slowly.
Also water source can contribute.
Whats the water source?

 

[Just Jim]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11092882#post11092882 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by demonsp
Dont think so and no 3 days wouldnt kill the cheato. You need flow. If this is a new fuge setuo then lower amount of light time and increase slowly.
Also water source can contribute.
Whats the water source?

The water source is coming off of my sump. Not really that bad. Nitrate are <.5 My display tank is pretty clean. The water seems stagnet in the fuge though. I have that seio 820, how much more flow do I need?

 

[demonsp]

By water source i mean do you use unfiltered tap water ?
Flow in fuge min. 100 gallon per hour or 4x exchange. With little or no flow in the rufug. , you can cause more problems then you want to stop.

 

[UrbanSage]

How come you mind the cyano?
Just like the macro algae it is consuming nitrates/phosphates... suck it out and use it to export nutrients like you do with the algae...

 

[demonsp]

Cyno in small amounts is fine. But in large amounts is ugly and unhealthy for the tank.
Also shows beginning of of more serious problem. The better you control this the healthyer the tank will be.

 

[K' Family Reef]

wouldnt worry about it in your fuge
might be espec glad its in your fuge and not in the main display = one benefits of fuge!

 

[Just Jim]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11092950#post11092950 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by demonsp
By water source i mean do you use unfiltered tap water ?
Flow in fuge min. 100 gallon per hour or 4x exchange. With little or no flow in the rufug. , you can cause more problems then you want to stop.

RODI water with a tds of 0. What'd you mean 100gph? It's a 50g fuge. The exchange is low because the sump is about 15 feet away from the fuge...

 

[Just Jim]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11093040#post11093040 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WarrenAmy&Maddy
wouldnt worry about it in your fuge
might be espec glad its in your fuge and not in the main display = one benefits of fuge!

It's like aiptasia. I didn't have any of that until about a year ago. Once it gets in, it's hard to keep out. I don't want that to happen to my display.

 

[mosthated00]

you need somthing to break the surface of your water, will help prevent that film on top.

 

[demonsp]

Your sump is a living thing and like the main tank will not do well without good flow.

 

[UrbanSage]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11092983#post11092983 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by demonsp
Cyno in small amounts is fine. But in large amounts is ugly and unhealthy for the tank.
Also shows beginning of of more serious problem. The better you control this the healthyer the tank will be.

I don't follow how the presence of cyano is unhealthy for the tank?
Cyano bacteria is humongously (big scientific word) abundant in nature and providing very beneficial services.
I do agree that it is ugly, but as long as it is limited to the fuge I don't see it being a symptom of anything being "bad".

However, if you want to get rid of it then water changes, phosphate removal, aggressive skimming, and increased flow might all help you out.

 

[demonsp]

Mb look here. http://netclub.athiel.com/cyano/cyanos2.htm

 

[UrbanSage]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11093707#post11093707 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by demonsp
Mb look here. http://netclub.athiel.com/cyano/cyanos2.htm

Mb?
That article doesn't say anything about cyano being bad.
It does however support my statement from earlier.

Although, in nature (open system), cyanobacteria play important roles in the life chain, it has not been demonstrated that they serve any necessary function in the aquarium (closed system).

And after seeing the following, I am not sure how credible the rest of the article can be.
Are we talking about his opinion or fact now?

It is assumed, and should be understood, that every hobbyist is aware of and knows that on a saltwater aquarium you need a good strong foam fractionator (protein skimmer). There is no way around it, you do need one.

 

[uscharalph]

New bulbs and finding the right amount of flow. You don't want too much, it's a fuge afterall.