red slime remover question
- Thread starter ktar
- Start date
I have used this product before and wasn't thrilled with the results. It worked, temporarily, but definately not a permanent solution. It will color the water, have a serious effect on both oxygen levels and Ph, and don't skim for at least 24-48 hours. Not worth it IMO. I know everyone in the club is trying to eliminate them but I find that flatworms are the best consumers of red slime algae and free food for the fish.
This is not a permanent solution. At best, you're putting in a broad spectrum antibiotic in your tank & killing off some good bacteria with the bed. At worst, you release enough nitrogenous compounds in your tank from the die off to create an even worse problem.
Your best bet is to reduce phosphate in the tank water. You can't control cyano by limiting nitrate as it's capable of utilizing atmospheric nitrogen.
I second the herbivore option, Snails & small hermits rapidly get it under control in my tanks.
2 other options are to use kalkwasser to slowly raise your ph. this will due a few things ( 1 raising ph inhibits the growth of some algae (particularly dinoflagellates) It encourages the growth of coraline algae & lastly, Kalk causes Phosphate to precipitate out of solution. )
Your best bet is to reduce phosphate in the tank water. You can't control cyano by limiting nitrate as it's capable of utilizing atmospheric nitrogen.
I second the herbivore option, Snails & small hermits rapidly get it under control in my tanks.
2 other options are to use kalkwasser to slowly raise your ph. this will due a few things ( 1 raising ph inhibits the growth of some algae (particularly dinoflagellates) It encourages the growth of coraline algae & lastly, Kalk causes Phosphate to precipitate out of solution. )
SkiFletch
New member
Been fighting cyanobacteria myself lately. Even though my phosphate kit read 0ppm I decided to run a phosphate binder as a last resort. The growth of the cyano has been stopped and my cerith snails (only have two) are GOBBLING it up. My nassarius, turbos, and astreas wont touch the stuff but the ceriths love it. My hermits eat a little of it too, but their activity pales in comparison to the ceriths.
Long story short, even if your test kit reads 0 phosphates, dont believe it and run some binder in there. If you dont have cartridges for it, buy some, wrap it up in some women's nylon knee-highs and stick it in a bubble wall in your sump (thats what I had to do).
Long story short, even if your test kit reads 0 phosphates, dont believe it and run some binder in there. If you dont have cartridges for it, buy some, wrap it up in some women's nylon knee-highs and stick it in a bubble wall in your sump (thats what I had to do).
friendlyAlien
Premium Member
Also ... test your water ... most really fast growing algae has to do with bad water parameters. I find that most annoying algae can be beaten with algae eaters and a couple of good water changes.
(Unless of course your DSB is saturated
)
(Unless of course your DSB is saturated
)
