reddish purpleish film on sand bed...

[aznnutty]

reddish purpleish film on sand bed... what is it? i've seen it before in other tanks but i just developed some in mine, is it somekind of algae and what should i do about it?

 

[SaltyWaters]

It's probably Cyanobacteria or Red slime Algae mostly caused by Phosphates in the tank. Using RO/DI filtered water will help the problem try not to use tap water. Your Lighting might also be the cause. you might need new bulbs.

 

[Tswifty]

Sounds like Cyanobacteria... as stated above.

A few things such as overfeeding and lack of flow can help bring it about. However, once it takes hold, it can sustain solely by photosynthesis.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bluegralgae.htm

 

[fancyfish]

agree cyano. Is your tank new? if so this is bound to happen. increase the flow in your tank and decrease your phosphates and it will go away. you can syphon out what you can.

 

[aznnutty]

the tank was up for two years recently moved I do use ro water. I have two maxi 1200 pointing at each other. Maybe more jets? How would lighting affect it?

 

[markviiisvt4]

It comes and goes in my tank. usually when i forget to harvest my cheato

 

[d-maz]

Any kind of snails or crabs or anything else remove this stuff? I have some on my miracle mud in my sump.

 

[StanD]

As mentioned above, cure is to get new bulbs if lights are old, water changes to decrease PO4 and other dissolved organics. Can use erythromycin, but most of us aren't willing to use enough to really treat it, so it tends to come back.

Most all of us have had some at some time, so think of this as your initiation into a very non-selective club.

Good luck with it.

Stan