New to RC looking for expert help.

[Elric61]

hello RC I am Eric, I have had fish tanks since I was about 6 but have just started with the saltwater reef tanks about 11 months ago. 28 Nano cube not much in that tank but problems with red slime and green algea. I also have a 40 gal where I have to clown fish (whos' anenomie was killed in the intake of a canister filter) to host with a torch coral. Last but not least a 30 gal bow front that I am trying black sand and live rock. not much in this tank only a month old.

Well I am looking for advice mostly on the nano so if some one can direct me that will be help full.

Thanks

[username in use]

there is red slime remover out there, but there is really no substitute for siphoning it out and doing frequent water changes. Just keep at it, we all get it at one time or another.

[MTB]

I would try water changes and increasing the flow a bit.

[Sisterlimonpot]

<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>
The bottom line is that you want to find the source of what's causing your algae problem and address the issue. To name a few..... Low water flow, poor lighting, over feeding, too much boi mass.... and the list can go on. The problem is too much nitrates and/or phosphates. Control that and you will get out from under your algae problem. And there are a lot of ways to do that as well....

Edit:you don't want to treat the problem chemically (red slime remover) unless nothing else is working. It works but if you don't eradicate all of the red algae then the algae that doesn't go away is now immune to it and now you have a super strain of red algae covering your tank

[hamiltonguy]

Agree with all of the above. Persistence is key. Sometimes the outbreak can last months. There are quick fixes out there but if you use them you almost guaranteed another outbreak later on. As stated find the underlying cause, treat it and you'll never see the red slime again.

Increase frequency of water changes, use some carbon and keep at it for a while and you should be good.

oh and Welcome to Reef Central.

[Tylt33]

Make sure your water source is clean; are you using tap water?

[Elric61]

More details I guess will help.

I have a 28 gal nano cube, currently has 20 lb of sand 30 lb of live rock. I have a Royal Gamma and a Shrimp Goby Barbershop as occupants.

The cleaning crew consists of 2 Mexican turbo, 4 Florida turbo, 5 Nassariusl snails, 20 blue leg hermits, and 3 jade hermits and a lettuce nudibranch.

My coral in this tank is a small cluster of orange Ricordea, Green Star Polyp (growing nicely up the side of the tank) and a brain coral open red.

My problem is I have had a serious growth of green algae and purple scales that grow on the glass, and red slime that has been growing in the corner under the water outlet. I have been pulling the green algae out by hand and scrapping the scales from the glass and sucking out the red slime but in a few days everything is right back to where it was.
A couple of days ago I followed some advise and removed the blue filter sponges and cleaned them stirred the sand and then did a 5 gal water change (I normally only do about 2 gals once a month tank is 11 months old) Now the green algae has reduced but is still there, I have noticed that caulerpa was growing in the rocks under the green algae and now the red slime has moved to the whole bottom of the tank. I keep moving the sand around to remove the red slime but it just keeps come back.


The water I use is tap water but is filtered.
I have already tried the red slime remove keeps coming back.


I am starting to think too much boi mass might be the problem. I have everything that came with the Nano cube in use and have not cleaned it because I did not want to interupt the balance of the eco system. but am currently open to suggestions.

I have added a small protein skimmer.

[Sisterlimonpot]

skimmer is a good start. What type of lighting do you have? and what kind if flow do you have through the tank? the reason why I ask is that red algae tend to thrive in low flow and inadequate lighted areas. the red slime remover that you used should have been a last ditch effort because now the red algae that you have in your tank is immune to it and it's going to be harder to get rid of.

what about your feeding habits are you over feeding? too much left over food end up on the bottom of the tank?

and water parameters... Post your latest params that would help us diagnose the culprit.

[Flipper62]

Reef Keeping #1 NEVER USE TAP WATER

CyanoBacteria wont grow where there is a good flow / movement.

Here is a good artical on Cyano from Capn-hylinur
http://www.reefcentral.com/wp/?p=288


OH YA.

:hammer::hammer::hammer::hammer::hammer::hammer::hammer::hammer::hammer::hammer:
tap water..tap water..tap water..

[Elric61]

I will get my water tested tomorrow to give the results.

as for feeding with only two fish I feed about 2-3 a week very small pinch.

The light:
two 36-watt 50/50 compact fluorescent lamps offering 72 total watts or 3 watts of lighting per gallon.

Filtration
This discreet filtration system is hidden to provide maximum space for your aquarium inhabitants. Sponge filter traps detritus and free-floating particulate matter. Activated carbon bag removes dissolved organics and odors. Ceramic Rings and Bio-Balls provide the ideal environment for beneficial bacteria.

pump is 290 gph

[Elric61]

hydro meter is 1.026
buffer is 5
calc 380
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
po4 .1