Darn red slime algae!

[Fishnthecorner]

I am sucking this stuff out every 2 days. It's the red slimey cyano stuff. I hardly feed, the water test are all in check. Tanks been set up now for 3 months 75 gal, 20g sump. 4 small fish. about 8 turbo snails, I bought a dozen hermit crabs, they all died within 48 hours. I have a 5 stage RO/DI Filter system for fresh saltwater...

When will this stuff stop?

[corey c]

lighting... old or cheap bulbs will cause it

[Recty]

Cyano is typically caused by too many organics in the water, old lighting AND I think most principally, low flow across the sandbed.

I bet if you directed some flow downwards in your tank towards the areas it is growing (if your water parameters are in check like you say) that the cyano would clear up pretty quickly.

[Fishnthecorner]

Lighting is only 3 months old. 36" compact flourecents (Dual) I will try more water flow

[TriggersAmuck]

What is your Phosphate reading? Are you using any GFO (phosphate remover), preferably in a reactor (Two Fishies Phosban Reactor, NextReef reactor, or even a DI chamber modified for this)? Even though you are using RO/DI water, the rock and sand may have latent phosphate in it, and there are many food sources which can contribute to higher PO4 levels (though it sounds like you are keeping food in check).

Thanks,
Scott

[Fishnthecorner]

How do I check for phosphate? Can my LFS Do that?

[coralmojo]

best way is a hanna photometer...much more accurate than test kit...

cyano is not uncommon in new tank...

try more flow...

chemi-clean will work also...zeozym...lights out for 3 days...water changes...zero TDS on rodi water?

think cyano is bad? wait till green hair algae shows up!!

DrMerle

[Recty]

And if the tank is only 3 months old, cyano is just one of the initial phases that probably 80-90% of the tanks out there get... as long as you keep your parameters in check and I would definitely increase in the flow too, then the cyano should eventually go away on it's own.

You said your water quality is good, but that means different things to different people. What exactly are your measurements? pH? Temp? How much light? Salinity? Nitrates?

[jasonrp104]

As far as the hermits: How did you acclimate them?

[strifilo]

Cyano is common for a new tank like yours. I agree with the folks above, sounds like you need more flow across the sandbed.

[predator 1]

Have you ever considered using "closed loops"? Unfortunately, it will require a system strip-down. But, the loops will guarantee you more than adequate flow for the future.

[Fishnthecorner]

closed loops?