Red Slime Algae (Cyano)

ASERT · 06/16/2012, 07:10 PM

I have a 40 gallon breeder nearly hitting the 6 month old mark. Everything has been good coral amd fish wise but about on the 2 month running I found myself battling red slime it was on my rocks, sand and even had a some in my refugium. After a month I got rid of it but it seems like it has shown up again, though it's only on my sand this time it is not any less of an eye soar.. Any suggestions?..

oklahoma11 · 06/16/2012, 07:21 PM

over feeding? Im sure you used chemi clean to clear it up the first time, but if you didnt get some because it works well.

REEFCANDY · 06/16/2012, 09:59 PM

you can try move you pump lower in the tank if the red slime algae on the sand bed. make sure the live sand will move around but not too crazy.

secrest · 06/16/2012, 10:33 PM

What kind of flow do you have in the tank? If the areas with cyano are in low flow areas try increasing the flow or rearranging your powerheads. Also, you can give chemi-clean a try. That seems to work well.

Thisseemsfishy · 06/16/2012, 10:43 PM

I agree with over feeding and low flow. I had it in my early days. I increased the flow and put myself on a strict WC schedule, haven't had it since.

andrewey · 06/16/2012, 11:06 PM

Increase your flow and you should be good to go! Watch your feeding, and any phosphate in your water source.

ASERT · 06/16/2012, 11:59 PM

Well for flow I have one Vortech MP10 for flow and I currently have it turned to the max on reef mode. It's a little above mid-level on the tank I'll try to move it lower and see if that helps. I am currently using Chemi pure elite but will need to replace soon I just might try Chemi clean. So when lowering my Vortech do I want to place it low so that it's slightly moving the top layer of the sand?

hollister · 06/17/2012, 12:03 AM

Yea low flow and water source would be top in the factors. Tap water or poorly maintaned filters as with low flow as algea find it hard to grow in higher flow.

ASERT · 06/17/2012, 12:24 AM

I now purchase my water RO water and saltwater from a lfs which I admit mixing my tap water and adding dechlorinator which was a mistake but I learned from that. Any how as my filtration I have a CPR HOB Refugium and a AquaC Remora HOB skimmer. I have miracle mud in the Refugium some chaeto and a man grove for now which I'm planning on taking out. I clean the skimmer collection cup and all every week I add water so I don't know what's going on. :/

hollister · 06/17/2012, 12:26 AM

You want a powerhead. You want 15 times the tank size water flow. So a fifty gallon needs 750 gallons per hour flow rate.

Sleepyhead · 06/17/2012, 12:27 AM

invest in a RO/DI unit and a TDS meter. Keep up with your maintenance. Your tank is still fairly new, this is expected.

ASERT · 06/17/2012, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sleepyhead

invest in a RO/DI unit and a TDS meter. Keep up with your maintenance. Your tank is still fairly new, this is expected.

So do I just wait and see if it dies off or should I be adding/buying anything? My lights are on 10 hrs. a day should I be cutting back as well? Thanks for the replies..

ASERT · 06/17/2012, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hollister

You want a powerhead. You want 15 times the tank size water flow. So a fifty gallon needs 750 gallons per hour flow rate.

So a Ecotech Vortech MP10 isn't a powerhead?

hollister · 06/17/2012, 01:57 AM

It depends on your tank setup and the powerheads setting. I would use 2 powerheads to create a circuler motion and reduce low flow spots. I always say add a little extra food and see how it floats. It should not fall to the bottom anywhere , if it does then adjust as needed.

06/16/2012, 07:10 PM	#1
ASERT Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Wilmington, CA Posts: 43	Red Slime Algae (Cyano) I have a 40 gallon breeder nearly hitting the 6 month old mark. Everything has been good coral amd fish wise but about on the 2 month running I found myself battling red slime it was on my rocks, sand and even had a some in my refugium. After a month I got rid of it but it seems like it has shown up again, though it's only on my sand this time it is not any less of an eye soar.. Any suggestions?..

06/16/2012, 10:43 PM	#5
Thisseemsfishy Just another Reefer Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky, USA Posts: 715	I agree with over feeding and low flow. I had it in my early days. I increased the flow and put myself on a strict WC schedule, haven't had it since. __________________ -the Sho "Success is a science; if you have the conditions, you get the result." -Oscar Wilde "The best thing a man can do when he is losing is just give up!" -Matt Stimson Current Tank Info: 65g Reef, 265w Cree LED Lighting, 20g DIY Sump/Fuge, Euro-Reef CS6-1 Skimmer, 2 Little Fishes GFO Reactor \|\|\|\|\| Mostly SPS and a few LPS, Zoa's, and Shrooms

06/16/2012, 07:21 PM	#2
oklahoma11 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: oklahoma Posts: 87	over feeding? Im sure you used chemi clean to clear it up the first time, but if you didnt get some because it works well.

06/16/2012, 09:59 PM	#3
REEFCANDY Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 60	you can try move you pump lower in the tank if the red slime algae on the sand bed. make sure the live sand will move around but not too crazy.

06/16/2012, 10:33 PM	#4
secrest Tired Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 1,147	What kind of flow do you have in the tank? If the areas with cyano are in low flow areas try increasing the flow or rearranging your powerheads. Also, you can give chemi-clean a try. That seems to work well.

06/16/2012, 11:06 PM	#6
andrewey Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 62	Increase your flow and you should be good to go! Watch your feeding, and any phosphate in your water source.

06/16/2012, 11:59 PM	#7
ASERT Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Wilmington, CA Posts: 43	Well for flow I have one Vortech MP10 for flow and I currently have it turned to the max on reef mode. It's a little above mid-level on the tank I'll try to move it lower and see if that helps. I am currently using Chemi pure elite but will need to replace soon I just might try Chemi clean. So when lowering my Vortech do I want to place it low so that it's slightly moving the top layer of the sand?

06/17/2012, 12:03 AM	#8
hollister Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 1,770	Yea low flow and water source would be top in the factors. Tap water or poorly maintaned filters as with low flow as algea find it hard to grow in higher flow.

06/17/2012, 12:24 AM	#9
ASERT Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Wilmington, CA Posts: 43	I now purchase my water RO water and saltwater from a lfs which I admit mixing my tap water and adding dechlorinator which was a mistake but I learned from that. Any how as my filtration I have a CPR HOB Refugium and a AquaC Remora HOB skimmer. I have miracle mud in the Refugium some chaeto and a man grove for now which I'm planning on taking out. I clean the skimmer collection cup and all every week I add water so I don't know what's going on. :/

06/17/2012, 12:26 AM	#10
hollister Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 1,770	You want a powerhead. You want 15 times the tank size water flow. So a fifty gallon needs 750 gallons per hour flow rate.

06/17/2012, 12:27 AM	#11
Sleepyhead Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: NJ Posts: 66	invest in a RO/DI unit and a TDS meter. Keep up with your maintenance. Your tank is still fairly new, this is expected.

06/17/2012, 01:57 AM	#14
hollister Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 1,770	It depends on your tank setup and the powerheads setting. I would use 2 powerheads to create a circuler motion and reduce low flow spots. I always say add a little extra food and see how it floats. It should not fall to the bottom anywhere , if it does then adjust as needed.