red Aglea problem help

bhambamareef · 03/16/2006, 07:37 AM

I have a aquapod 24. its been set up now for three months. I have 50bls of live rock 3 zebra hermits that are the size of a half inch or less and i peppermint shrimp. I was just about to start buying corals when this red slime started forming and i sucked it all out when I did a water change. The next day it was all over the tank and and rocks. help help!!!!!

MNorton456 · 03/16/2006, 11:58 AM

Have you tested your phosphates? Are you using RO water?

bhambamareef · 03/16/2006, 02:42 PM

i'm using distilled water.

alafish · 03/16/2006, 03:55 PM

Sounds like cyanobacteria. You can use E-Tabs (a medication) to clear it, but you should determine what may have caused the issue to begin.

Good luck!
Marybeth

MNorton456 · 03/16/2006, 06:21 PM

I had the same problem when I had my first started my tank and even though you you distilled water, phosphates can come from other sources. If you don't have a testing kit (I would go buy one) or most good LFS can test them for you.

twkenny · 03/16/2006, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by alafish
Sounds like cyanobacteria. You can use E-Tabs (a medication) to clear it, but you should determine what may have caused the issue to begin.

Good luck!
Marybeth

Careful getting dependent on any type of meds. A lot of new tanks go through a bout of cyano..
How bad is it? Is it just in the sand?
I'd add a powerhead and increase flow as much as you can without creating a sandstorm. Remove what you can manually and skim if you can. Be diligent with RO/DI topoff and water changes. Careful with feeding too.
If you take some actiona nd it seems to be improving, I'd ride it out.
If it were me, antibiotics would be the absolute last thing I'd put in my tank.
Good luck!

Opiy · 03/17/2006, 05:31 AM

I thought cyano was associated with bad water flow and maybe lighting. Like twkenny said more flow and if you can make it to aquarium designs and get some of their RO water and use in your tank that would probably help.

bhambamareef · 03/17/2006, 07:30 AM

where does one get the e tabs? i have looked on the web but not finding anything that is called that

Andrew_Adrian · 03/17/2006, 07:42 AM

Don't use the meds..
MNorton456:

Quote:

Have you tested your phosphates? Are you using RO water?

^^ I was just about to post the exact same thing! Go with this advice.

Something is off.. and the algae may be consuming the extra resources as soon as they become available. Try a pack of phosban and change the water brand (Make sure that it says the water has been through Reverse Osmosis and/or Deionization on the label).

The tank is still new, and Cyanobacteria is generally just considered a phase that all new tanks go through, but you can help by ensuring proper water quality.

MNorton456 · 03/17/2006, 09:07 AM

You should also test your calcium levels. Even though calcium doesn't usually affect algae, abnormal levels can be a good indication that some of your other chemical levels are off.

twkenny · 03/17/2006, 09:21 AM

Be careful what advice you choose to take.....
First, Cyano is not algae. It's bacteria. That's why many people want to toss in some antibiotics. Problem is, your tank survives because of bacteria (although a different type) that is in your sand and live rock. It's what puts the "live" in live rock.
I don't think anyone is 100% sure as to what bacteria are affected if you introduce antibiotics (e-tabs) into your system.
If it were my tank, I'd check my PO4, run a skimmer if you can, or, do a lot of water changes with RO/DI. Along with this I'd remove it manually, increase flow (powerheads) and cut back my lighting big time, especially if you have no corals yet.

bhambamareef · 03/17/2006, 10:55 AM

my lights are only running now 5 hours a day now for the last month.

twkenny · 03/17/2006, 11:04 AM

Do you have anything in your tank that needs light?

bhambamareef · 03/17/2006, 11:09 AM

i have 50 bls of live rock three hermits and peppermint shirmp thats it right now

twkenny · 03/17/2006, 11:21 AM

If I were you....I'd suck as much of it out as I could, do a 50% water change (be REAL careful doing big changes) and only run the light when I wanted to look at the tank for now. Maybe try one of the phospate sponges that are available.

bhambamareef · 03/17/2006, 12:54 PM

i just went and bought a 2nd powerhead to increase water flow in the tank.

03/16/2006, 07:37 AM	#1
bhambamareef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Huntsville Posts: 12	red Aglea problem help I have a aquapod 24. its been set up now for three months. I have 50bls of live rock 3 zebra hermits that are the size of a half inch or less and i peppermint shrimp. I was just about to start buying corals when this red slime started forming and i sucked it all out when I did a water change. The next day it was all over the tank and and rocks. help help!!!!!

03/16/2006, 11:58 AM	#2
MNorton456 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coon Rapids, Minnesota Posts: 18	Have you tested your phosphates? Are you using RO water?

03/16/2006, 02:42 PM	#3
bhambamareef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Huntsville Posts: 12	i'm using distilled water.

03/16/2006, 03:55 PM	#4
alafish Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Birmingham, Alabama Posts: 402	Sounds like cyanobacteria. You can use E-Tabs (a medication) to clear it, but you should determine what may have caused the issue to begin. Good luck! Marybeth

03/16/2006, 06:21 PM	#5
MNorton456 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coon Rapids, Minnesota Posts: 18	I had the same problem when I had my first started my tank and even though you you distilled water, phosphates can come from other sources. If you don't have a testing kit (I would go buy one) or most good LFS can test them for you.

03/17/2006, 05:31 AM	#7
Opiy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mobile Al Posts: 918	I thought cyano was associated with bad water flow and maybe lighting. Like twkenny said more flow and if you can make it to aquarium designs and get some of their RO water and use in your tank that would probably help.

03/17/2006, 07:30 AM	#8
bhambamareef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Huntsville Posts: 12	where does one get the e tabs? i have looked on the web but not finding anything that is called that

03/17/2006, 09:07 AM	#10
MNorton456 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Coon Rapids, Minnesota Posts: 18	You should also test your calcium levels. Even though calcium doesn't usually affect algae, abnormal levels can be a good indication that some of your other chemical levels are off.

03/17/2006, 09:21 AM	#11
twkenny Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sunny South Posts: 1,093	Be careful what advice you choose to take..... First, Cyano is not algae. It's bacteria. That's why many people want to toss in some antibiotics. Problem is, your tank survives because of bacteria (although a different type) that is in your sand and live rock. It's what puts the "live" in live rock. I don't think anyone is 100% sure as to what bacteria are affected if you introduce antibiotics (e-tabs) into your system. If it were my tank, I'd check my PO4, run a skimmer if you can, or, do a lot of water changes with RO/DI. Along with this I'd remove it manually, increase flow (powerheads) and cut back my lighting big time, especially if you have no corals yet.

03/17/2006, 10:55 AM	#12
bhambamareef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Huntsville Posts: 12	my lights are only running now 5 hours a day now for the last month.

03/17/2006, 11:04 AM	#13
twkenny Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sunny South Posts: 1,093	Do you have anything in your tank that needs light?

03/17/2006, 11:09 AM	#14
bhambamareef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Huntsville Posts: 12	i have 50 bls of live rock three hermits and peppermint shirmp thats it right now

03/17/2006, 11:21 AM	#15
twkenny Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sunny South Posts: 1,093	If I were you....I'd suck as much of it out as I could, do a 50% water change (be REAL careful doing big changes) and only run the light when I wanted to look at the tank for now. Maybe try one of the phospate sponges that are available.

03/17/2006, 12:54 PM	#16
bhambamareef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Huntsville Posts: 12	i just went and bought a 2nd powerhead to increase water flow in the tank.