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lots of it. it wont stop. need help... FAST:shout:
red slime algae
- Thread starter reefage518
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Reduce nitrate and phosphate. Use Chemi Clean. Make sure you do the follow up 20% water change. Follow the directions exactly.
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check Ph... Raise to 8.5 if needed.Low Ph will cause it as well.
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ok. and i am now using ro water
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How does low pH promote cyanobacteria growth? I suppose it can vary by strain, but you would think that it would do best at NSW levels of pH, and a lower pH would hinder growth.
A quick search yielded an article indicating the opposite.
I had an outbreak of this last month that I just couldn't get on top of. I was syphoning it out daily, doing increased WC's, increasing flow and decreasing tank feedings. The red stuff would not go away.
A member came by my house to pick up something, saw my tank and said... "don't tell the purists I told you, but try Chem-Clean"
I'm not recommending Chem-Clean as a regular preventative of red slime (it treats the symptom, not the cause), but it's a miracle for zapping the junk from your tank when its gotten completely out of hand so you can get a handle on things.
I followed the instructions on the container (treated ... waited 48 hours ... repeated treatment), and the stuff disappeared.
I then adopted more disciplined tank maintenance, and I've not had the problem since.
A member came by my house to pick up something, saw my tank and said... "don't tell the purists I told you, but try Chem-Clean"
I'm not recommending Chem-Clean as a regular preventative of red slime (it treats the symptom, not the cause), but it's a miracle for zapping the junk from your tank when its gotten completely out of hand so you can get a handle on things.
I followed the instructions on the container (treated ... waited 48 hours ... repeated treatment), and the stuff disappeared.
I then adopted more disciplined tank maintenance, and I've not had the problem since.
Turn off your aquarium lights for 3-4 days. Even cover the front and sides with a towel if needed. For real....all of the cyano will die off and make sure you have a skimmer to skim the die off out of your tank. This is the <u>only</u> thing that had worked for me 1 year ago. Tried it all-more flow, Chemi-clean, phosphate removal, manual removal, turkey baster, you name it. Cyano needs light and phosphates to grow, but its main fuel once it starts is light. I haven't had it since I did the lights out. All my coral-softies and LPS and fish were fine. I turned on the lights for 1 hour each day to feed. That's all.
Make sure you use RO water from now on too. Good luck.
Make sure you use RO water from now on too. Good luck.
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is there anything that would eat it? like some kind of snail or shrimp?
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reefage518- Are you dosing iodine? Iodine, while necessary, is often the biolimiting nutrient needed for crazy cyano growth. An can cause cyano to explode. If you are dosing it, severely cut back your dosing, much less than what the manufacturer recommends.
Whimanb- ChemiClean is less destructive than erythromycin.
Chauwell- That's interesting that the lack of light took care of it. Being that it is also a bacteria it can survive without light. You may have had a strain that was more light dependant. It's important to remember that there are many strains of cyano. The Noctis strain can capture everything it needs to thrive from the air, but typically high nitrate and phosphate are the culprits.
Whimanb- ChemiClean is less destructive than erythromycin.
Chauwell- That's interesting that the lack of light took care of it. Being that it is also a bacteria it can survive without light. You may have had a strain that was more light dependant. It's important to remember that there are many strains of cyano. The Noctis strain can capture everything it needs to thrive from the air, but typically high nitrate and phosphate are the culprits.
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Just experience with the stuff in many local tanks...higher ph killed it off...Who knows? Just make sure to do a good water change after it's gone...
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The water change is very important. When the cyano dies it releases stored phosphate. You want to be ready to catch and remove all of it.
phosphate + nitrate = cyanobacteria
remove one or the other and cyano growth should stop.
dripping kalk should help. Kalkwasser precipitates phosphates, nevermind other benefits.
making the dripper: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/nftt/index.php">http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/nftt/index.php</a>
dosing using lime: [IMG]http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php">http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php</a>
be patient and make sure you blow the stuff off everyday until it goes away. the kalk drip should stop cyano (unless your source water is loaded with phosphates).
remove one or the other and cyano growth should stop.
dripping kalk should help. Kalkwasser precipitates phosphates, nevermind other benefits.
making the dripper: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/nftt/index.php">http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/nftt/index.php</a>
dosing using lime: [IMG]http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php">http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php</a>
be patient and make sure you blow the stuff off everyday until it goes away. the kalk drip should stop cyano (unless your source water is loaded with phosphates).
