Salt

[kimismurf]

Like I said before I'm new to saltwater. Here is what is going on. My ph is 7.8, Nitrate 0, Nitrite 0, salinity ppt 40, pacific gravity 1.030. I think I need more salt, and I'm guessing I just add it in little by little till it's within a safe range. I don't think the cycle is done and after testing tonight I know its not. I'll try to add a pic of the red algae and the cloudy water.

P.S. Please ignore the dried water I spilled on the back of the tank.:unsure:

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[ripped tide]

You need less salt. You ideally should be around 1.023-1.025

 

[kimismurf]

So I should do a water change then. Is this why the water is a little cloudy and is all that red algae bad or good?

 

[ripped tide]

The red slime is not good. You probably want to regulate your lights and add a phosphate removing media. I have seen tanks kept at a higher salinity, but they generally do better at a lower level.

You probably want to remove a gallon or two at a time and replace it with RO/DI fresh water until your salinity drops down a little lower. Monitor the pH at this time. If you have used tap water at any time, that would cause the red slime. If you run your lights too long, that will cause it. If your pH isn't balanced, that will cause it. If your tank isn't ionically balanced, and doesn't have good flow, it seems that red slime will grow.

You may have to use chemi clean or some other remedy to treat the red slime.

 

[kimismurf]

Ripped Tide;699045 wrote: The red slime is not good. You probably want to regulate your lights and add a phosphate removing media. I have seen tanks kept at a higher salinity, but they generally do better at a lower level.

You probably want to remove a gallon or two at a time and replace it with RO/DI fresh water until your salinity drops down a little lower. Monitor the pH at this time. If you have used tap water at any time, that would cause the red slime. If you run your lights too long, that will cause it. If your pH isn't balanced, that will cause it. If your tank isn't ionically balanced, and doesn't have good flow, it seems that red slime will grow.

You may have to use chemi clean or some other remedy to treat the red slime.

So is all this red, red slime or just the part that is coming off? Should I look into getting a critter that eats it once I fix my salt issue, or do I have too much. It was on the rock when I got it but I thought it would be beneficial to my tanks cycle.

 

[stacy22]

The red slime is cyanobacteria. Many inverts won't eat this stuff. The best way to eliminate it is through lowering your nitrates, increasing flow and shortening your lighting cycle. A cyanobacteria bloom is not uncommon for newly set-up tanks. In fact, you will likely see a series of different types of blooms as your tank matures.

How are you measuring your salinity? The swing arm hydrometers are notoriously inaccurate. The best way to measure salinity in a reef tank is with a refractometer that is calibrated for seawater.

Advice- take things slowly and read as much as you can. Don't impulse buy. You will regret it in the long run and it's just not cool to subject animals to less than appropriate situations for them.

Welcome to ARC. This is a great place to learn and there are some awesome people here!!!!!

 

[kimismurf]

stacy22;699065 wrote: The red slime is cyanobacteria. Many inverts won't eat this stuff. The best way to eliminate it is through lowering your nitrates, increasing flow and shortening your lighting cycle. A cyanobacteria bloom is not uncommon for newly set-up tanks. In fact, you will likely see a series of different types of blooms as your tank matures.

How are you measuring your salinity? The swing arm hydrometers are notoriously inaccurate. The best way to measure salinity in a reef tank is with a refractometer that is calibrated for seawater.

Advice- take things slowly and read as much as you can. Don't impulse buy. You will regret it in the long run and it's just not cool to subject animals to less than appropriate situations for them.

Welcome to ARC. This is a great place to learn and there are some awesome people here!!!!!

I would never add anything before the cycle is complete and the levels are right. That's why I'm asking questions to try and correct this. The red slime did not grow in my tank I just got this rock on Saturday and it was already on there. There is some rock I had in there already but it is all white. I am measuring the salt with a hydrometer. As far as the lights go I have ordered new lights but currently I have the regular hood lights for freshwater on there. I have been doing freshwater for about 20 years now but this is my first battle with saltwater, I have a lot of questions and I am learning but I'm taking my time getting there. Thanks

 

[mcphock]

Hi there!

The ARC is a great resource to meet and gain experience from other local reefers. In addition, you'll need to do some reading. I would suggest Wet Web Media, as well as picking up some good print references.

Start off with the general section here, and peruse whatever else interests you:

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/setup/marsetupindex1.htm">http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/setup/marsetupindex1.htm</a>

One last note: Cyano bacteria is NOT caused by using tap water. RODI water can be a help (sometimes big help), but is not a requirement. I use straight up city of Lawrenceville tap water and it's been years since I've had any cyano.

 

[ripped tide]

Atlanta has pretty decent tap water. I wouldn't recommend using it in a reef tank. Kimismurf lives in north Carolina, so we have no referance to know how that tap water is. It could be loaded with phosphate... I have only used RO water for my reef tank and never had an issue with cyano. I started the 210 with tap, and within a month, it was covered in slime. I added some phosgaurd and did a series of water changes using RO and it has gone away.

 

[cr500_af]

As stated above, your salinity is too high... quite a bit too high. If you are measuring in PPT, you want around 35. It isn't a cyano cause, though.

 

[snowmansnow]

what are you using for circulation ? Cyano doesn't like it.

ALSO, if you don't have corals in there go ahead and cut your lights off for a while.

Your rocks sure don't need it

Get your salinity in check.. then wait for the diatom bloom.

NORMALLY your cycle is done after the diatoms subside.

 

[kimismurf]

I am running 2 powerheads and my odyssea 75s also has a powerhead on it. Right now I am only running the standard lights that come with the tank. I have new lights comming in a few days that I ordered online. I will be doing a water change tomorrow after dinner.

 

[Jaycen B.]

Looks like dark red coraline to me, maybe a touch of cyano. Can you post better pics?

 

[kimismurf]

I went ahead and did a small water change and after an hour the salinity is now at 1.026. all me other numbers are good. YeY! I'll recheck again tomorrow.