Red Slimer Algae

[Krish]

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Markee, yes you can buy RO/DI water, from Barbie or Kevin. However, in the long run, you'll be better off purchasing an RO/DI filtration unit. You'll always want RO/DI water on hand, for topping off, to replace evaporation, AND for making your saltwater.

I always had about 10 gallons extra on hand every week for topping off etc. If I needed water it was only a 5 minute trip down the road, but nowadays, we have the water delivered at no extra charge. Having your own unit has it's perks, but I figured it was easier for me just to buy it and not have to worry about changing filters etc.

 

[ac7av]

Increasing flow will do nothing to help, vacuuming it out will just be a lot of work and you will have to vacuum it out constantly. If you like tinkering around with your tank then that’s all you need to do and you will be able to keep it under control that way. The root of the problem has to be found in order to eliminate or reduce to an expectable level. Keep in mind this is a naturally occurring bacteria / algae. It comes down to waste and or food left over in the tank. Like anything like that, it will stop growing when it runs out of food.

 

[Krish]

Increasing flow will do nothing to help, vacuuming it out will just be a lot of work and you will have to vacuum it out constantly. If you like tinkering around with your tank then that’s all you need to do and you will be able to keep it under control that way. The root of the problem has to be found in order to eliminate or reduce to an expectable level. Keep in mind this is a naturally occurring bacteria / algae. It comes down to waste and or food left over in the tank. Like anything like that, it will stop growing when it runs out of food.

Erik, flow definately won't solve the problem, BUT, it is actually a fact that cyno doesn't like high flow areas. You can look it up. This is how I got mine out of my tank. Only one spot had it growing where flow was lacking and when I increased flow there, it stopped growing there. I put a light over the fuge section which at the time was relative low flow area and it grew in the sump only rather than in the tank. I would just siphon it out each week and continue to let it grow back. This is how you export the bound up nutrients out of your system that it uses for it's growth. Definately though excess nutrients is what causes it to grow, but where it actually grows will depend on flow. It is going to grow in the areas that flow is minimal. Flow by no means is the cure to eliminate it as you do have to get excess nutrients under control, but with increased flow you can basically dictate where you want it to grow like in my case where I made conditions more favorable for it to grow in the fuge section of my sump rather than in the tank. Who knows, if your tank has great flow throughout, you may never have a cyno problem in your tank even with excess nutrients available. What will probably happen is a more aggressive algae that loves high flow, may outcompete the cyno for these excess nutrients and grow instead. In any event, the solution to the problem is getting excess nutrients under control, but flow does play a part in where it will grow.

Here are two quick quotes taken from articles etc on flow affecting cyno

Increase water flow in the tank, cyanobacteria doesn’t do well in area of high flow. Expect this eradication process to take up to a month or more but many importantly, be patient

Came from this source http://articledirectorystore.com/pets/red-slime-algae-steps-that-will-eliminate-cyanobacteria/

Another one is this one

Another interesting fact to know is that Cyano generally starts in areas where water flow is restricted.

found here http://www.algone.com/aquarium-articles/saltwater-aquarium/cyanobacteria

These are basically just the first two that popped up doing a google search.

 

[ac7av]

I cant agree more but as you pointed out flow has nothing to do with getting it out of your tank. I have had it growing in the highest flow areas of my tank including on the power head intake and exhaust sides. That doesn’t sound like flow has anything to do with it being where it wants. All you will do with flow is blow it some ware else, maybe. The key is to figure out why you have it and get it to stop, or reduce it to a level that is acceptable. After all trying to eliminate it form your tank completely is not completely possible and may not be completely healthy for the system in a whole. Its not always easy and or simple to remove or eliminate to a level that is at balance and acceptable to your liking. After all it works for the system not agents it. An over abundance of it is a sign of other problems. If you try and do to many things to cure it you will never know what really did it when you achieve balance. But sometimes we just want results over night and nothing good has every happened over night in this hobby.

 

[Krish]

I cant agree more but as you pointed out flow has nothing to do with getting it out of your tank. I have had it growing in the highest flow areas of my tank including on the power head intake and exhaust sides. That doesn’t sound like flow has anything to do with it being where it wants. All you will do with flow is blow it some ware else, maybe. The key is to figure out why you have it and get it to stop, or reduce it to a level that is acceptable. After all trying to eliminate it form your tank completely is not completely possible and may not be completely healthy for the system in a whole. Its not always easy and or simple to remove or eliminate to a level that is at balance and acceptable to your liking. After all it works for the system not agents it. An over abundance of it is a sign of other problems. If you try and do to many things to cure it you will never know what really did it when you achieve balance. But sometimes we just want results over night and nothing good has every happened over night in this hobby.

Couldn't agree more. I used it at my advantage and just let it grow in my sump and siphoned it out/exported it weekly and let it continue to grow right back until the tank balanced out and it's food supply was gone. Eventually, it stopped growing in the sump altogether. I don't believe in chemicals to eliminate any algae problem. I go to the root of the problem. In my case, my problem was natural...A tank trying to find it's balance. I was just happy I was able to battle cyno in my sump rather than in the tank as I didn't have to look at it in there. I used a H.O.T Magnum canister filter to vaccum it out. Here is a picture of a new cartridge next to one after sucking out the cyno from the sump on one of my weekly cleanings




And if you look to the left of the picture below, you can see the cyno growing on the walls. All it took for me to accomplish this was add a light more suitable for the cyno to grow over the fuge section of my sump which I ran for more hours a day than the tank's photoperiod and then this sump used a 600 gph pump at the time that had a bit of head loss so it was slowish flow through there.

 

[ac7av]

That’s the same direction I have been heading to eliminate my own problem.
I incorporated a new refrugium with greens growing it it and light more favorable to growing it so I have a more easy place to harvest it from the system. Its only been working for a month now but what a difference its made.

This and a few other changes is what its taken to get it to clear out of my tank but this is what I think has made the biggest impact. The other changes I made were to get the skimmer into a stable water level instead of one that fluctuated with the evaporation of the tank. Feeding a bit less then I was. And last, stop trying to get it out of the tank witch proved imposable with out doing something to make it want to leave where I didn’t want it. In the end it is so much less work now.

 

[Krish]

Nice!! I know you have been battling things there for a bit. Hopefully this works.

 

[Markee]

Thanks everyone. I changed the flow already so I hope it helps a little at least even if it doesn't cure it, and I will try to feed less because I tend to feed more than I should..

 

[OldFishMan]

Thanks everyone. I changed the flow already so I hope it helps a little at least even if it doesn't cure it, and I will try to feed less because I tend to feed more than I should..

I agree, more flow just blows it somewhere else. There are three ways to keep a FO / FOWLR tank, no filter with many water changes, filter on when cleaning and for a day or two after with moderate water changes, and a full filter to remove excess organics with minimum water changes. I prefer the full filter method.

The only thing I know red slime will kill is hair algae --- I use this to trick to clean my rock.

Organics --- think before you drop it in the tank.

OFM

 

[OldFishMan]

SOMETIMES Spokane water is fine. Depending on the season, and agricultural activity, Spokane tap water can have huge nitrate and phosphate spikes. Then we have the city randomly "treating" the water system, which adds other nasties to the water supply. It's important to really know what's in your tap water, if you're going to use it. It's also important to test it, regularly, as levels of certain elements fluctuate, a lot. I'm not sure, but don't think Markee is actually on Spokane city water, but may be on a well. Here, it's also important to know exactly what's in your water, if you're going to use it, unfiltered. Also, on a well, elemental property of the water will fluctuate, according to the season and surrounding agricultural activity, which in Markee's area, could be significant.

Markee, yes you can buy RO/DI water, from Barbie or Kevin. However, in the long run, you'll be better off purchasing an RO/DI filtration unit. You'll always want RO/DI water on hand, for topping off, to replace evaporation, AND for making your saltwater.

You are talking about the Rathdrum-Spokane Aquifer --> Aquifer | Spokane Water in almost all cases and the water is excellent !

OFM

 

[Krish]

I agree, more flow just blows it somewhere else.
OFM

OFM, the idea is to siphon/manually remove it first before increasing flow to these areas as the obvious will only happen if you blast the areas with flow beforehand.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[returnofsid]

You are talking about the Rathdrum-Spokane Aquifer --> Aquifer | Spokane Water in almost all cases and the water is excellent !

OFM

Do you actually test our water source or are you just stating your opinion as fact, again? I do test our water source. During the summer months, our water supply is loaded with nitrates, from spring agricultural activities. Again, in the winter, our water supply is loaded with nitrates, from fall agricultural activities.

Almost every summer, Post Falls, Rathdrum and outlying areas are given a "Boil recommendation," to boil their tap water, prior to consuming it, due to potentially dangerous bacteria in the water supply.

 

[Markee]

Just thought I'd show you what my cyano problem looks like. Just took this today. Its in the bottom left on the tall rock and the sand.






Oh and Michael theres a couple of the corals I got from you!

 

[returnofsid]

Your cyano problem is much less drastic than I imagined. Looks like you're getting a handle on it! Glad the corals are doing well!!!

 

[ac7av]

You took the words right out of my mouth. Where’s the problem?

 

[Markee]

Haha, thanks guys It really has decreased. It was all over the sandbed and even on the back wall of the tank. Now its only thick on the bottom left corner, with a thin layer of it here and there. Thanks for the tips and I hope it is completely gone soon.