Extremely Frustrated

[MadReefer]

Just went to feed the fish and low and behold I have red slime on some sand and rocks. My yellow Watchman Goby is dead, upside down behind a rock in back. Can see it but cannot get to it to take out. I just added Chemiclean and started a 3 day blackout. I have no idea why I having this algae problem for months, probably 8 on and off. No clue what to do but give up.

 

[Mrx7899x]

What's your maintenance schedule like.

 

[Sump'N Fishy]

 

[DangerDave]

And your water parameters? I’m asking because I struggled with red cyano last year. It got bad, Chemiclean got me out of it finally during the summer. My issue was an imbalance of nutrients. Low nitrates and high phosphates.

I still struggle with it, but have been able to keep it at bay with constant GFO, and occasional H202 direct application to any algae in my frag tanks. Doesn’t seem to creep into the display. I also dose H202 (well kinda) through an oxydator. The oxydator keeps the 02 levels high, and reacts like ozone to the water (at lower levels than ozone though).

Make sure to keep your skimmer running with the cup removed. Chemiclean lowers your O2 levels.

Dave

 

[MadReefer]

Parameters are all in check. Only Nitrate a bit high .25
I believe the cause is low nutrients which for me is a joke. All my other thanks I had high phosphate but reading zero now.
I was dosing peroxide weekly but doesn't seem to be effective so stopped.

 

[DangerDave]

Crazy bro, similar result to what I had, but different parameters. They really all are unique. A thought, it may be reading such low phosphate because it's being used up by the cyano growth.

You'll find it eventually, just hang in there!

 

[Cjk90978]

How much sand bed do you have in the tank?/anything that might eat all the bacteria from the sand? i.e. sand sifting stars? I had a similar issue in my tank, and one day I went over to grab some coral from a fellow member and they said they also experienced the same issue. No matter what it would creep back. He said he removed about 1/2-2/3 of the sand in the tank and it helped tremendously. Sooooo I did the same thing and wouldn't you know it? It was greatly reduced by at least 50-75% for the remaining 3/4 months I had the tank. I also did some research into sand sifting critters and some of them will suck the sand try of bacteria and nutrients over time that its basically "dead" sand and helps to cultivate the red slime. So when I started up my Red Sea 350, I gave back my sand sifting stars, only put about 20-30 lbs of sand in the new tank and beyond the expected diatom bloom, I have never seen red slime again.

 

[MadReefer]

How much sand bed do you have in the tank?/anything that might eat all the bacteria from the sand? i.e. sand sifting stars? I had a similar issue in my tank, and one day I went over to grab some coral from a fellow member and they said they also experienced the same issue. No matter what it would creep back. He said he removed about 1/2-2/3 of the sand in the tank and it helped tremendously. Sooooo I did the same thing and wouldn't you know it? It was greatly reduced by at least 50-75% for the remaining 3/4 months I had the tank. I also did some research into sand sifting critters and some of them will suck the sand try of bacteria and nutrients over time that its basically "dead" sand and helps to cultivate the red slime. So when I started up my Red Sea 350, I gave back my sand sifting stars, only put about 20-30 lbs of sand in the new tank and beyond the expected diatom bloom, I have never seen red slime again.

The sand bed is very low, jsut enough to cover the glass, as I never did believe in deep ones even when I did FW. I recently picked up 2 sand sifting stars to cleanup the sand as it was horrible and they helped a little. I have been having this issue for months so I can't blame the starfish.

 

[Cjk90978]

The sand bed is very low, jsut enough to cover the glass, as I never did believe in deep ones even when I did FW. I recently picked up 2 sand sifting stars to cleanup the sand as it was horrible and they helped a little. I have been having this issue for months so I can't blame the starfish.

Yeah that was my shot in the dark in regards to the sand. Are there any particular areas that grows heavy, more quickly than other areas?

 

[Haus]

How’s your water circulation?

 

[MadReefer]

How’s your water circulation?

I have a Gyre on one side and an original single Koriala on other side. yesterday I swapped the single for a double Koriala I had.
Still water movement was fine all through the tank.

 

[dubs83]

What worked for me is getting back to a strict water change routine and chemiclean. I did what you did with the black out but I wrapped the entire tank, minus the top, in black construction bags to block any ambient light. Seems like That did the trick and never saw it again.

Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MadReefer]

I bring water to ACC to be tested and waiting should be early next week. See what they suggest. My black is entire tank. Dark sheet over tank n lights. No other light can get through.

 

[eholceker]

With your low nutrients are you sure its cyanobacteria and not dino's? Cyano is not difficult to get rid of.

 

[MadReefer]

With your low nutrients are you sure its cyanobacteria and not dino's? Cyano is not difficult to get rid of.

I

Seems I have both. The algae has gas bubbles and was told it's dinos.

 

[erics210]

My Red Sea Max has been having Red Sime issue for the lonest time. I think its the flow. Not a fan of the all in one filters.