red slime replaced by green slime

[Bughead]

While I was having health problems several months ago, my small tank (40 gal) endured some "deferred maintenance" and I had a bit of a problem with red slime (cyanobacteria) on the substrate. When I started feeling better, I cleaned up the tank and added another powerhead, eliminating the red slime. I also added about an inch of new sand--not enough for a nice DSB, but a little thicker nonetheless. Also a couple pieces of not yet alive tufa rock and a couple of small LR from my daughter's tank. So, because of the new stuff, I've got a little bit of diatom bloom, which I know will pass and doesn't bother me.

Problem! Sheets of bright green slime algae cover parts of the sand. I can lift it up, sort of, with a wide tooth comb, but it falls off in sheets. It's just like the red stuff, only green. The PHs help some. This is a simple tank set up with 2 small Penguin wheel filters--minus wheels-- and a Prizm skimmer. Water stays clear, ammonia 0, NO2 0, NO3 around 25 and phosphate .50. I'm careful not to over feed. Any suggestions on getting rid of this not so pretty green crap?

[Joaco]

Just fight it back like you did with cyanobacteria, and reduce your phosphates, that should do the trick. Siphon the carpet out to avoid spreading the spores, that will slow down the carpet growth until you get rid of it.

Joaco
ps: glad to hear that you are fine again

[Bughead]

Thanks, Joaco
Glad to have you back, too.