[SupaJSK]

Do you guys know of anything that I can do to help control red slime algae? I really have a lot of it in my tank. I posted before and was told to get more water movement near the sand. I've tried that but it hasn't helped much. Can anyone help me out?

[Rin]

I'm not sure about RED slime algae, but generally you need snails to remove film types of algae. You also need to figure out why it's there in the first place. I would put in a macro algae that you find appealling to compete for the nutrients that the red algae is using to thrive on.

From what I've heard, algae makes up most of the bio mass in the ocean. Our lagoon-style reef tanks are a perfect biosphere for these algaes. Sometimes accepting a certain amount of growth is inevitable.

[Reinhold]

Every time I try to increase the current down near the sand bed, I wind up blowing it all over. I still have Red Slime algae, despite a large crew of snails, macroalgae, and perfect water parameters. I usually try to pick it off the DSB by hand when it forms clumps.

[Joaco]

Red slime algae is actually cyanobacteria. Check this out:

http://www.wyx.com/iheo/tank/cyanobacteria.htm

Excess dissolved nutrients are the most frequent cause, check the link above

Joaco

[Rick]

Here is a link that also may help!
Are you using PC lighting?
http://reefsources.itgo.com/features...s/cyanora.html
Rick

[ravenmore]

Supa -

I posted this in response to a similar question on Dr. Ron's forum in Reef Central:
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I haven't heard of chemi-clean, but as Dr. Shimek mentioned it's probably bad in the long run. It's probably an anti-biotic of some kind.

"Problem" algaes are never the problem but rather symptoms of the REAL problem - which is excess nutrients. New tanks frequently have algae blooms because the ecosystem of the tank is balancing out the nutrient load (my hypothesis anyway). I suspect this process can take ~ a year assuming you are consistent with your feedings.

You should work on removing the nutrients and expect a several month battle with the cyano. Caulerpa is good as it will aquire nutrients otherwise used by the cyano, eventually starving it. May not want to put it in the main tank though, as you could end up having problems reminicent of California's trouble with c. taxifolia. (my caulerpa has started over growing everything in my tank - wish I had put it in a lit sump).

Side note based on anecdotal evidence: I had two cases of cyano that went away virtually overnight when I added actinic light to the tank. One was on a 20 gal - it dissappeared when I added a 20watt NO actinic light. The other was on my 60 gal when I went from a 5k light to a 10k MH bulb. However, if their are excess nutrients in the system and you do get rid of the cyano you will likely be trading one problem for another. The excess nutrients will present themselves as another problem algae most likely - like hair algae ect, ect.......
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I'd like to add here that the reason your water is testing ok is that the nutrients are being aquired by the cyano quicker than they can build up in the system to test. You can also try stepping up your water changes, make sure to syphon as much of the cyano as possible. This will pull both the cyano and the nutrients it absorbed out of the system.

-Mike

[CnT]

Hi all... i got rid of mine by not having the lights on at all... left them all OFF for a whole week n the red slime went away... but mines a fish only... i dunno if u could do the same with a reef setup... in fact its faster if the tanks in total darkness...

My 2 cents...

HTH

[reefhead]

http://www.ultralife.com

goto to the slime remover



***from the site***
"Don't Let ugly'Red Slime' destroy the beauty and delicate balance of your aquarium. Now you can finally remove that unsightly red algae quickly without harm to fish, invertebrates, corals or reef inhabitants. Simple add 'Red Slime Remover' and watch the brilliant colors come back to your aquarium as the Red Slime disappears. Truly a product you should not be without.

SKU#
Description
Size / Treatment

SLI Red Slime Remover 250-300 gal Treatment "


Ive used this manytimes for the past year.

no damage to fish/corals!!!

Although, it does Not solve the root of the problem.

[ScottC]

YES!! My red slime vanished!! Only to be followed by a green species of cyano immune to the red slime remover.

[Joe]

Red slime remover worked OK for me. I could see the red slime begin to dissapear in only a matter of hours. I don't have the instructions but I was told it works better if you leave your skimmer off for a few days??? I don't remember reading that and did not do that.

Joe