[sandoval]

can anyone tell me how to get rid of red slime

[vtec si]

High water flow and keeping water quality up! is what worked for me. You can use products like anti-red or red slime remover but it will just come bake in a few weeks.

Martin

[GaryZ]

Originally Posted by vtec si

High water flow and keeping water quality up! is what worked for me. You can use products like anti-red or red slime remover but it will just come bake in a few weeks.

Martin

And when red slime comes back and bake's for you.....Mmmmm...Mmmmm, thats some down home goodness.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by sandoval

can anyone tell me how to get rid of red slime

Run a search on "cyanobacteria" and you will get a lot of previous threads on this topic. Here is a typical cyano thread: Slime Algae

[Meric]

I have used Chemi Clean as a quick fix to remove Cyno, but the best way is to get your tank stable. If you tank is new then it may be a while before the Cyno is completely gone. Try reducing the amount you feed by 75%, increase skimming and water flow in the tank for a few days.

[My2heartboys]

Originally Posted by Meric

I have used Chemi Clean as a quick fix to remove Cyno, but the best way is to get your tank stable. If you tank is new then it may be a while before the Cyno is completely gone. Try reducing the amount you feed by 75%, increase skimming and water flow in the tank for a few days.

I was going to say about the same myself. If you use Poly Ox or something like that please work on water quality, chemistry, and movement. Also go through and check all of your intakes and outputs, hoses, and other narrow equipment that might get narrowed from build-up. Make sure that there are no dead spots (no water movement--or too low a water movement).

Additives and supplements are a great help--but that is all they are. They are not solutions to different problems in a bottle. Whatever you use--make sure it does not wipe out your biofiltration--otherwise your tank could cycle again. You can also shorten your photo period on your tank and in between when the lights are out--make sure your moon lights are unplugged and cover your tank so that light from the room cannot get in.

Just what I have learned from very recent (as in been there still there) experience and some of these things have helped me.

Speaking of...gotta go get ready to black out the tank for the night.

Anne

[AquariumSpecialty]

Originally Posted by sandoval

can anyone tell me how to get rid of red slime

Can you tell me what your Ph and dKH are?

...before the lights come on and right before the lights go out.

Are you adding Kalkwasser as your top-off water?

[My2heartboys]

Originally Posted by sandoval

can anyone tell me how to get rid of red slime

__________________________________________________ ____

Originally Posted by AquariumSpecialty

can anyone tell me how to get rid of red slime

Can you tell me what your Ph and dKH are?

...before the lights come on and right before the lights go out.

Are you adding Kalkwasser as yor top off water?

__________________________________________________ ____
I was intially testing my water 2x a day. Not only pH and dKH-but got a lot of flack for doing so much testing. It did tell me my dKH was sky high and my pH for the most part was stable. That was also when I found out my mag was way low as well. Another reason for my chosen 4 pronged attack. That is a good question and one that might be worth investigating.

Anne

[AquariumSpecialty]

[quote=My2heartboys][quote=AquariumSpecialty]
I was intially testing my water 2x a day. Not only pH and dKH-but got a lot of flack for doing so much testing. It did tell me my dKH was sky high and my pH for the most part was stable. But it is another good question and one that might be worth investigating.

Anne

Anne,

Not to quote a past President but, "I feel your pain" (or at least I have from past dealings with cyanobacteria). Good luck with it. Q. why do you think your dKH is so high? Usually the inverse is true with cyano. problems. It makes me think there may be other issues. Too many variables to discuss via a keyboard...I would like to be of help if I can.

[My2heartboys]

[quote=AquariumSpecialty][quote=My2heartboys]

Originally Posted by AquariumSpecialty

I was intially testing my water 2x a day. Not only pH and dKH-but got a lot of flack for doing so much testing. It did tell me my dKH was sky high and my pH for the most part was stable. But it is another good question and one that might be worth investigating.

Anne

Anne,

Not to quote a past President but, "I feel your pain" (or at least I have from past dealings with cyanobacteria). Good luck with it. Q. why do you think your dKH is so high? Usually the inverse is true with cyano. problems. It makes me think there may be other issues. Too many variables to discuss via a keyboard...I would like to be of help if I can.

Before the first of the month--when I started doing 11 gallon w/c 2x weekly because of the red slime--my dKH was around 12-13 if not a little higher.

Since doing the w/c my dKH has been OK had to add super buffer only once.

Anne

[sandoval]

i have had my tank up and running for about 6 months. shouldnt my tank be fully cycled by now.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by sandoval

i have had my tank up and running for about 6 months. shouldnt my tank be fully cycled by now.

The initial cycle usually takes three to six weeks. The tank continues to cycle after the initial cycle and is usually relatively stable after about six months. You could say that it takes a good 18 months for the tank to mature.

Your cyanobacteria problem at this time is probably not related to your initial cycle. There are several factors that can result in the growth of cyanobacteria. It can be triggered by a change in any one of several different parameters. Even if all water quality parameters seem to be just fine, it can be triggered by a shift in lighting. This is why you will hear people recommending that you replace your lamps if they are in need of replacement. That's not likely if your lamps are all only six months old.

Another recommendation is to raise your alkalinity somewhat as this seems to help get rid of cyanobacteria. This is why others in this thread asked you what your pH and alkalinity readings are right now. Try to keep your pH above 8.2 and raise your alkalinity to 10-12 dKH. To keep that in balance, your calcium should be around 450-475 ppm.

If possible, adjust your water current so that it is blowing directly at the areas with the most cyanobacteria. This strong water current will physically disrupt the strands.

Clean your skimmer and make sure it is working properly. Strong skimming is one of the best weapons in the war against cyanobacteria. You want to get your nitrate readings as low as possible. Cyanobacteria is dependent on nitrogen. It's also dependent on light, too, but that's not something you should consider reducing. Cyanobacteria is an oxygen generating, photosynthetic bacteria that has the ability to fix nitrogen. It is everywhere and has been everywhere for about 3.5 billion years now. It is in the air, in the soil and in the water -- both freshwater and saltwater.