Red Algae

[Wayne's World]

I have started a new tank, 25gal. It is composed of a layered dsb and about 40lb of fiji live rock, no skimmer. It is lit by 2 18" eclipse lamps, obviously filtered by an eclipse. Over the past 3 months everything has been going great. The cycle has been complete for about a month and I was getting pleased with what looked like red coraline algae forming on the glass. Well the algae has taken over the glass and has started on the sand bed. I have added turbo snails last night and will add a emerald shortly. What I am asking? It looks like coraline but just peels off easily, it just gets thicker in some areas and doesn't seem slimy at all.
Any Ideas?
Nitrite=0 ammonia=0 nitrate=5ppm
ph=8.23

[SomeHairyOldGuy]

What live stock is in your tank besides snails? Sounds like cyano bacteria to me. Is it a real deep red/maroon color? If you dont have any live stock yet just turn out your lights and let the bacteria die off. Could take several weeks. If you have live stock just cut back your lights 1 hour a week until your photo period runs for about 6 hours. Should see the bacteria start to disappear then. Frequent water changes, you could even try to syphon some of it out to help give it a little kick in the arse. Hope this helps.
SHOG

[Wayne's World]

Thanks for the advice.
The aquarium has no live stock, only rock and sand, lots of green algae. I will start at once on the light reduction and siphoning.

[shoeman]

You will also help yourself by using RO water. Some local water supplies tend to halp the cyno. I had some major problems until I switched exclusively to RO water, HTH

Phil