Dealing with red slime help!

[Novicekeeper]

Hello,
I have been dealing with this constant red slime sheets for months. I’ve posted previously and received some suggestions and tried following them but nothing prevailed. I really want to start getting corals but want to solve this first before introducing more.

32 gallon Biocube
Stock-
2 clown fish
2 fire fish
1 watchman goby
1 pistol shrimp
10 snails
1 sand sifting star

Parameters:
1.025 salinity
0 ammonia
15 nitrate
0.23 phosphates (yesterday was 0.16)
Doing 5 gallons water chance a week with rodi.

Previous things done to help from peoples suggestions:

originally was using a salifert phosphate test that was showing 0 ppm
Originally was using api nitrate test showing under 5ppm

Switched to Hanna nitrate high range and phosphate low range.
Originally thought I had low nutrients but in reality they are higher.

I added another wave maker which helped at first but now not detering the algae

Added 10 snails which ended up cleaning the rocks and not so much sand.

I removed chemi pure from tank as phosphates were thought to be low but not the case.
Not sure if I should add it back?

Manually removes the red slime daily. It comes back the next day with vengeance.

Added microbacter 7 bacferia to tank.

I would really like to start adding corals but want to solve the issue first. People have said it’s cyano l. I bought chemi clean but do not want to use it till last resort.

I’ll added some pictures from what it looks like and under a microscope.

Thank you everyone

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

Hello,
I have been dealing with this constant red slime sheets for months. I’ve posted previously and received some suggestions and tried following them but nothing prevailed. I really want to start getting corals but want to solve this first before introducing more.

32 gallon Biocube
Stock-
2 clown fish
2 fire fish
1 watchman goby
1 pistol shrimp
10 snails
1 sand sifting star

Parameters:
1.025 salinity
0 ammonia
15 nitrate
0.23 phosphates (yesterday was 0.16)
Doing 5 gallons water chance a week with rodi.

Previous things done to help from peoples suggestions:

originally was using a salifert phosphate test that was showing 0 ppm
Originally was using api nitrate test showing under 5ppm

Switched to Hanna nitrate high range and phosphate low range.
Originally thought I had low nutrients but in reality they are higher.

I added another wave maker which helped at first but now not detering the algae

Added 10 snails which ended up cleaning the rocks and not so much sand.

I removed chemi pure from tank as phosphates were thought to be low but not the case.
Not sure if I should add it back?

Manually removes the red slime daily. It comes back the next day with vengeance.

Added microbacter 7 bacferia to tank.

I would really like to start adding corals but want to solve the issue first. People have said it’s cyano l. I bought chemi clean but do not want to use it till last resort.

I’ll added some pictures from what it looks like and under a microscope.

Thank you everyone

Looks like cyano to me too.

How to Prevent and Remove Cyanobacteria From Your Aquarium - Help! I Wrecked My Tank Ep. 5

Cyanobacteria can be a real pain in the rear but taking the right steps to prevention can save you a ton of effort in the long run. Learn how to prevent, remove, and control Red Slime in your saltwater aquarium.

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

When you've tried everything as you have, its time for chemiclean IMO

 

[Novicekeeper]

When you've tried everything as you have, its time for chemiclean IMO

I’m concerned that originally when I posted the tests I had used had showed all the nutrients were low or 0. I was over feeding on purpose to raise numbers and removing my carbon. So now that I’m using a Hanna tester showing that my nitrates and phosphates are actually higher that I should be trying other things.

As well if I use chemiclean what should I aim to keep my nitrate and phosphates at so that it doesn’t return again.
Thank you.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I’m concerned that originally when I posted the tests I had used had showed all the nutrients were low or 0. I was over feeding on purpose to raise numbers and removing my carbon. So now that I’m using a Hanna tester showing that my nitrates and phosphates are actually higher that I should be trying other things.

As well if I use chemiclean what should I aim to keep my nitrate and phosphates at so that it doesn’t return again.
Thank you.

To me your nitrates/phosphates are a little high but thats more my own preference. In todays reefing culture your nutrients perfectly acceptable level, I wouldn't worry about it. The below article is from the forum chemist and explains more.

Its really unknown exactly why cyano appears in our tanks, so its hard to know how to avoid it. The prevailing thoughts are higher level of dissolved organics and nutrients. IDK if you have a skimmer but if not then continue the weekly water changes, maybe even increase a little. (the below article explains more about doc's, good info to kow when you have time to read it). Personally I do 20% weekly water changes on my main tanks, and my tanks are years old. Also consider that cyano is a bacteria, chemiclean is another bacteria to counter the cyano, its not an algaecide. I've used it 3 or 4 times over the years, and its worked well for me, the cyano didn't come back. Some people say that it comes back, and it will if you don't solve the underlying issue's then it will come back, but looks like you've added more flow and doing good maintenance, so I would just use it and move on past this chapter. Trust me it will be cleared within a day, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner, just follow the instructions very carefully. Good luck

DOC is The Most Important Parameter For A Healthy Reef Tank: Here’s a New Method to Manage It | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

In this article, I will provide an overview of my take on the current zeitgeist of reefing and explain why the entire industry is ignoring a critical aspect of coral care. I will explain what issues…

reefbuilders.com

Randy’s Thoughts on Nutrient Target Ranges

Thoughts on Nutrient Target Ranges by Randy Holmes-Farley Almost nothing in the world of reef aquarium chemistry causes as much discussion as selecting and maintaining ranges for nitrate and phosphate. Some aquarists want low targets, some want high targets, some want a particular ratio, and...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Novicekeeper]

To me your nitrates/phosphates are a little high but thats more my own preference. In todays reefing culture your nutrients perfectly acceptable level, I wouldn't worry about it. The below article is from the forum chemist and explains more.

Its really unknown exactly why cyano appears in our tanks, so its hard to know how to avoid it. The prevailing thoughts are higher level of dissolved organics and nutrients. IDK if you have a skimmer but if not then continue the weekly water changes, maybe even increase a little. (the below article explains more about doc's, good info to kow when you have time to read it). Personally I do 20% weekly water changes on my main tanks, and my tanks are years old. Also consider that cyano is a bacteria, chemiclean is another bacteria to counter the cyano, its not an algaecide. I've used it 3 or 4 times over the years, and its worked well for me, the cyano didn't come back. Some people say that it comes back, and it will if you don't solve the underlying issue's then it will come back, but looks like you've added more flow and doing good maintenance, so I would just use it and move on past this chapter. Trust me it will be cleared within a day, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner, just follow the instructions very carefully. Good luck

DOC is The Most Important Parameter For A Healthy Reef Tank: Here’s a New Method to Manage It | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

In this article, I will provide an overview of my take on the current zeitgeist of reefing and explain why the entire industry is ignoring a critical aspect of coral care. I will explain what issues…

reefbuilders.com

Randy’s Thoughts on Nutrient Target Ranges

Thoughts on Nutrient Target Ranges by Randy Holmes-Farley Almost nothing in the world of reef aquarium chemistry causes as much discussion as selecting and maintaining ranges for nitrate and phosphate. Some aquarists want low targets, some want high targets, some want a particular ratio, and...

www.reef2reef.com

Makes sense. I’ll use the chemi clean this weekend. Do you think I should get an air pump or does two wave makers plus the stock return pump have enough water movement?

 

[szyker]

I had a great success with Korallen Zucht CyanoClean. Those are bacteria which compete with cyano. However this method is for the patient one, you would have to dose it every day for 2-3 months to get rid of it. Then after they are gone they recommend adding it once a week to never have it again. Worked for me and my tank is still cyano clean after few months.

 

[Wu Wei Reefing]

Cyano is a bacteria not an algae, so almost no cleanup crew activity search for it. Stick to manual removal. Increased flow (like way more), adding bio diversity, and getting nutrients under control. I wouldnt go near chemi clean. Nuke and put a huge hole in the biome, what takes its place could be good. Could be bad. You CAN fix it naturally. You do not need a nuke like chemiclean. This make months to fix. Be patient.

 

[dwest]

I’ve been reefing for over 30 years. During the most successful times during the life of my tanks, there was red cyano present.

If I were you, I’d go ahead and add the corals you want. As the corals grow, they will shade the areas that cyano now grow. Do manual removal of cyano periodically and provide conditions for coral growth. Over time I would suspect that you’ll have a nice tank with bits of cyano now and then.

 

[CHSUB]

Originally thought I had low nutrients but in reality they are higher

Aquariums are in general dirt, just the dust in the room provides ample nutrients. Hobbyist’s main job is cleaning. It is really that simple. Gravel in your aquarium can be describe as a septic tank. There is no reason to wait on corals because algae is never “solved” it is a continuous process.

Manually removes the red slime daily

Keep doing this, add corals, and do great maintenance. No fixes in this hobby, it is better described as a job that is never completed.

 

[Robb05]

Makes sense. I’ll use the chemi clean this weekend. Do you think I should get an air pump or does two wave makers plus the stock return pump have enough water movement?

Did the chemi clean work for you ?