Got red slime ??!! What are my options

[Jonathan blackwood]

So I recently started to notice a few spots on my rocks and sand have red slime. And as I pay close attention. .. my overflow is covered in algae and red slime!!! I've added more phosphate remover and I ordered chemi-clean.(via mail in 2 days) my question is, until the slime killer arrives, I want to contain or stop the spreading. How can I do that? I know I can siphon or brush away the more visible infected areas, but will the small particles that don't get siphoned out start more algae ?? The ones that get away and float around the tank ?? And I am also going to shut off my pumps. Clean and scrape the overflow clean and dump that into a bucket so it doesn't return to my sump once cleaned off. Any ideas or what I can do to stop spreading until I get chemi-clean ??? Please and thank you. And I forgot to take close up of algae inside tank. Here's just the overflow

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

your tank is already infected. theres no stopping it. Cyano bacteria was the first organism on the planet. your hole body is covered in it. As well as it's cousin, yeast.
what you seeing is a spot of minor die off. algae and detritus build up. it attracts cyano and other happier bacteria.
just clean it off. maybe turn up the lights in the fuge and feed a lil less.

Or you have a food that the cyano loves. marine snow in my tank, cyano just blows up.
its always with us it's just a matter of getting the extra food out or out competing it with macros.
or you can go the bottle route too. I dont..

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

How old is the tank BTW

 

[sonubhai]

I had cyano in my 1 yr old tank, when i change the flow and moved the gyre into the back of the tank. OMG i was going mad trying to figure out whats wrong. Then when it got too much moved the gyre back to the side wall and started dosing micro bacter 7. After a 2 months and many water changes i have things under control. I am running a ROX 0.8 carbon reactor with GFO mixed.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I used a refugium and manual removal. Carpets of the stuff. Long story.

 

[Jonathan blackwood]

I used a refugium and manual removal. Carpets of the stuff. Long story.

So I should be safe to scrape off and clean off everything for the time being ?? It won't spread more from floating particles?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

yup.

 

[Williard_Karen]

@twilliard

 

[twilliard]

I would NOT scrape it down that is a bad idea if it is cyanobacteria
Yes the free cells can land and start a new area

 

[themcnertney]

I have a theory that weather change has something to do with cyano. Seems that every year the change from winter to summer, I tend to get cyano. Has been this way for the 8 years or so I've been in this hobby. My suggestion is as follows...

Increase flow. Use a turkey baster to blow it off. Siphon it when doing water changes. Increase water changes (smaller, more frequent changes). Feed less. Be patient.

 

[twilliard]

Increase flow. Use a turkey baster to blow it off. Siphon it when doing water changes. Increase water changes (smaller, more frequent changes). Feed less. Be patient.

?? Blowing it off is not a good idea

This is how small the cells are at 2500 power

 

[Thle009]

I had good luck with increasing flow.

 

[Jonathan blackwood]

I have a theory that weather change has something to do with cyano. Seems that every year the change from winter to summer, I tend to get cyano. Has been this way for the 8 years or so I've been in this hobby. My suggestion is as follows...

Increase flow. Use a turkey baster to blow it off. Siphon it when doing water changes. Increase water changes (smaller, more frequent changes). Feed less. Be patient.

Turkey baster to blow off and let free roam particles float away??

 

[Jonathan blackwood]

So of I can't scrape it or blow it off??? What to do then ? I don't want it to spread more by just leaving it

 

[themcnertney]

Turkey baster to blow off and let free roam particles float away??

Sorry, I wasnt clear. I like using a turkey baster to blow it off and use a siphon to remove it during water changes.

 

[Jonathan blackwood]

Sorry, I wasnt clear. I like using a turkey baster to blow it off and use a siphon to remove it during water changes.

Ok, so I will use a baster then and siphon out the majority of it at the same time

 

[hit_the_gap]

i am having the same issue. happens to me every year (around this time). small water changes, suck it out / blow it off. repeat, repeat, repeat.....
i also reduce the amount of food i feed. i hate it!

 

[Williard_Karen]

Honestly, I would not advise manual removal of any kind... You will increase the chances of it spreading throughout your tank. I run a 20g frag tank and when cyano is present, I dose it with H2O2. 1ml per 10g will help and it will not harm your tank.

 

[Jonathan blackwood]

Honestly, I would not advise manual removal of any kind... You will increase the chances of it spreading throughout your tank. I run a 20g frag tank and when cyano is present, I dose it with H2O2. 1ml per 10g will help and it will not harm your tank.

Can I buy the peroxide at any local store ? Or specific brand ??

 

[twilliard]

Yes you can get it most anywhere. In the medicine first aid area.
3% peroxide in a brown bottle.