Need help PLEASE

D. Torres · Jul 16, 2022

I have had this nuisance algae for months. I’ve tried chemiclean a couple times but it keeps coming back. The one circled in red I’m sure is red slime. I think I just need to use a higher dose of chemiclean. The one circled in white I have no idea what it is but it comes back fast. It is an orange color and sticks to everything (substrate, glass, rock). Nitrate is 5 or 0 (with API test kit) phosphate is 0 with Salifert test kit. Please if you know what the orange stuff is and how to get rid of it I’d greatly appreciate it.

AydenLincoln · Jul 16, 2022

Oh boy! I would say really bad cyano! What kind of water do you use and do you have any clean up crew? Watch this video:

vetteguy53081 · Jul 17, 2022

Red slime it is. Its a type bacterial cyano and typically starts when water nutrient concentrations go haywire. Just like when you eat too much sugar and your waistline starts to bloom, the same happens in your tank when concentrations of phosphate, nitrate and other organic compounds are too high.
Some of the most common causes include:
- Protein skimmer which fills water with tiny air bubbles. As bubbles form from the reaction chamber, dissolved organic compound molecules stick to them. Foam forms at the surface of the water and is then transferred to a collection cup, where it rests as skimmate. When the protein skimmer does not output the best efficiency or you do not have the suitable protein skimmer to cover the tank, the air bubbles created by the skimmer might be insufficient. And this insufficiency of air bubbles can trigger the cyano to thrive.
- Overstocking / overfeeding, your aquarium with nutrients is often the culprit of a cyano bloom
- Adding live rock that isn’t completely cured which acts like a breeding ground for red slime algae
- If you don’t change your water with enough frequency, you’ll soon have a brightly colored red slime algae bloom. Regular water changes dilute nutrients that feed cyanobacteria and keeps your tank beautifully clear
- Using a water source with nitrates or phosphates is like rolling out the welcome mat for cyano. Tap water is an example
- Inadequate water flow, or movement, is a leading cause of cyano blooms. Slow moving water combined with excess dissolved nutrients is a recipe for pervasive red slime algae development

I recommend to reduce white light intensity or even turn them off for 5-7 days. Add liquid bacteria daily for a week during the day at 1.5ml per 10 gallons. Add Hydrogen peroxide at night at 1ml per 10 gallons. Add a pouch of chemipure Elite which will balance phos and nitrate and keep them in check.

After the week, add a few snails such as cerith, margarita, astrea and nassarius plus 6-8 blue leg hermits to take control.

Timfish · Jul 17, 2022

Don't use chemiclean again, you may be making a resistant strain of cyano. I only use manual removal to deal with nuisance algae issues, I'd just siphon it off with water changes. You need to raise your PO4 to above .03 mg/l to minimize the risk of causing a dificiency in your corals (which only helps nuisance algae). FWIW here's a video for using steel straws to siphon out stuff.