Red Slime Alage Problem?

[Rockadile]

I am curious why people always point to lights when it comes to cyano.
seeing how it is not an algae but a bacteria lights really play nothing in the role of its growth. its main source of food is phosphates.

that said here is what I did to get rid of it. I got hit by a cement truck, had surgery, was not able to feed my tank for a few days, came back cyano gone. overfeeding and leaching phosphates is the biggest cause. Sometimes if your holding tanks for ro water are not cleaned out they can sometimes leach phosphates also not rinsing frozen foods, although I feed strictly rods food rinsing is not needed but things most other frozen foods are loaded with phosphates and should be rinsed prior to feeding your tank.

 

[Reed639]

How Does This Cleanup Crew Sound To Mow Down The Algae?
First I am going to get rid of all the crabs and I am going to get these snails:
5 Florida Ceriths
14 Dwarf Ceriths
5 Naursasus

 

[Rockadile]

I am not sure if there are any kind of CuC that will eat cyano or hair algae. you may want to try a blenny for hair algae but even then I am not sure.

 

[Akwarius]

How Does This Cleanup Crew Sound To Mow Down The Algae?
First I am going to get rid of all the crabs and I am going to get these snails:
5 Florida Ceriths
14 Dwarf Ceriths
5 Naursasus

Nassarius are mostly detritus eaters and will help to stir your sand but will not eradicate cyano, but the cerith will help. As for hair algae, I would check your nutrients as stated above and maybe get a turbo.

 

[xmetalfan99]

I am curious why people always point to lights when it comes to cyano.
seeing how it is not an algae but a bacteria lights really play nothing in the role of its growth. its main source of food is phosphates.

that said here is what I did to get rid of it. I got hit by a cement truck, had surgery, was not able to feed my tank for a few days, came back cyano gone. overfeeding and leaching phosphates is the biggest cause. Sometimes if your holding tanks for ro water are not cleaned out they can sometimes leach phosphates also not rinsing frozen foods, although I feed strictly rods food rinsing is not needed but things most other frozen foods are loaded with phosphates and should be rinsed prior to feeding your tank.

As bulbs are burned they slowly change spectrum. Very old bulbs wil help cyano grow. it is not the main reason for its growth but it helps.

 

[Akwarius]

As bulbs are burned they slowly change spectrum. Very old bulbs wil help cyano grow. it is not the main reason for its growth but it helps.

I've never witnessed this with my halide or t5s, but I have noticed an increased growth in hair algae as bulbs age.

 

[xmetalfan99]

I've never witnessed this with my halide or t5s, but I have noticed an increased growth in hair algae as bulbs age.

Yup, the green hair algae loves the red spectrum like all algae. I have noticed cyano blooms occuring with extremely old bulbs (18+months old).


Regarding the OP and "plenty of flow". Flow is a huge factor because it allows detritus to build up in certain areas. Wherever the build up occurs, cyano thrives. Adding flow prevents the detritus from settling.

 

[Akwarius]

Regarding the OP and "plenty of flow". Flow is a huge factor because it allows detritus to build up in certain areas. Wherever the build up occurs, cyano thrives. Adding flow prevents the detritus from settling.

Very true. Another alternative for poor flow in problem areas in "dusting" detritus when the lights are off or siphoning during a water change.

 

[xmetalfan99]

Very true. Another alternative for poor flow in problem areas in "dusting" detritus when the lights are off or siphoning during a water change.

Good suggestion. It is amazing the deitrus that comes off rocks even in tanks with high flow. Turkey basters work well for getting the detrirus off of rocks and outof cracks and crevices.

 

[Akwarius]

Good suggestion. It is amazing the deitrus that comes off rocks even in tanks with high flow. Turkey basters work well for getting the detrirus off of rocks and outof cracks and crevices.

I do this religiously. Every night when my lights go off I point a tunze around my tank and the water turns opaque.