Blue-green (red slime) algae

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kannarajesh

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May 5, 2004
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Hi,
I need help... and i would appreciate responses.

We have been having aquariums for the past 2 years.. and we recently shifted houses. we had to ofcourse empty the tanks, and start again the process. After one and a half months of right environment, my aquarium has a blue-green (red slime) algae bloom. Could any one suggest me how to get rid of these? I am afraid, my corals would be covered soon cutting off the light and oxygen for their survival.

Please help me.
 
Welcome to AC!

Sorry to hear about your problem.

Cyanobacteria thrive on high nutrients, low flow and too few detritivores. They often occur in situations like yours, where a tank is new or has gone through a disturbance.

Without knowing much, I'd suggest more circulation, a water change and some scarlet hermits. Also, it helps a bit to siphon the sheets of cyano off the rocks and sand, if you can.

But it would be better if you could post a little about the tank.
How big is it?
How much light?
Are you using a protein skimmer?
What livestock?
How much live rock?
Are you using a deep sand bed?
What are the parameters (specific gravity, pH, alkalinity, nitrate, phosphate, Ca, etc)?

All these can help to give a clue about what to do.
 
Thanks a ton for your reply..
Is really appreciated.

SW fish tank is 150 gallons
Light is 96 Watts each (2 actinics, 2 10,000 K)
Sp gravity is 1.023 rest all calculations are on the dot (clear)
Tank has 7 tangs (yellow)
3 triggers.
1 psedochromis, 1 damsel (still living from the starter fishes we had)
We do have a protein skimmer
We dont have live rock except one
sand bed is deep.

The other tank is 55 gallons, 2 actinics 150 watts each.
Has only corals (2 mushrooms, 1 hammer, 2 candy coral, 1 red brain, 1 fungia coral, 2 star polyp, 1 goniopora, 1 finger leather.)
All live rocks, 30 lbs. sand bed not very deep.
This one does not have a skimmer
:(
please help me, if you can
 
The best advice I can give is to increase circulation and reduce nutrient input. Reduce feedings, Do an extra water change or two, siphon out as much detritus as you can, make sure the skimmer is operating efficiently, add a powerhead or two, that kind of stuff.

I am a bit suprised that there is no nitrate in the 150. It has a lot of fish and no live rock. It might be good to add more at some point.

Without skimming, it would also be helpful to have a deep sand bed and maybe twice as much live rock in the 55.

With any luck, this is just a temporary bloom after the tanks were move, but it may be a sign that the tanks need help getting rid of nutrients.
 
One other thing to do is to make sure your calcium level is up around 450-475. This will help reduce the spread of the cyano.

If it gets to be a problem, you can use Chemi-clean by Boyds ent. I have used this stuff several times in a number of tanks with great sucess and no ill effects.
 
kannarajesh, I'm not trying to flame you or be a jerk but, that's way too many tangs for a 150. I would assume that they are all very immature because as they grow up you're probably going to have some real aggression issues. IMO that than MIGHT be able to house maybe 2 yellows MAYBE. Just wanted to let you know before you have some nasty problems and dead fishes. Also what kind of triggers do you have? Lots of them get real big and will eat just about anything else in the tank. The best way to spell trigger IMO is attitude.
hth
Chris
 
Thanks a lot for alll your responses.
Triggers, i have Humu humu trigger I am now returning them, plus with a couple of tanks. I guess that should reduce the load.

I will keep you guys posted of any thing good which happens.

thanks again.
 
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