Red Slime Algae

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SkiBum121

Registered Member
Mar 4, 2006
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Hey guys, just wondering if anyone had some ideas on getting rid of red slime algae. I've vacuumed the sand, brushed my live rock, and cleaned off my tank equipment. I've also changed all the cartridges in my filter, but this stuff is tough. I don't want to add chemicals to the tank if I don't have to. Anyone with some new ideas on how to kill this stuff.
Thanks!

55 gal., 37 lbs. of live rock, red sea prizm protein skimmer, emperor filter, 1 damsel, and 1 panther grouper (I know...I know).
 
Cleaners that will work through the sand are the most helpful. Sand stirrers and cleaners are critical. I kept 2 65 gallon tanks that were plumbed together--one was a reef, and one was fish only. The FO had a trigger that prevented the additions of a cleaner crew, while the reef had tons. The FO constantly had slime, but the reef never had so much as a scrap. The same water for both systems, the same maintenance on both. Only difference that was definitive was the presence of critters in the reef.

Nasarrius, ceriths, stars and worms are great additions.
 
You must remove ALL potential sources of phosphate and nitrate including:

1. Any filter sponges/bio-balls/filter floss
2. "dead" areas in your sand (with sand stirrers)
3. clogged live rock (with increased flow and a blasting with a turkey baster)
4. your waterchage water (use RO/DI)
5. decaying matter (by feeding less and removing all dead creatures)
6. your water column (with macroalgae in a refugium)

Try also a phosphate removal media like ROWAphos or Phosguard.
 
undefinedThere is a product call Red Slime Remover. I have used it on my reef systems and it works well. Just make sure that you change your light if they are to old and keep your lights on 8 to 9 hours per day. It is a type of cynobacteria. Cynobacteria is caused by something died or water conditions. Check you levels. After treating the tank and doing a water change get a poly filter and put it in your filter system where the water flows through the last mechanical filter. Poly filters are a filter that you keep in and just replace with a new one when it is discolored. What color it change to is what in your tank. Check your local aquarium shop for a poly filter. Hope this helps. Ulta Life Red Slime Remover is the name of the product. Good Luck!
 
Products such as Red Slime Remover and Boyd's Chemi-clean do work. However, they do not deal with the CAUSE of the cyanobacteria. If you don't remove what's causing the cyano it will come back over time.

Secondly, such products can be absolutely deadly to your tank unless used with extreme caution. Follow all directions very carefully.

Polyfilters are a great product for removing medication and such from the water column. Gets quite expensive if you use it on the regular basis. I use it once in a while to "mop up". But again, Polyfilters don't deal with the source of the cyano.
 
I used the red slime removal and now my skimmer creates tons of bubbles and foam. How can I stop it?
 
Read and follow the directions letter for letter.

Some of these products actually tell you to shut of your skimmer during treatment. If not, a course of water changes of specific amounts and intervals is usually part of the treatment process outlined in the directions.
 
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