Clean up crew.

I have a 55 gallon and am fighting red slime. Have tried everything I can think of. Increased flow. Put in Phosguard and now have 0 phosphates. Have scrubbed the rock during water changes and it keeps coming back on the rocks. Bought a CUC from reefcleaners and that didn't work out. Was about 90 snails in all. Most were dead when I got them and the ones that lived don't do much. The bigger snails stay on the glass most of the time. The real small dwarf cerith snails are worthless. What type of CUC can I get that will help get this crap off the rocks ?

 

Ahh if it were only that easy. I myself do not know what members of cuc eat cyanobacteria.

Manual removal, reduction of phos and nitrates levels, increase of flow have worked for me.

 

Snails don't fix the problem, they only eat it. Testing phosphates at 0 doesnt mean you have any, it just means in your current situation they are being consumed. Tell us more about your system. size, flow, lighting, light schedule, stocking, and feeding habit. Also are you using RO water and what kind of salt.

 

RO water always. 55 gallon. Two pumps. 900 and 750 gph. One HOB 250gph filter with a light and some cheato in it. 4 bulb T5 light. Only run the light around 6 hours a day lately. Currently using te stock coralife bulbs. Getting ATI bulbs next month on payday. 5 fish. Two clowns, one coral beauty angel, one pajama cardinal and royal gramma. Feed about 1/2 cube frozen brine daily. Thaw in RO water then rinse in a net before going into the ank with fish. Instand Ocean salt

 

Nitrates stay at around 10ppm also. Can't get them to drop. Even with the cheato in there they have never dropped.

 

Well the nitrates might be coming from frequent feedings, cutting back to feeding every other day for a bit and seeing how the algae reacts would be my first step. How old are your current bulbs? They go bad after awhile, so they should be replaced probably every 8 months ish. As for a CUC, Ive found that scarlet reefs and other hermits help a lot more than snails. Putting a skimmer on your tank might be beneficial as well. Hope you get it figured out! I hated the stuff when I had it in my old tank

 

The bulbs are about 4 months old. When I turn them on the left side is real dim for a minute or so before they turn on all the way. I have a reef octopus HOB skimmer running.

 

I don't think 1/2 cube daily is too frequent at all! I have been feeding at least a 1/2 cube if not more daily in my 55 for over a year. Had a little cyano a month or two in, but quickly went away.

More importantly is your filtration. I am thinking a sump/refugium would definitely help out your situation. How often do you clean out the HOB filter? How is your skimmer doing? Your flow in tank is a little on the low side, but should still be ok. Do you have any dead spots in the tank?

 

I have another pump but when I turn it on no matter where I point it sand starts moving around to much. I haven't cleaned the HOB filter yet. Been on for about two months. I had the red slime bad even before I got the HOB.

 

jborlace,

I think it's important to follow up with the advice and assistance provided in this thread.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/algae/red-slime-146958-3.html


Red Cyano is a very frustrating occurrence. From my experience with it, all my tanks seem to go through a cyano phase the first 6 months to a year. This usually passes on it's own without intervention other than manual removal and reduction of nutrients.



Does the tank receive any natural sun light?

Just out of curiosity what are you Mag and ALk (or pH) levels?

Try changing foods too.