RED/GREEN SLIME problem

How do i get rid of this algae? i suck it up and then it comes right back? my sand turn red then the slime comes? please help!

 

There is lots of what I call temp solutions, Red Slime Remover, Maricine, turning your lights off for 48 hours, cut back on feeding. I have had a problem with red slime for almost a year now. No matter what I do it does not seem to go all the way away and within a few months there is a large out break again. All of my params are in check, I only feed minimally every other day. The most efective thing I found is to pull out as much as I can, try one of the above rememdies and hope for the best.

 

First off its not a algae its a bacterium and what you see is the protective cocoon it builds around its self to keep it in an anaerobic state .

What id does not like is Oxygen and 0'2 saturated water. This is why it seems to always start low an as the 02 content of the water lowers it moves up. Also lack of available Carbonates is a thing it prefers also.. then you throw the few things it likes its environment to contain or not contain then you add the cooler K of old bulbs then it kicks it into overdrive,
I would get more oxygenated water to the area its growing in and cause more surface agitation of the tanks water then kick the DKH up to 12 to 14 and maintain the Ca at 400 at least and check into the condition and age of the light bulbs . The temporary fix of the doxicyllin or tetracycline will hold it at bay until the water quality changes takes effect in a few weeks to months . As with any problems its slow process to eradicate it.

 

Personally i would just get a cyano eating hermit crab and then forget about it

 

What type of hermit eatsit? i have red/blue and they dont touch it, neither does my sand sifting star or sand sifting snail

 

If cyno...most hermits won't touch it.

Is cycle all tanks go thru somewhat.

Increase flow.

Vacuum up what you can, increase amount and frequency of water changes till it goes away.



Don't be surprised to see it turn return...it likely will. But eventually it will disappear for good as system stabilizes...


Good Luck.

 

I have to disagree Scott - my hermit gobbles it down, there was a time when i laid my tank bare for 6 weeks and it was growing on the rocks and sand, when i decided to restock i put a single hermit and urchin in and between them they gobbled it up!

heres a link to some hermit crabs, the description tells you if they eat cyano or not

Welcome to Saltcorner.

 

Direct some flow right on it. I moved a powerhead down so that it blew water right over it and it was gone within a few days.

I'm not a big chemical fan, but I've heard good things about Chemi-clean, just follow the directions as it lowers the amount of Oxygen in the tank.

 

thanks

 

I had great success with ULTRA LIFE RED SLIME REMOVER it worked great I haven't seen any red stuff since.