Getting Rid Of Red Slime Algae

[Triggerobsessed]

After taking the majority of my fish out of my 55 gallon i surprised to see that i still had as much red algae return. I've tried phosphate removers as well as nitrite and nitrate removers, but nothing seems to work. All the fish that are left in the tank are 1 small hippo tang, 2 percula clowns, a blue damsel, and an algae blenny. The corals in the tank are fully open, what could be the cause?

 

[kkyyllee]

add more flow to the ares affected, cut back on feeding, what are your water parameters?, if you need to be using nitrate, and nitrite remover u have other problems besides the cyano, do you have liverock, whats ur filtration?

 

[SkiFletch]

cut back on feeding

On a similar vein, I'd suggest changing what you're feeding... Switch brands or food types.

Also to the OP, what's your input water source, any skimming, lighting, and water change regimen like?

 

[Triggerobsessed]

I have three fluval 305s on the tank one with biological media, one with carbon, and another with phosphate and nitrite remover. I have a 4 bulb 250 watt t5 light on the tank. The water i put in the tank is part of the house RO sytem. I feed the fish once a day and i use spectrum thera+A by new life. I do have live rock in the tank, about 80 pounds. I dont give the fish too much food either when i feed them. And last i do have a skimmer on the tank that is rated for a tank of 100 gallons, and its running at full capacity constantly. I am though saving for a sump, do u think one would help control the algae?

 

[kkyyllee]

a sump wouldnt do anything but a refugium with macros would

 

[Triggerobsessed]

I do have an extra ref., any suggestions on types of macro algae?

 

[kkyyllee]

cheato

 

[leecara]

is the red salime on the sand bed as i just bought 6 cerith snaills what are sand sifters and every time i done a water change i just knocked a little sand around after 2 weeks it went completly

 

[Triggerobsessed]

is the red salime on the sand bed as i just bought 6 cerith snaills what are sand sifters and every time i done a water change i just knocked a little sand around after 2 weeks it went completly

The algae is on everything, and i have to clean it daily to prevent the corals from getting covered.

 

[drag]

wow sounds like a big mess. i only had it on my subtrate pretty bad.... i was recomended by my lfs to get a sand sifting diamond goby. im weary of what advice mt lfs gives because the mainly want to make a buck. but since i always wanted one i got it. cleaned it up 2 my substrate is spot less.
dident have it as bad a you though . all iknow to do would be 2 cut off its food supply by keeping your nitrates, nitrites, and phos down.

 

[SkiFletch]

Have you measured the TDS of your RO unit? Its possible that the membrane needs flushing or replacing.

You may want to consider switching food sources. Its possible that our food, even if consumed quickly, is contributing to excess nutrients.

And what are the kelvin ratings of the T5 bulbs, and whom are they made by?

 

[sacramonel]

Honestly, I think flow rate is the best answer. My brother's 29 had a boat load of cyano until he trippled the flow around everything. Now its completely gone.

 

[leecara]

i asked the guy at the lfs when i had cyno he said wet skim as this takes the proteins out of the water and not off the top so i wet skimed after 1 week -2 week while brushing it off with a gentle tooth brush on a poll everytime i water cahnged it went away completly then i went back to dry skim to take the proteins back off the top of the water some how it worked it might work for u -u never know lol