Help Needed Asap Red Algae

[mattrock]

ello all


i need help and advise asap

for the last few months i cant seem to get rid of red algae and its taking over my sand when i remove the algae im taking sand away and at this rate in gona have no sand left!!! what can the problem be? im doin regular water changes and iv changed the lights so theres new tubes
its taking over and looks horrible it goes for a day when i remove it then its back again im really at wits end and stuck on this problem

im also using elimi-phos/tropic marin in my fillter to control the phosphates before that i used a polyfilter which worked and now im using the elimi-phos

the lights are switched on at 12/1pm to 10pm so theres not too much lights going in the tank and feeding im cutting 1 frozen cube in half twice a day for 5 small fish.. in the picture u can also see the holes being dug or moved i was on about, whats doin this??

any advise would be good because like i say i cant figure out the problem.... maybe start the tank again??? plz help


cheers matt

 

[beesnees]

ello all


i need help and advise asap

for the last few months i cant seem to get rid of red algae and its taking over my sand when i remove the algae im taking sand away and at this rate in gona have no sand left!!! what can the problem be? im doin regular water changes and iv changed the lights so theres new tubes
its taking over and looks horrible it goes for a day when i remove it then its back again im really at wits end and stuck on this problem

im also using elimi-phos/tropic marin in my fillter to control the phosphates before that i used a polyfilter which worked and now im using the elimi-phos

the lights are switched on at 12/1pm to 10pm so theres not too much lights going in the tank and feeding im cutting 1 frozen cube in half twice a day for 5 small fish.. in the picture u can also see the holes being dug or moved i was on about, whats doin this??

any advise would be good because like i say i cant figure out the problem.... maybe start the tank again??? plz help


cheers matt

what are your water stats

 

[Crazy fishes]

By that image it looks like you have corals in your tank, is that right? If you don't shut the lights off completely for a few days and that should tell you whether it is algae or some bacterial problem. If you do have corals (soft corals as shown in the picture) then cut the photoperiod to 8 hours. Also have a look at the phosphate and nitrate levels in your tank and if high reduce.

There are a few suggestions to get you started

Regards

 

[mattrock]

ello

the phosphates level was high and i was told that water changes would bring it down and i dont think it has the coral u can see with the green polups has started to close.. is this because of the phosphate level is to high or the red algae? this seems to have have happend so fast i cant seem to control it

 

[VictorMeldrew]

my powerheads make holes in sand like that if i have not positioned them correctly when i have cleaned them, flow around the sand might help you out, by not letting the algea settle, just adjust your powerhead until its just right.

Regards
VM

 

[rabbut]

The red stuff is Cynobacteria, with many claiming it is caursed by low oxygen and/or low flow and/or high phosphate and/or high nitrate....

Start skimming wet if you have a skimmer, and adjust the pumps such that there is plenty of movement at all levels of the tank and that the surface is well agetated. Finally, add some Phosban to the filter to reduce the nitrate and phosphate levels. With the various products on the market, phosban is the only one that I read about repeated positive results reapeatedly for You could also go back to running the Polyfilter Get some floss into the filter, and keep wiping down the glasses and brushing over the sand with the back of your hand to remove it With a week of persistance like that, it should clear up Finaly, keep up with waterchanges as a more long-term way to control the nitrate and phosphate levels.

The corals closing up could be either the Cyno or the high nitrate/phosphate

All the best
Rabbut

 

[DarrenUnwin]

Are you using RO water, you could be adding more nitrates back inwith you water changes. Our tap water is fairly high so I always use RO. I had a simular problem a few years ago which disappeared as soon as I purchased a RO unit.

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Yeah its cyno. Not actually an algae but a bacteria (I have the same problem at the moment).

Apparently phosphates are the main cause of it, some people (as mentioned above) as put it down to not enough water flow. You need to get your phosphates and nitrates down and its probably worth trying to increase the water flow over your sand.

Its a right pain in the #### though. I have no detectable phosphates or nitrates but its still bloody there! have added a skimmer now and trying to get hold of some cheato to try and get rid of it.