Red Slime Algae

[1entra]

My tank has been set-up a few months now and I have recently started to get red slime algae appear on my sand bed. I have introduced some rowaphos to my filter and am cutting back on feeding.

Is there any other advice that I should follow to help me tackle this? It really is an eye sore and I wish to get rid of it asap.

Thanks

 

[nanocubeking]

Red slime remover made by ultra reef products. A phoshate remover of course. Siphon out the red slime when you do a water change. I beleive that conchs eat it too. But if you introduce something new it will only put out that much more phosphates.

 

[Colin_T]

It is a pain in the butt. It occurs in new tanks quite often and after a few months settles down and disappears. But it doesn't always.
Incorrect lighting can contribute to it growing as can dirty sediment and lack of water movement. Some people black the tank out completely for 3 days and that sometimes kills it but if it is a virulent strain it just knocks it back a bit. A complete blackout is exactly that. Turn the lights off and cover the tank in a blanket or black plastic or something light proof. Leave it completely covered for 3 days and nights and then remove. Give it a couple of hours before you turn the lights on. Try to have lights with a 10,000Kelvin rating as triphosphor lights (around 4000K) tend to encourage it. The blue light in a 10,000K globe helps to limit its growth. Have some bottom dwellers to stir it up when they move around. Hermit crabs and sand sifting gobies can be helpful. Some blennies will eat it. Make sure no food lands on the bottom because that will encourage it.

 

[SkiFletch]

<--- hates cyanobacteria

In my battles with this epic foe I too discovered that while light is definitely a contributing factor, ultimately the root problem is nutrients compunded by the fact that cyano can fix Nitrogen directly for nutrients make it tough to beat. I did however have luck with blanketing the tank but leaving the lights on. In my case, the tank gets a lot of full-spectrum sunlight around mid-day. Obviously sunlight will contain the wavelengths cyano likes, so covering the tank with a blanket but leaving my tight-spectrum halides on slowed the cyano growth and allowed my chaeto to catch up with the nutrient problem. Took me about 2-3 weeks both times I faced it to win the battle.

 

[1entra]

Well I currently have a 150w 10000k MH on my tank with 2 x 39w actinics as well. My tank contains several corals including LPS. Would the keeping the lights off for several days method not affect my corals???

But what happens once its gone? Wont putting the lights back on bring it back?

 

[nanocubeking]

Corals are shipped from parts of the world for 1-4 days in complete darkness. I have done this for hair algea it does come back but it usually takes longer but then it doesnt come back some times. Its really weird how it actually works.

 

[Colin_T]

yep the corals get affected by the dark which is why you only do it for 3 days. Having said that tho my cousin had the same problem in his tank and he left it blacked out for 5 days and although the corals weren't happy they didn't die. It knocked the hell out of the algae too.

 

[SkiFletch]

Agreed. Remember, corals are complex animals while hair algae and cyanobacteria are very simple plants. A coral can withdraw into its skeleton or flesh and survive for a few days without light, no problem. The algae however requires constant light to keep up with its rapid metabolism (as observed by rapid growth) and without that light, they die quickly. I've done blackouts too, works well

Heck, my tank survived a 3.5-day power outage with only flowrate. No lights, no heat, no filtration, just flow. Tank got down to about 55F when all was said and done and only lost one coral (one that was diseased before the outage and on its way out anyways). Somethin tells me they'll be fine with good warm water and no light

 

[1entra]

Thanks for the advice guys. Should I keep all the lights off for 3 days including MH, actinics and moonlights?

 

[SkiFletch]

yes, all lights off

 

[1entra]

cheers ski. and finally what about feeding fish and corals during the 3 day period? should i add any food to the tank or should i wait till the end of the dark period?

 

[Colin_T]

don't feed the fish and don't allow ANY light into it. It has to be completely black. Absolutely no light at all must get into the tank during the 3 days. Turn all lights off and cover the tank in black plastic or blankets/ towels.
It is usually best to do it at night after the lights have gone out. Let the lights cool down and then unplug them and remove them from the tank. Now cover the tank, making sure there is still some air getting into it so the fish don't suffocate. if you have a sump it will keep the water well oxygenated and doesn't need to be covered. You can put an airstone in the tank to make sure there is enough oxygen getting in the water. If you don't have coverglass you might want to get some to prevent the plastic or blankets from getting wet.
After 3 days and nights you can remove the covers. Leave the tank for an hour or so before turning the lights back on. Then turn one light on, leave it for a bit before turning any other lights on. This prevents the fish from freaking out due to being in the dark and then suddenly being blinded by light.

 

[SkiFletch]

Agreed, my fish go once a month without food for three days when I'm away from my home. They'll be fine

 

[1entra]

Thanks guys. I will start the dark period some time next week when I have found a spare blanket or sheet large enough to put over the tank!