What should I do about this red algae???
- Thread starter Reefin
- Start date
Wakeskater02
Member
From the looks of it, it is probably Cyano or red slime algae. It does and can spread and if the conditions are right very rapidly at that.
This type of algae is usually caused by excess phosphates/ or excess nitrates or a combination of the two. These can be caused by a number of things, but in my experience there are usually two main causes.
#1 high nitrate levels caused by over feeding
#2 high phosphate levels by adding salts that are not phosphate free, or adding water which contains phosphates.
Solutions, do not feed as much, maybe every other day (Yes your fish will be fine) also try and do more frequent water changes, as for phosphates try and use RO/DI water. Rather than tap, if you are not using tap water contact the source of the water that you are using and ask them about there filtering method.
If you are using RO/DI water ask them when the last time they changed there filters were.
This should help.
This type of algae is usually caused by excess phosphates/ or excess nitrates or a combination of the two. These can be caused by a number of things, but in my experience there are usually two main causes.
#1 high nitrate levels caused by over feeding
#2 high phosphate levels by adding salts that are not phosphate free, or adding water which contains phosphates.
Solutions, do not feed as much, maybe every other day (Yes your fish will be fine) also try and do more frequent water changes, as for phosphates try and use RO/DI water. Rather than tap, if you are not using tap water contact the source of the water that you are using and ask them about there filtering method.
If you are using RO/DI water ask them when the last time they changed there filters were.
This should help.
Rhodes19
Active Member
Red algae or cyanobacteria is unfortunately a common problem. Check your water parameters particularly phosphates and nitrates. They are usually high. Do big water changes to reduce them and while you are doing the water change, you can siphon the cyano off the rock or what ever else its on as well. There are some medications you can use but most people recommend against it. It fixes the symptoms but not the cause and it will come back. I have read some folks are using emerald crabs to eat it but I don't have any experience with that. HTH.
Rhodes19
Active Member
Test for nitrates and phosphates in the ro/di and check the total desolved solids. You can leave the rock in the tank, just siphon the algea off of it when you do water changes.
check your ro water and test it. there should be no phosphate in either tank/ro water. if your using water from someone elses tank i would stop. because you dont know if they have the same problems with their ro water or if they are feeding correctly. so if they have a problem and give you their water now you got problem water. i honestly wouldnt even let him mix it. then again thats just preference. i personally like to make sure i do everything so i know its done right. or what i believe to be right. you can syphon but if your using water with phosphates your just going to keep adding it to your tank and its going to keep coming back. i would try to get your water somewhere else. took me 5 months to find the water i was satisfied with. just be careful and dont be afraid to experiment because its all a learning experience. if something works for someone else it dont mean its going to work for you, so try anything to see for yourself what results you will get. if it works great if not keep trying 
hope this helps. keep us posted good luck, god bless and happy reefing
hope this helps. keep us posted good luck, god bless and happy reefing
Reefin
Member
My ro/di water has 0 nirates,phosphates this small rock with zoa's on it was purchased at a LFS it's the ONLY thing in my tank with this red cyno slimey algae crap lol I use real ocean water for water changes I recently heart my back at work and am not able to lift heavy jugs holding me back on my water changes I know I know I need to stay up on my water changes I feed very small amounts of frozen food twice a day and i mean small amounts each fish gets to or 3 bites I figure this way my tank can process the little amount of food before I feed again rather than giving on big load each day and then my fish r happy to
Wakeskater02
Member
Well, in that case then just syphon off the frag. How long have you had the frag for? If you have only had it a couple of days then the algae is probably from the LFS that you bought the frag at. Was the RSA (Red slime algae) on the frag before you bought it? It could be a LFS problem and not nessessarilly yours.
Just an idea.