Red Slimmy Algee?

[Saltwater Noob]

He guys now that i fixed the retun and have had the system running I am getting a red slimmy algee all over my sand and rock how do I get rid of it and what is causing it?

[sasquatch]

Ah yes our old friend Mr Cyano, Dan it was lurking like a cat in a tree, you unfortunately provided it an opportunity, when your overflow backed up your overall flow was cut, your tank was unfiltered and poof, ya got slimed lol, Reduce feedings, do a waterchange, increase flow, siphon it up with a small dia hose,maybe add some carbon and a phosphate removing media, your tank has just entered puberty. Steve

[Saltwater Noob]

Thanks for the reply Steve so just do a water change and add some carbon should fix it?

[lcstorc]

It is going to take a lot more than that.
First manually remove as much as you can.
Second find out what it is feeding on (phosphates or nitrates) and starve it out. Do not be fooled by test results of 0. The algae is eating a lot of your excess nutrients.
Cut back on feeding, rinse food w/ro water run phosban etc.
Then combat it with water changes, relatively new light bulbs and flow.
Carbon might be a good idea but I have never heard it recommended for a cyano battle.
It will not go away overnight. This is a battle I fight fairly regularly since I feed very heavily.

[Saltwater Noob]

I know its from phosphates I feed heavy also so just use the ban and water changes and suck it out. I am afarid to suck it out as it is all over my sand and don't want to suck all my sand out

[lcstorc]

Try removing it with a net or even with your hand. It worked pretty good for me.

[Saltwater Noob]

phosban?? whats that?

edit

ok found some I will try that and keep you guys updated

[Saltwater Noob]

*update*

I left the lights off for 3 days and cut back on feeding and the red slim is gone. Will it come back if I put the lights on will it come back?

[AQTCJAK]

Red Slime Algae is actually a bateria that will not go away on its own it wil reamian in the tank & continue to grow even under rocks. Specificaly if the is little to no flow in an area. There is a product that I have used for years that does the trick really well it is called Chemi Clean by Boyd Enterprises yes it is reef safe no need to remove any tank inhabitants just turn off the skimmer & UV & remove any active carbon. I would suggest using this & use it for the recommended period. If it is still active in the tank repeat the proceedure. When the treatment is complete & the water change is done remeber this your skimmer will go crazy spewing liquid skimate to complete the removal of the chemi clean this is normal.

[lcstorc]

Far better to remove what is feeding the cyano IMO.
I have used cyano removing products and while it did work it just comes back unless you fix the original problem which is usually high nutrients and/or low flow.

[Saltwater Noob]

I added another powerhead and started feeding less and it is gone now but I have also had the lights off for 3 days it seems to have to do with the lights?? Could the lights be the problem?

[lcstorc]

Old bulbs are antother thing that can fuel an outbreak.
Other than that algae just plain likes light so turning them off could certainly have helped. I would check your parameters and do a large water change. If the algae died in the tank it would have released the nutrients it had eaten often causing a nitrate or phosphate increase.

[Saltwater Noob]

i just dosed the tank with this

Ultralife Red Slime Remover (Saltwater Aquarium Supplies > Medications > Red Slime/ Cyanobacteria Removers )

seems to be working great hope it will all be gone in 24 hours then I will do a 20 gal water change,

I will keep you updated

[AQTCJAK]

This is about one of the best article on the subject

BlueGrAlgae