Cyanobacteria problem.. help

Angelo Fatica · Jul 1, 2017

My 20 gallon has grown a carpet of red slime algae over the course of 1 day 5 hours into the lights being on. I got rid of it a while ago and it came back in a mass quantity. It sucks to see and takes over my corals and glass. I do water changes regularly and only feed what my two clowns can eat in about 1 minute every day. I use led lights so I know that there isn't a bulb issue. I don't know if it's from phosphates and where they are coming from if it is. Any advice? Any products you guys use to get rid of it or methods? Thanks!

saltyfilmfolks · Jul 1, 2017

What are your parameters ?
Are you feeding any aminos or carbon dosing ?

Angelo Fatica · Jul 1, 2017

I haven't been dosing recently for about a month, I'm only feeding my clowns pellets but I am stingy with it so no overfeeding. I'll do my parameters in a bit but last I checked they were fine the nitrates were a little visible. I use mineral salt to give my corals their calcium and alkalinity.

ebushrow · Jul 1, 2017

Boyd's red slime remover....works every time just follow the directions exactly.

Angelo Fatica · Jul 1, 2017

My nitrates are either zero or very near ammonia is zero ph is 8.2 nitrite is zero my test kit doesn't test calcium and alkalinity which makes me a little mad because I just picked it up this week and thought it had all of it. I don't know the issue here

Sherman · Jul 1, 2017

If NO3 is zero likely is yr PO4. Stop yr carbon dosing and siphon yr cynao when u see them

Murica · Jul 1, 2017

How old is the tank? Think about going bare bottom?

Angelo Fatica · Jul 1, 2017

These show what it looks like. It is literally eating my green tree coral alive and it's quickly spreading through my tank. I don't let it on the glass anymore though because it gets out of control it also ate a few caulastrea heads, not a big deal because now I have about 30 but I'm scared it will go on to cover other corals. Do petco or petsmart carry those algae and bacteria killers? Or my local fish store?

Angelo Fatica · Jul 1, 2017

It's about a year old but sombre corals are a couple with me

Angelo Fatica · Jul 1, 2017

angminsoon said:
If NO3 is zero likely is yr PO4. Stop yr carbon dosing and siphon yr cynao when u see them

Yeah that's what I figured but I've done that already, it came back within a week. I don't dose carbon but I use a bag in the back of that's what you meant. I may also try chemi pure elite because that helped me with algae in my large reef I just haven't gotten to the store to buy any. Why do you think it's my phosphates? Like where could they have come from? I used to have a t5 set up but I switched to led

Angelo Fatica · Jul 1, 2017

Murica said:
How old is the tank? Think about going bare bottom?

About a year running, I can't stand bare bottoms, is there a reason?

Angelo Fatica · Jul 1, 2017

Maybe I could also try frozen food only so there isn't as much nutrient break down

Sherman · Jul 1, 2017

U have skimmer?

Sherman · Jul 1, 2017

The carbon form of carbon ok. Is the liquid type have to stop. Sugar, vodka, vinegar, Pro Bio F, etc

Lisa Maxwell · Jul 1, 2017

Angelo Fatica said:
My 20 gallon has grown a carpet of red slime algae over the course of 1 day 5 hours into the lights being on. I got rid of it a while ago and it came back in a mass quantity. It sucks to see and takes over my corals and glass. I do water changes regularly and only feed what my two clowns can eat in about 1 minute every day. I use led lights so I know that there isn't a bulb issue. I don't know if it's from phosphates and where they are coming from if it is. Any advice? Any products you guys use to get rid of it or methods? Thanks!

Everytime I've experienced this problem, it was due to low flow rates. Once I added 2 Koralia water circulation pumps, problem corrected itself within a couple weeks. I have a 75 gal display. I use the 1500gph sized pumps. I try to never band-aide problems with chemical quick fixes. Hope this helps - good luck.

Angelo Fatica · Jul 1, 2017

angminsoon said:
The carbon form of carbon ok. Is the liquid type have to stop. Sugar, vodka, vinegar, Pro Bio F, etc

No I don't use that and I do not have a skimmer yet I'm trying to find a good one for an AIO nano

Angelo Fatica · Jul 1, 2017

Lisa Maxwell said:
Everytime I've experienced this problem, it was due to low flow rates. Once I added 2 Koralia water circulation pumps, problem corrected itself within a couple weeks. I have a 75 gal display. I use the 1500gph sized pumps. I try to never band-aide problems with chemical quick fixes. Hope this helps - good luck.

Yeah I have one nano powerhead and two return flows blowing the tank I was thinking about picking up another koralia to circulate more I'm just worried that it will be too much for the tank I don't want to stress the corals out or blow them so much they don't open

Sherman · Jul 1, 2017

Skimmer is a fast way to export your nutrient buildup.
If no skimmer I think temporary water change can help

Angelo Fatica · Jul 1, 2017

angminsoon said:
Skimmer is a fast way to export your nutrient buildup.
If no skimmer I think temporary water change can help

I really want one but I can't decide on a nano, I don't want to spend the money and not like it. That's usually my biggest problem with this hobby [emoji23]. Any suggestions?

saltyfilmfolks · Jul 2, 2017

Angelo Fatica said:
I really want one but I can't decide on a nano, I don't want to spend the money and not like it. That's usually my biggest problem with this hobby [emoji23]. Any suggestions?

What are you using for filtration?