Help!!!! What is this

[Scarlette]

hi guys! so I am new to this reefing thing and I have purple/red stuff growing everywhere! How do I get rid of it?

 

[Scarlette]

This is what it looks like

 

[Reef_a_holiks]

That is cyanobacteria ( aka Red Slime) . can be caused by several factors. Some being elevated phosphate or nitrate levels, insufficient water circulation, and lighting issues.

What are your phosphate and nitrate levels?
What kinda lighting are you using, and how old is it ?
What is your water source ?
What is your filtration set up?

 

[taintstick]

This is what it looks like

Yup red slime algae. Ugly stuff and grows like crazy. Buy a product called chemipure, follow directions to the T. Only way it won't work is by human error.

 

[Scarlette]

Phosphate and nitrate are 0
Filtration is HOB for a 120 gal my tank is 55
Brand new fluval LED

 

[CoralWear Clothing]

Yup red slime algae. Ugly stuff and grows like crazy. Buy a product called chemipure, follow directions to the T. Only way it won't work is by human error.

Chemi Pure will definitely help. You can also try a product called ChemiClean, made specially for red slime.

 

[Reef_a_holiks]

Those hang on back filters can be nitrate and phosphate factories if your not cleaning them often. rule out lighting if that is brand new. I doubt phosphates and nitrates are zero. if so this wont have the nutrients to continue to spread. How many fish are in the tank? how often are you feeding them ?

again , it could be your water source. also how often are you doing water changes and how many gallons?

You could use Chemiclean like others on here have recommended it will take it away, but if you dont fix the root problem it will come back.

 

[justjimarri]

Not enough flow. Running lights to long. Cut back on how long lights are running. Might need to get more flow and going to wanna do a water change. Least 30%

 

[Scarlette]

I am doing a water change every week at least 10 gallons. I just have 4 fish and 3 corals. I haven't taken out the hang on the back out to fully clean it just changed the media. Thank you!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

This is what it looks like

Hi, Welcome to Reef2Reef!
Cyano is a pretty normal growing pain. How old is the tank? Are you using RODI water?
Yes Light flow and nutrints all help to contribute to cyano.
In a newer tank, the natural bio filter isnt qute mature enough to process waste so other organisms esp cyano can take over.
Are you feeding and aminos or Probiotics?

 

[Dancingmad]

^^ What these other folks said. If I may give a general algae tip for someone new to the hobby (Based on a mistake I made when I first started) -- slowly add to your clean up crew(Henceforth referred to as CUC). Lots of new folks go buck wild with hermits, snails, starfish etc and totally overdo it for the needs of their tank(once stabilized) - myself included. A big CUC will tear through the initial blooms, but run out of food and die. The end result is dead members of the CUC feeding into the algae growth cycle in the form of excess nutrients. Multiple blooms are a bummer.

Also, Welcome to the boards - folks here are awesome. So awesome not even the metric system can measure their sheer awesomenacity.

 

[taintstick]

Chemi Pure will definitely help. You can also try a product called ChemiClean, made specially for red slime.

Haha whooooops!!! Your right it's chemiclean, dam words so close together haha

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I am doing a water change every week at least 10 gallons.

In a 55g like I have, a 5g(10%) is usually more than enough. even every other week.

 

[Scarlette]

Thank you! It's about 4 months old. We did add a clean up crew about a month or so ago and that's when I started to notice this growth

 

[RamsReef]

In a 55g like I have, a 5g(10%) is usually more than enough. even every other week.

I dont think she has a skimmer.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Thank you! It's about 4 months old. We did add a clean up crew about a month or so ago and that's when I started to notice this growth

Id suggest being quite careful on feedings esp in a new tank(baby Bio filter), are you using any Bacteria like Bio spira?

And although the hobs are rated for 110, most like myself use the filters a bit differently than one would in freash waster. Def try to keep it clean, but its important to look to see that a LOT of crud is getting built up in them.
Many add some floss to help trap particles. That way it gets out of the tank so it doesn't languish and feed the cyanos.

How is the filter packed?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I dont think she has a skimmer.

I noticed.
I was skimmerless the first 5 years. Mechanical filtration is really important when doing this and over feeding is a big no no.

Fortunately there's a big fat beautiful piece of live rock in there. That'll help.

 

[Shaddow_wolf169]

I would start with a 20 gallon water change must be a nutrient problem. Can not be a flow issue she has to pumps in the tank pointing at it. Make sure your lights are only on for 8 to 10 hours a day don't run them 24/7. Doing 20 gallons a week for a month should really help. Make sure the temp salinity and pH is the same when changing water.

 

[Scarlette]

Could it be that I added zoo planktion for the coral?

 

[Shaddow_wolf169]

How much and how often