Red Algae substance out of control!

[Candiifir]

this is just a mess!! We had a random “outbreak” about a month ago. We moved 2 weeks ago, so we cleaned the entire aquarium out, all the fish survived, and doing great ( ). BUT.. this nuisance has come back and spreads ridiculously!! I have a lawnmower Blenny and 3 emerald crabs in there, in hopes to help keep the tank clean, but this stuff is just ridiculous!! How do I get rid of it and how do I control it?

 

[ScottR]

Hard to tell from pics alone but it’s probably cyanobacteria. A bacteria not an algae. If you use a turkey baster, does it blow off in sheets and float away only to come back? If so, probably cyano. It’s an easy fix with something like chemiclean. Nothing will eat it that I’m aware of.

 

[Candiifir]

@ScottR yes!! That’s what it does! Super annoying!! Probably a stupid question, but will there be clear directions on the Chemiclean as to how much to use? My fish are survivors lol!! I don’t want to kill them now! ‍

 

[tweeter]

I fought cyano bacteria for years. I would do chemi clean, and it would go away for awhile, but always returned. I had read that it is an imbalance in your tank, but just couldn't figure it out. My nitrates were high so I started dosing NOPOX and using their amino and coral food along with that. after awhile the red algea disappeared and I have not had any problems since then, thats been over a year ago. I think it's like our bodies, when we kill out the "good" bacteria, the other takes over.

 

[Candiifir]

@ScottR do you know what causes it?

 

[ScottR]

@ScottR yes!! That’s what it does! Super annoying!! Probably a stupid question, but will there be clear directions on the Chemiclean as to how much to use? My fish are survivors lol!! I don’t want to kill them now! ‍♀

It’s super easy to use. Follow the instructions. I forget exactly how to use it as it’s been well over a year since I’ve used last. I believe you pull all carbon, increase oxygenation as some oxygen gets pulled, you do a 50% water change after 2-3 days or something like that. You may need to use twice to rid it all.

 

[Candiifir]

Awesome! THANK YOU!!

 

[Dark_Knightt]

this is just a mess!! We had a random “outbreak” about a month ago. We moved 2 weeks ago, so we cleaned the entire aquarium out, all the fish survived, and doing great ( ). BUT.. this nuisance has come back and spreads ridiculously!! I have a lawnmower Blenny and 3 emerald crabs in there, in hopes to help keep the tank clean, but this stuff is just ridiculous!! How do I get rid of it and how do I control it?

Its definetly cyano. I still have a teensy tiny problem with it, but as said before , ur gonna wanna buy some ChemiClean. Make sure that you increase oxygenation, so maybe buy an airtstone or take your powerhead out of the water slightly so it makes lots and lots of bubbles. Thne do a water change every 48 hours. If its not gone buy then, repeat. Happy reefing !

 

[ScottR]

If you’re successful in killing all, it shouldn’t come back unless reintroduced somehow. You can get a coral frag or anything else that arrives “wet” that can reintroduce it back into your tank. Kind of hard to avoid but it is manageable.