Red Slime Algae (Cyano)

[bcarl77]

Hi all,

I have had some red slime algae take hold in my tank. Its a new tank ~2 months. Phosphate and nitrates are .05 and 0 respectively. I have done water changes, decreased light and added another pump (MP10 and and Jebao SW-2). I believe the cause was poor flow which I now addressed. Now whats the best way to eliminate the stuff that is already here? I siphoned out as much as you can already.

 

[tupes]

Can you post a photo so we can see how bad it is.

 

[bcarl77]

Kinda hard to see, i was able to siphon a bunch out.

 

[tupes]

From the photo it does not look like red slime algea. Looks to be NTS (new tank syndrome) also called the ugly stage of a new tank. Google dinoflagellates algea and see if that's it.

 

[Ocelaris]

One thing I've learned the hard way is that eliminating one kind makes the next grow better. So if it's not bad or killing your corals, then I'd just adjust nutrient levels up a tad. I like to keep nitrates around 4 and phosphates around 0.04 which keeps the dinos from accumulating. If it's cyano, them chemiclean will take care of it. However note that if you wipe out the easy ones, harder ones will return.

Also can't tell anything from that picture, too blue. Can you turn on the whites to help identify it?