Red slime

[Supramike]

Well stupid me I trusted the tds meter on my rodi unit it was saying 0 and still does. I started getting red slime and was like ok still new tank. Tested phos read 0 on a Hanna and I have 20 ppm on the nitrates. Still using my supposed 0 tds water. It just got worse. I bought a hand held tds tested my water and I have a 11ppm reading. I'm ordering new filters tonight. I just put a carbon reactor on line with the hopes of it might help. What should I do? I used a tooth brush and siphoned some out but by the end of the day it just comes back. I took my zoas out and put them back in the other tank cause they arnt doing so good. This is stressing me out. Please help.

 

[ahmed.boomer]

Run your calcium reactor into the GFO reactor. Some say the process releases phosphates that are in the calcified corals and shells. Are you carbon dosing any chance? I got red slime in my fuge when I starting vinegar.

 

[ahmed.boomer]

If you do not have a GFO reactor try the red slime medication. It works to an extent though I don't recommend chemicals. Cut back on feedings, make sure nothing is stirring up the deep sandbed if you have one and turn the lights off for 24-72hr. Do a water change before and after. Tell us what happens.

 

[Supramike]

I have one reactor I just put carbon in it to maybe help clear up the water cause it still has solids in it. I have gfo but not a second reactor. I did a 20 gal water change yesterday and that dropped nitrates down some. I don't carbon dose I use nopox but ran out. I was still getting the bloom wile using the nopox. I have more comming tomorrow. I'll turn lights out for a day or so. I can't/don't want to make more water right now with the reading of 11ppm on the tds. I only have 2 fish in and they are small. I feed them once a day since this bloom. Should I be ising gfo instead? If I do another water change of 20 gal my nitrates should drop to 5-10 ppm. But like I said with my water with solids in it it'll still come back won't it?

 

[ahmed.boomer]

Here's what I would do first. Feeding isn't an issue. While you wait for your new filters, do a 48 hr lights out period. 95% of corals and clams can go up to 72 without any issues. Then when you do a water change, stir up the water column so it has particles in it and suction the live rock and other areas where detritus and waste accumulate. Don't worry about 11 TDS. I've accidentally done tap water changes with no large issue. If you go the medication route, don't run the carbon for 12hr. Tell us how it goes. Manual removal goes a long way as well.

How large is this system?

 

[Supramike]

I did manual removal but it still came back. Size is 112 dt around 30 gal sump. Minus rock sand I'd say total volume is around 110.

 

[Supramike]

Maybe skimmer to weak? The one that came with tank says rated for 150 gal. But it ok. I went and tried my reef octopus but it's to big for the chambers in the sump. I knew I should have went with the Diablo version.

 

[ahmed.boomer]

Perhaps. Try lights out for the next two days. Others will hopefully chime in as well. I don't have much experience with red cyano but for the small amount I had in my sump I used a small amount of the chemical treatment and it was gone along with the lights out for 72hr.

 

[Supramike]

Ok update the slime is gone 3 days no light worked I'll get a pic up as soon as the light turn on.

 

[ahmed.boomer]

Alright. Did you do the water change as well?

 

[Supramike]

I'm mixing the salt for water change right now. I'm going to do about a 25gal water change.

 

[Supramike]

Also I don't know what's up with my water. The last batch was at 11ppm on the tds I used a different meter it read 20ppm. Now today on both it read 4ppm. I could get new filters for the rodi unit yet unexpected bill just popped up last week and this week. Can't get new filters till next week after the 4th.

 

[ahmed.boomer]

It's perfectly fine. 20 TDS won't hurt anything, there might be some algae but I have a small tank I run solely on tap and it's been doing well. It's only softies with no fish. Don't worry about filters to much for now. I get the 1 micron or 1/2 micron filters but they clog up really easily. I change mine every two months. Carbon is the key thing IMO, it can trap most forms of chlorine which can damage the membrane. Keep us posted.

 

[ChaliceLove]

Chemiclean will handle it

 

[Supramike]

Ok it's starting to come back slowly now not as fast as last time. It might be due to lighting. It does get some inderect frome being close to windows. I did block most of it. But when I did the lights out it completely went away. My light cycle is from 8-8. I'm going to change that tomorrow when I get home from 12-8 so I can enjoy the tank when I get home from work. Can't test till tomorrow cause I'm at the hospital with the wife till tomorrow (I hope).

 

[ahmed.boomer]

If the light doesn't seem to work try the chemical treatment as a final attempt.

 

[Supramike]

If the light doesn't seem to work try the chemical treatment as a final attempt.

That's what might have to happen. I don't want to but if it blows up againg I might have to. I was even going to put a second skimmer in to see if it was a under skimming problem. But my reef octopus does not fit in sump. I was going to upgrade the pump on it to but is still might not fit. I'll probably trade it with someone for a bigger skimmer. I'll try to get one rated for 200 gallons.

 

[ahmed.boomer]

That's what might have to happen. I don't want to but if it blows up againg I might have to. I was even going to put a second skimmer in to see if it was a under skimming problem. But my reef octopus does not fit in sump. I was going to upgrade the pump on it to but is still might not fit. I'll probably trade it with someone for a bigger skimmer. I'll try to get one rated for 200 gallons.

Even with all the low parameters and such I still have some red cyano but it does not grow much and stays in my sump. Here's all the cyano I have. When j remove it, it also comes back so I left it alone. It seems it has reached an equilibrium.