Red stuff growing on possibly dead coral

[mwm5461]

Hey all, my Duncan hasn't been doing well since it entered the tank, only to open once. I believe the first head has been dead for at least a week but I've been trying to revive the second head. Now it seems the original one I believe to be dead is starting to grow some red stuff on it. My assumption is this is bad should I remove it from the tank?

Thanks!

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

red slime!

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cyanobacteria-questions-answers-and-solution.253823/#post-2995690

 

[Mikedawg]

+1 sure looks like cyanobacteria. Syphon off and check water parameters and flow and correct underlying conditions. We all have to deal with it form time to time

 

[mwm5461]

Thanks for the quick responses. The article that was shared also says
“The best method for the common Cylindrosperum sp. Cyanobacteria is the use of 3% hydrogen peroxide dosed at 1ml per 10 gallons of tank volume every 12 hours for 14 days. There are other methods of treatment but this common form has been found to be resistant to other forms of treatment.”

Should I begin that dosing? Also I was a little confused with how it gets started. Is it from lack of flow or did it get into the tank from one of my corals and is just now growing?

 

[Mikedawg]

Thanks for the quick responses. The article that was shared also says
“The best method for the common Cylindrosperum sp. Cyanobacteria is the use of 3% hydrogen peroxide dosed at 1ml per 10 gallons of tank volume every 12 hours for 14 days. There are other methods of treatment but this common form has been found to be resistant to other forms of treatment.”

Should I begin that dosing? Also I was a little confused with how it gets started. Is it from lack of flow or did it get into the tank from one of my corals and is just now growing?

Never heard of this treatment and always leery of using hydrogen peroxide inside a tank. Most on this forum use ChemiClean, Ultralife Slime Remover or similar products designed specifically to get rid of cyano.
Cyanobacteria can be found in almost every terrestrial and aquatic habitat—oceans, fresh water, damp soil, temporarily moistened rocks in deserts, bare rock and soil, and even Antartic rocks. They can occur as planktonic cells or form phototrophic biofilms, and are found in almost every endolithic ecosystem. Low flow, "extra" nutrients, low nutrient levels, etc. can spur it's growth/appearance. You can't get away from it, only manage it!
Good luck; may posts here about control/management strategies

 

[lapin]

Rather than treating the whole tank, perhaps treat the coral in a qt tank if you are worried about cyano in your display tank.

 

[chris k.]

Once it is in the tank it is in the water. chemiclean treatment is what i use. Just a matter of time till it forms elsewhere.

 

[Katrina71]

Wait it out naturally

 

[Katrina71]

Btw, I wouldn't write that coral off.

 

[lapin]

I have a 3 month old bleached sps thats just now starting to color up. They come out of hiding when they feel safe.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

I have a 3 month old bleached sps thats just now starting to color up. They come out of hiding when they feel safe.

Bleached completely white?
Didn't coralline start growing over it?

 

[lapin]

Bleached completely white?
Didn't coralline start growing over it?

Yes all white. (having some sps issues we wont talk about)
I had some green algae that was on it from time to time but I blew that off every week. Too lazy to just toss the frag. I have leds and not much coraline yet. Tank is only 10 months old.
I do have old stems of frogspawn and hammers that dont get any light (underneath new growth). They look pretty dead. My urchin sometimes breaks these off. I just move them to better light and they seem to grow back in a month.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Yes all white. (having some sps issues we wont talk about)
I had some green algae that was on it from time to time but I blew that off every week. Too lazy to just toss the frag. I have leds and not much coraline yet. Tank is only 10 months old.
I do have old stems of frogspawn and hammers that dont get any light (underneath new growth). They look pretty dead. My urchin sometimes breaks these off. I just move them to better light and they seem to grow back in a month.

So repopulation by zooxanthellae is occurring. Where would the zooxanthellae come from?