Skimmate red in color

[Maggie321]

Why is the skimmate reddish/pinkish. It's never been that color before. Feeding the same stuff. Nori and mysis shrimp. Only thing different is I am now rinsing my mysis. If it's not hurting anything I am fine with it, but curious. What's the deal? I know we have a chemist out there somewhere...

 

[Diesel]

Oh Boy.........

How are the corals looking?
Did you do quick Po4 and No3 test?
If corals and fish doing ok I wouldn't turn this into a big deal.
I had skimmate turn yellow, green, purple, yes red as well and brown and black.

 

[GoVols]

The only thing that comes to my mind would be if you have Red Cyano dying off and it's showing up in your collection cup.
But I don't think it would be that watery.

 

[Maggie321]

Everyone looks great, fish, inverts & corals. Nitrates are 0, ammonia 0, phosphate are 14 ppb (Hannah ulr), calcium 468 (Hannah's), alkalinity 8.8 (Hannah). The only thing I can think of is it has to do with my algae and cyano disappearing. Tank is only 2 and a half months old. So... still going through some growing pains. I emptied it and cleaned the collection cup and it's still skimming pinkish stuff. I am stumped.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Did you use a reef saver or man made rock with corraline "paint"

 

[Maggie321]

Did you use a reef saver or man made rock with corraline "paint"

Reef saver. White rock

 

[Maggie321]

The only thing that comes to my mind would be if you have Red Cyano dying off and it's showing up in your collection cup.
But I don't think it would be that watery.

I do have cyano dying off. I have reduced lighting to 6 hours. Reduced feeding significantly. And am now rinsing the mysis to reduce the phosphates even further.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Probably Cyanobacteria die off.

 

[Maggie321]

I am trying to avoid using a chemical to get rid of the cyano. I purchased chemiclean but am going to wait a few weeks to see if I can get it controlled without using it. A already am going to have to use something to get rid of a pest...

 

[GoVols]

I do have cyano dying off. I have reduced lighting to 6 hours. Reduced feeding significantly. And am now rinsing the mysis to reduce the phosphates even further.

Glad that it's dying off and you'd want to keep your eye on your filter socks too. (If you run them).
During a Cyano Dye off they can clog and start to overflow fairly quickly.

 

[Maggie321]

Glad that it's dying off and you'd want to keep your eye on your filter socks too. (If you run them).
During a Cyano Dye off they can clog and start to overflow fairly quickly.

This is only a 39g bowfront that I had laying around...I had an itchy trigger finger and am taking too long on the 200g that's sitting in the garage. I had to get something started. Figured it's cheaper to learn on a 39gallon tank than on a 200 gallon.

 

[Flippers4pups]

This is only a 39g bowfront that I had laying around...I had an itchy trigger finger and am taking too long on the 200g that's sitting in the garage. I had to get something started. Figured it's cheaper to learn on a 39gallon tank than on a 200 gallon.

Yep, small steps are good learning tool! Mistakes are less painful and less costly! Lol

 

[Diesel]

I do have cyano dying off. I have reduced lighting to 6 hours. Reduced feeding significantly. And am now rinsing the mysis to reduce the phosphates even further.

Tank is to young for Cyano.
It must spurulina.
You know you can test for cyano or not!

 

[Maggie321]

Thanks for all the rapid responses. Stay tuned.. I am sure I will have some other strange and unusual happenings in my tank...

 

[Maggie321]

I think it is cyano. That's what a bunch of others have told me.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I think it is cyano. That's what a bunch of others have told me.

Yep.

 

[Diesel]

Test for it.

Take a sample of the so called red stuff in a cup with tank water, add 1ml of Hydrogen Peroxide to it, shake lightly and wait.
If the color changes it's cyano if not we talking spirulina.
But ssssssssst don't tell anyone else this secret
If you do I come and take your tank away

 

[Maggie321]

Tank is to young for Cyano.
It must spurulina.
You know you can test for cyano or not!

I didn't know there was a certain age a tank had to be before cyano started. I had some other algae too. But the tux urchins I got have taken good care of it. They wouldn't touch the cyano. It rolled up in mats on the sand bed. It had every description of cyano. Ant to top it off, it was deep red in color...how old does a tank have to be?

 

[Maggie321]

Test for it.

Take a sample of the so called red stuff in a cup with tank water, add 1ml of Hydrogen Peroxide to it, shake lightly and wait.
If the color changes it's cyano if not we talking spirulina.
But ssssssssst don't tell anyone else this secret
If you do I come and take your tank away

Nooooooo. Don't take the tank! The cat would be so mad! That is where all her entertainment comes from.

 

[Diesel]

I didn't know there was a certain age a tank had to be before cyano started. I had some other algae too. But the tux urchins I got have taken good care of it. They wouldn't touch the cyano. It rolled up in mats on the sand bed. It had every description of cyano. Ant to top it off, it was deep red in color...how old does a tank have to be?

Cyano is a bacteria that develops during poor water quality.
A young tank has all the elements still in there.
Now I must say it will be no completly 100% that it isn't possible as there is always a chance of course.