Hawain_Rob
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What is this red stuff on my sand and why is it in my tank?
What and why?
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LOL, how dare it. 
Probably cyanobacteria, with perhaps some diatoms mixed in.
Improve flow, monitor nutrients (check phosphates and nitrates) do not over feed.
Probably cyanobacteria, with perhaps some diatoms mixed in.
Improve flow, monitor nutrients (check phosphates and nitrates) do not over feed.
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Hawain_Rob
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I have overfeeding cause I had a monti that was looking very white. Someone told me on here it was to much light or not enough food. That I should lower it and feed more. So maybe it's the over feeding....?
ReeferJohn408
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Ohh that overfeeding syndrome WE ALL HAVE.
yup, just cut down a bit ( RESIST ) on feeding and it should go away.
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You can feed more if your tank is matured enough to support the biological breakdown. If not, only feed moderately. I used to encounter the same issues before. After a year or two, I can feed as much as I want and no algae can be found.
yup, just cut down a bit ( RESIST ) on feeding and it should go away.
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You can feed more if your tank is matured enough to support the biological breakdown. If not, only feed moderately. I used to encounter the same issues before. After a year or two, I can feed as much as I want and no algae can be found.
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Hawain_Rob
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So this stuff is still in my tank. What is it exactly?
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Hawain_Rob
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Help please!! I can't get rid of this stuff. I've Stopped over feeding. I blow it off the sand and glass and when I get back from work there it is again. How can I rid myself of this nuisance? ?
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Hawain_Rob
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No picture. I blew it away with the turkey baster. I just did a phosphate test and I thinks it's between .25 and .50. But this stuff sticks to the glass and when I clean it..it looks like a fine red dust coming off the glass.
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Hawain_Rob
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No3 is zero
Lenny_S
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That PO4 reading is super high. Should read 0 on a standard test and .05 or less on a low range test. That is what is fueling it. If you run carbon, stop for a while, carbon leaches phosphate. To remedy, you can do very large water changes, but I find that phosphate binders like GFO work really well and are much easier. I use the Hanna checker and typically hover around.03 ppm phosphate.
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Hawain_Rob
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So take out all carbon? Cause I'm running a ton of it..thinking it would help.
Lenny_S
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Yes, all activated carbon leaches phosphate, no matter what the package may say. Here is a decent article on the subject... http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_4/V4I2/carbon/artcarbon_comparisons.htm
So the "ton" of carbon you are running is actually making matters worse.
Once you get the situation under control, use just the recommend amount of carbon and you may want to include steady use of GFO, or some other phosphate binder.
So the "ton" of carbon you are running is actually making matters worse.
Once you get the situation under control, use just the recommend amount of carbon and you may want to include steady use of GFO, or some other phosphate binder.
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Hawain_Rob
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What else do I do?
Lenny_S
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I'm not a big fan of doing too many changes at once, so just stop using carbon and run some GFO for a while instead. After a week or two the situation will likely improve. I like the Two Little Fishes GFO. It is messy though, needs a lot of rinsing and is very fragile. But all GFO is like that, just follow the instructions and recommended amount on the package. I hope you will be slime free in no time. [emoji3]
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Hawain_Rob
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I hope so. Thank you so much for the help!!
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Hawain_Rob
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Plenty of flow. Just got home and the glass is covered with this crap. I have a little gfo. I won't be able to go to the Lfs until Saturday and buy a lot more! I'm guess a water change would help?
Lenny_S
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A water change will help in basically the same proportion as the size of the change. For example a 10% water change will reduce phosphate by 10%, a 50% water change will reduce the phosphate by 50%... You get the gist.
In contrast, even just a little phosphate binder can reduce phosphate by more than 50%, as long as it isn't crazy little.
Just run what you have for now and get more when you can. You might need to replace the prescribed amount a couple of times as it gets exhausted before it gets rid of it all.
