What is this? Red slime?

[atul176]

I have red algae that looks like a slime coating and also has long hairy strands. Is it beneficial, or should I get rid of it. If so, how? I attached a few photos.
Thanks!

 

[reeftivo]

get pic with blues off

rock looks new so most likely diatoms that will cycle down after the rock and tank matures. Does that stringy section to the right, next to the xenia have bubbles in it? Can't tell by the pic

 

[atul176]

get pic with blues off

rock looks new so most likely diatoms that will cycle down after the rock and tank matures. Does that stringy section to the right, next to the xenia have bubbles in it? Can't tell by the pic

I attached some pics under white light. They don’t seem to have any bubbles, just like a slimy string.

 

[reeftivo]

looks like diatoms. increase water flow if you havent already and get a turkey baster, then blow it off the rocks periodically until it subsides. it should start to go away as the other micro and macro fauna start to develope.

tank is going through the uglys. Normal

 

[Sharkbait19]

I think that could be cyanobacteria, which occurs in the absense of nitrates. How cycled is your tank?

 

[atul176]

I think that could be cyanobacteria, which occurs in the absense of nitrates. How cycled is your tank?

It’s been running for close to two months. I also did a water change yesterday which lowered nitrates.

 

[reeftivo]

Looking at it now from my work computer and it could be a combination of both cyano and diatoms which is not uncommon. from what i've learned in this hobby is cyano is fueled by PO4 and NO3, so please post you perameters.

usually a lack of nutrients such as PO4 and NO3 in more established aquaria can lead to Dino outbreaks, but your system looks new so it's most likely diatoms w cyano. post your results, increase flow if you can, baste the rocks and keep your mech filters clean. I wouldn't be worried.

 

[atul176]

Looking at it now from my work computer and it could be a combination of both cyano and diatoms which is not uncommon. from what i've learned in this hobby is cyano is fueled by PO4 and NO3, so please post you perameters.

usually a lack of nutrients such as PO4 and NO3 in more established aquaria can lead to Dino outbreaks, but your system looks new so it's most likely diatoms w cyano. post your results, increase flow if you can, baste the rocks and keep your mech filters clean. I wouldn't be worried.

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 10 ish
Temp - 79-80
PH - 8.2
Mag - 1320
Alk - 140
Calc - 420

I did have a pair of clowns but they had internal parasites, which was my mistake for not quarantining, so my tank is currently fallow and has been for about two weeks which could explain the lack of nitrates. It’s a 10 gallon system so I’ve been dropping in 3 -5 pellets every 2-3 days to keep the inverts and bacteria happy.

 

[reeftivo]

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 10 ish
Temp - 79-80
PH - 8.2
Mag - 1320
Alk - 140
Calc - 420

I did have a pair of clowns but they had internal parasites, which was my mistake for not quarantining, so my tank is currently fallow and has been for about two weeks which could explain the lack of nitrates. It’s a 10 gallon system so I’ve been dropping in 3 -5 pellets every 2-3 days to keep the inverts and bacteria happy.

looks fine with the exception of KH. 140? ideally KH should be in the 8 to 10 range. what are you using to measure? API? do you have a separate phosphate test kit?

10 ppm nitrate is fine right now and not considered low. Many including myself strive for a balance of PO4 in the 0.02-0.05 ppm range (so NO3 in the 2-5 ppm range).

 

[atul176]

looks fine with the exception of KH. 140? ideally KH should be in the 8 to 10 range. what are you using to measure? API? do you have a separate phosphate test kit?

10 ppm nitrate is fine right now and not considered low. Many including myself strive for a balance of PO4 in the 0.02-0.05 ppm range (so NO3 in the 2-5 ppm range).

Good to know. So should I be trying to lower my nitrates? What I mean by 140 is the ppm measurement. It roughly translates to 7.8, so I will try to higher it with my next water change.

 

[reeftivo]

Good to know. So should I be trying to lower my nitrates? What I mean by 140 is the ppm measurement. It roughly translates to 7.8, so I will try to higher it with my next water change.

140ppm, that's just under 8 dkh. that's fine but i would boost it a bit to above 8.

report back if things don't get better in the next few weeks. ugly stage will take a little time to cycle through.

 

[Twoddler]

Good to know. So should I be trying to lower my nitrates? What I mean by 140 is the ppm measurement. It roughly translates to 7.8, so I will try to higher it with my next water change.

What salt do you use? I would just target Alk to the brand of salt you use

 

[atul176]

What salt do you use? I would just target Alk to the brand of salt you use

I use reef crystals.

 

[Sharkbait19]

cyano is fueled by PO4 and NO3, so please post you perameters.

usually a lack of nutrients such as PO4 and NO3 in more established aquaria can lead to Dino outbreaks,

lol my bad! I mixed cyano up with dinos! You're correct, cyano is caused by elevated nitrates.

 

[atul176]

lol my bad! I mixed cyano up with dinos! You're correct, cyano is caused by elevated nitrates.

Ok thank you! I’ll do weekly water changes at 15 percent starting this Saturday.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Ok thank you! I’ll do weekly water changes at 15 percent starting this Saturday.

Sounds good. I definitely find that the key to eliminating an algae outbreak is to simply rub it off the rocks and sand, immediately do a water change (siphoning out much of the algae so it doesn't return), and then letting the CUC do the rest. Trochus snails are known to tackle cyano algae. During algae outbreaks, sometimes even higher water changes are recommended, and run your blue lights even more often (if you don't already).

 

[atul176]

Sounds good. I definitely find that the key to eliminating an algae outbreak is to simply rub it off the rocks and sand, immediately do a water change (siphoning out much of the algae so it doesn't return), and then letting the CUC do the rest. Trochus snails are known to tackle cyano algae. During algae outbreaks, sometimes even higher water changes are recommended, and run your blue lights even more often (if you don't already).

Quick question, I do have a Xenia, and I am a little worried that lowering the nitrates will screw with it. Should I take the chance?

 

[Sharkbait19]

Quick question, I do have a Xenia, and I am a little worried that lowering the nitrates will screw with it. Should I take the chance?

Xenia corals are quite hardy and thrive on both filter feeding and photosynthesis. Seeing that your nitrates are already at 10 ppm, I wouldn't make that any lower...