Is this red slime?

[SACoastie]

I have been reading everywhere trying to find out if this is "red slime". I have a container of Red Slime remover by Ultralife reef products, but I wanted to consult the pros before I added it. Also if it is could someone help me on how to keep it under control. Thanks a mil. - James :D

[josephatmbimortgage]

yeapers, that cyno. You going to need some Chemi-clean.

-Joseph

[MattK]

Kinda looks like it. Cyanobacteria and blue green algae are other common names. Usually seen in low flow areas of the tank and most likely cause by excess nutrients.

Here a great article:
http://wetwebmedia.com/bluegralgae.htm

[SACoastie]

Thank you. Do I dose once and then a water change or until unseen and a water change? Thanks again - James

[Jeff]

how long has your tank been established, how much do you feed , do you have a sump or refugium? cyno is caused by excess nutrients and can be part of the normal cycle. just do water changes once a week and try to syphon as much of the stuff up as you can. just try a good clean up crew and good husbandry before using a chemical, if it is still around after six or so months then you might want to try the chemi-clean.

[SACoastie]

I see. Well I've had the tank going for about 1 year in April. I spot feed with Cromaplex once a week skipping the week I do a water change. Topping with kalkwash once a week and feeding brine twice a day. Is this to much? I try to get as much of it off when I do a water change by syphoning. I have a wet dry rated for a 300 gal tank max on a 75 gal tank and an oversized skimmer and UV sterilizer. I run my actics 12 hpd and the whites for 10. Can't think of anything else that may be of good info. Thanks again - James

[Ram_Puppy]

I see. Well I've had the tank going for about 1 year in April.


ok, so it should be stable now good, now is about the time I would expect (if not a little sooner) you to start running into your first major algae problem.



I spot feed with Cromaplex once a week skipping the week I do a water change. Topping with kalkwash once a week and feeding brine twice a day.


how much are you feeding at a time? First, it's time to retire the brine, while fish love it, there are far better sources of nutrients for them. Brine is sort of like celery, while it may be fortified w/ vitamins, it is still nutritionally worthless. every now and again is great as it cleans out he gut, but unless you get really fresh hatched brine that is still nice and red, or gutloaded w/ spirulina (or what not) then it's not going to do your fish much good.

I would suggest switching to Cyclopzeeze and Mysis




Is this to much? I try to get as much of it off when I do a water change by syphoning.


Get what off? if you have to siphon stuff off then perhaps your feeding to much at one time. perhaps more frequent, but smaller feedings.




I have a wet dry rated for a 300 gal tank max on a 75 gal tank and an oversized skimmer and UV sterilizer. I run my actics 12 hpd and the whites for 10. Can't think of anything else that may be of good info. Thanks again - James


Wetdry's are somewhat outdated, and you really don't need it as they are a nitrate factory. I would suggest slowly phasing out the wetdry by removing a few bioballs a week until they are all gone. I would personally scale back your lighting to 10 hpd on the blues, and 10 for the whites. but that is just me. also, it may be time to change your bulbs, if so, do not do them all at one time.

What Josh and others are trying to point out is that the cyano is not the problem w/ your tank, cyano happens because there is a nutrient load feeding it. what needs to be corrected, is the nutrient load, and then the cyano will fall into place. there is no issue w/ treating it and siphoning it off, just don't let it rot back into your tank or your adding to the problem.

[SACoastie]

So prettty much I'm overfeeding with the Cromaplex? I feed 4 teaspoons once a week ( about what is recommended on label). Oh and I forgot ghost shrimp once a month. And when I said get it off during a waterchange I was reffering to the algae by syphoning it off the rock. Would a lawnmower blenny take care of this? T.Y - James

[Ram_Puppy]

it's that OBT you sold me Josh... i have it in my tank and all of a sudden i am active here again... go figure.

[Ram_Puppy]

insanely odd.

[Ram_Puppy]

are we headed for a Nemo Hijacking here?

[Ram_Puppy]

I wonder if whoever coined the phrase "scum of the earth" had cyano bacteria in mind.

[Ram_Puppy]

mmm... bryopsis - tough as all get out, and toxic to boot.

truth, but cyano looks worse imho.

although, if I was going to call someone the scum of the earth, I would rather imagine them as a 5 day old bowl of melted anemone.

[Ram_Puppy]

truth, I had bryopsis once... and i successfully got rid of it... I let a pump overheat in my tank and man, it took that bryopsis out! (course, it killed everything else but my clowns.)

[Ram_Puppy]

hey, it could have been worse josh, he could have put a rio pump in there and plugged it in. ;)

for a tank that got nuked w/ a battery it's not lookin to bad. :)

[Ram_Puppy]

well, what kind of battery was it?

1) if it was an alkaline, it may not be that bad
2) you would be suprised what salwater can chemically neutralize - nasty stuff like sarin and mustard gas for one. :) (my sister used to dismantel chemical weapons and destroy them for a living... one of their fallback safety features was 'da ocean' ;)
3) if the batteries casing did not rust through, your probably looking at a little excess iron, and maybe not much else. I doubt the copper that remains is to bad, because, we know for one you have no problem w/ invertebrates living in your tank... peps, aiptasia, tons of coral...

I don't think your as bad off as you think, biological indicators infact, are pointing to life thriving in your tank...

[MattK]

It was an alkaline battery and the top was all foamed up with about a golf ball sized mushroom cloud looking structure, appropriate considering it "nuked" all my fish.

[thread jack in progress, do not be alarmed]

This is how you used your 10,000 post! No long post of how you were discouraged at first but with perseverance and determination you achieved your goal of 10,000? <_< Oh well, maybe 20,000 we'll have a party. :D

[thread jack over, you are now returned to your regularly scheduled program already in progress]

[Ram_Puppy]

hmm... your description makes me think the electrolyte escaped - that is potassium hydroxide in most batteries (according to google. :) )and is even more base than saltwater.. thus the reaction (maybe... gary could probably do a far better job w/ this than me, or for that matter any of the teachers we have here).

other than the steel case, everything else seems fairly inert, and far less deadly than elemental copper...

I think what probably happened is your PH * ALK skyrocketed to unholy and ungodly proportions... and zinc, potassium... all these things feed plants - thus your algae problem. light that sump up and throw some cheato in there.



Positive cap: Formed protrusion at one end of the battery can which identifies it as the positive terminal.
Steel can: Nickel-plated steel which is formed into a container to hold chemicals and serves as the positive collector.
Outer Jacket: A plastic sleeve which contains decorative printing identifying the cell type and size.
Separator: Porous non-woven fibrous material which separates electrodes; holds electrolyte between electrodes.
Electrolyte: A solution of potassium hydroxide in water which carries the ionic current inside the battery.
Cathode: Manganese dioxide and graphite which take up electrons from the external circuits.
Anode: Powdered zinc metal which serves as the source of electrons.
Anode Collector: Tin-plated brass which serves as a path for the electrons from the anode to the external circuit.
Seal/Vent: Molded plastic disc which holds internal components inside the cell and releases internal pressure when battery is abused.

[Ram_Puppy]

try again!

there is razor caulerpa in your display, we know macro will survive in there now.

[Ram_Puppy]

heck, josh, run B-streeps HIATT torpedo on it for a couple days and you will probably see a massive increase in water quality.