Cyano Problem

[chark]

Yes I have macro algae in the sump but it is not growing well. I looks ok but just not growing much.

[Dominican]

Be sure to have a good light in your sump for the macro. PC works, other types work well too.

Also, I hate to be the guy to recommend a product - the other folks are right in addressing the root cause. This product is JUST in case you've waited long enough to risk the cyano overgrowing any of your corals. For an emergency in the past I've used "Red Slime Control" by Blue Line to complete success with no impact to my fish, corals, inverts. I have softies and fish and am now preparing to get into sps, so I don't know how it'd affect hard corals. Aquadome sells it.

[chark]

I am not in a desperate state yet. I keep cleaning to make sure it doesn't. I have patches on some rocks and the gravel. I have been removing it and blowing the rocks and sand. I have increased the flow and decreased feeding. I am now trying turning the lights off for 2 to 3 days. I have also purchased a more adequate clean up crew since I only have about 40 for 185 gal.
I know that the cleanup crew will not fix the problem but should help with more of the detritus. If this does not work I will consider your option.

Thanks again for the suggestion.

Cecil

[rz1a]

be careful if you dose that stuff, it will release everything its been consuming back into your tank. ive done this and have had a a couple of weeks where i had nothing but weird slime. after a while it went away

also, i wouldnt use it if you have SPS.

the way i remember getting rid of it in my 28 was by adding an oversized skimmer

[rz1a]

btw, looks youve done all the right things as well. like jon said, make sure you use good quality water, Ro/Di

[hobogato]

fwiw, elevated phosphates can be a growth inhibitor for macroalgae.

[Jonthefishguy]

Nothing is released back into the tank using redslime remover. It is back because it wasnt entirely gone and the issue wasnt corrected. Cyanobacteria are often treated with antibiotics, addressing the symptom rather then the cause. Antibiotics are not very selective in what bacteria get killed. Cyano is gram negative (thin cell wall) in much the same way as the beneficial bacteria are. So when treating with this type of chemical you are also killing off the beneficial as well. It does this by removing oxygen from the water and CO2 builds up thus causing the bacteria to die, or so it seems. This is why the manufacture warns to not overdose as issues of low pH and low oxygen levels have been known to happen. Getting to the root of the problem is the ONLY true way to solve this problem. Cyano can also build a resistance against the chemical treatment so if the problem isnt solved and is just "patched", eventually it will become a bigger issue.

[rz1a]

BTW, the cyano isnt back. it died. it just created a nasty slime for a long time, and it wasnt cyano. i dont have any of the red slime at all on my sandbed or glass like i did before