cyano after 8 mo.

[jbro]

I've had my 55 gal set up for 8 mo. now and the warnings I had from people in here are coming true. I originally started with UGF, CC, on the advice of LFS. After joining AA, many advised me to tear out the UGF before I added too much. Well, I didn't listen and my tank parameters and algae were under completer control until I upgrade lighting about 2 mo. ago. I faithfully do 12-15 gal/wk WC with R/O water from LFS (have R/o unit ordered). Along with vacuuming.
With this outbeak though, I'm getting red slime covering my glass every 2-3 days. I've been treating with chemiclean, and it seems to be helping along with removing whatever I can. I really cleaned evey part of the tank now, and it still shows up.
I know I have to find the root of the problem. I'm pretty sure it's the UGF.
Here's the decision I need to make: LFS recommends slowly removing all the substrate, then UGF, and going bareback. A friend at work (who has been in the hobby for 20+ years) recommend I uncap the UGF and run reverse power filters. He claims this works great in his breeder tank and he has his set up to see underneath.
Should I start out trying the reverse flow method, or go right to the teardown? I need to do something SOON.

 

[seve1]

Sounds like a phosphate issue to me. I had an outbreak of red and that was the problem. Need to use a phosphate remover and figure out the source (food maybe). Just my 0.02$.

 

[jbro]

I was told to add a phosphate sponge, as "winter water" supposedly has less quality. What I need to do now is tear down with WC to completely eliminate the possiblity of UGF build up. I 'm going to go half now and half in a couple weeks. Thanks.

 

[melosu58]

How often do you feed your fish? Do you have clean up crew in tank.

 

[jbro]

I feed once daily and have cut the amount down just recently. I took out one of the undergravel panels last night, followed by a 20% WC. Did not see any build up under the panel, but I feel better that it's out of there. I'm going to closely monitor water parameters for any spikes for a couple weks before I take out the other panel (which is where I think the worst accumulation is).
I had a clean up crew, 20 blueg hermits, 6 turbo snails, but lost about half the hermits and ALL of the turbos (twice). I also hace 4-5 brittle stars, arrow crab, neon gobi and a pistol shrimp that digs up the substrate. I just recently added 5 red-leg hermits and 10 astraea snails.
I think I'm going to be OK after the the next "big storm" of removing UGF plate.
Thanks for your concern. I'll keep you up to date.