Deep red blob under Candy Cane head

[don_chuwish]

Is this anything to worry about? We have a few small recurring aiptasia on another branch, AiptasiaX has killed them off a few times but they keep coming back.
Mostly I'm wondering about the red blob...

It's been about 12" under a 55W 50/50 CF bulb, I've just moved deeper just in case.

36G tank, Calcium measured yesterday at 480, Amm 0, NitrItes 0, NitrAtes <10, temp steady at 76 (if you believe my thermo). Using Kent reef salt mix, weekly (or more) 15% PWCs. Tank is only about 6 weeks old. Oh and, hate to admit, tap water treated with Prime. Occasionally I have to drip some buffer in to get pH back up from around 8.0 to 8.3. (I always drip after learning a hard lesson!).

So... is the Candy Cane sick or fine?

Thanks!

- SC

 

[Reeffanman]

Could be red slime aka cyanobacteria, what is it's consistency is it sheet like or does it separate easily?

 

[don_chuwish]

Thanks!
I hadn't tried touching it but now that I did, yes, and it released an air bubble as it separated. Chunks floated away - hope I haven't just dispersed cyano everywhere!

- D

 

[Greenturtle]

It is definitely cyano. If you can remove it without touching the head of the coral, that would be great. I ha a huge cyano problem, I left the light off for an entire day (my corals are healthy enough to withstand that) and the cyano was gone. I still have a small amount, but it is much less noticeable. No critters will touch it.

 

[don_chuwish]

Thanks all, that's the ONLY cyano in the tank. I was able to gently remove it all with a pipe cleaner, looks much better now. Just hope I don't get cyano blooms all over the tank now.

- D

 

[mr_X]

a ph of 8 isn't bad. If you can keep it stable at 8, I'd leave it alone.

 

[don_chuwish]

Thanks for that input, near 8 may be where it wants to settle. But then I'd worry about it dipping lower before I notice & fix soon enough.
An interesting development in this little blob of cyano - it was starting to return the past few days & then a snail got up there and cleaned it all off. I'm sure more gently & completely than I had done.

- D

 

[spoonman]

My understanding is that stable PH is more important than the level. Unless the levels are really extreme.

 

[don_chuwish]

Thanks spoonman, good point. I'll just keep an eye on it and see if it stays at 8. Kind of a PITA to drip in buffer anyway.

Would a coral dip of any kind kill the cyano? If it comes back after the snail cleaned it up I want to have something on hand.

- D

 

[mr_X]

No. You can just remove the coral and shake it off in a container of tank water and then put it back in the tank.