red slime algae

[hbright]

What kind of snails, hermits, etc will eat red slime algae? Since I upgraded my lights to MH my tank is covered. I have plenty of water circulation, very lightly stocked, and I dont think I overfeed, I also do regular water changes.....but my nitrates are still around 20 so I guess this is the problem. Even with the addition of a skimmer the nitrates dont seem to ever drop. Im planning to change the CC substrate to a DSB if I can ever find the right sand around here. I havent had any luck at Home Depot stores in Tennessee. What else can I do???? Oh yeah, I always use RO/DI water too so It cant be that. What about a hang on type of refugium? I dont have much room to do a big fuge under the tank. If I do the hang on type, how would I light it? Sorry for the long post im just getting VERY frustrated!!!!

 

[Fishboy-from-NY]

What about a hang on type of refugium? I dont have much room to do a big fuge under the tank

Yes, you got the idea on what can work. Also get some tangs or algae eating fish in your tank. the reason why I say that is if your ever to consider in getting an eel, puffer or trigger, they will eat your hermits & snails easy.

 

[e-cat]

fighting conches eat it, not much else does eat cyano, it is probably caused in your tank by the over feeding.

 

[bizzybeas]

I have it as well. Mine started when my skimmer broke a few weeks back. I siphon it out every day but within one day it is all back. I was hoping when I got my skimmer back it would go away, but not yet!!!

 

[Cap360]

i would stet up a sump with a deep sand bed and a fuge i use a 29 gallon tank i made into a sumo it was real easy and have great results

 

[jamal-188]

I"m going to build a new sump/fuge out of a 40 gallon wal-mart special rubbermaid contanier. Just not sure how to set it up yet, so when I figure that out bye bye wet/dry filter.

 

[biotoxin]

I think we need a 10 step cyano guide on this site. Anyway...

1. Cut lighting period in half
2. check for PHOSPHATES if youre using tap and not ro/di water.
3. Use ro/di water from a store (safeway has glacier water which is good stuff for .29 cents a gallon) if you dont have an ro/di unit.
4. Skim, Skim , Skim
5. Nassarius for dsb, Astrea for lr, its just that simple.
6. If your nitrates are 20ppm then do a 25% wc, 10% will only cut the nitrates by 10% , cool huh?
7. Keep circulation high to avoid attachment of it.
8. Keep ca/alk high and use a 2 part dosing system like b-ionic to encourage coralline growth which inhibits nuisance algae like cyano.
9. Feed sparingly, phytoplankton 1-2 times a week and brine shrimp maybe once a week depending on whats in your tank.
10. Be patient, even the best tanks get cyano its just a pita algae and it comes and goes.

Hope that helps if anyone else wants to chime in go for it

 

[bizzybeas]

Great post, thank you for the info!!! I also have hope that it will end!