need help, red slime

[grisha]

hi guys. looks like i got a chellenge, and that is nasty ugly RED SLIME.
it is on the send bed and some rocks. im trying to fight it with additional flow and two skimmers( i have remora in the display and cpr bak-pak in the sump) is this a good idea? guys seriosly im sick of it i have to clean my frags with the powerhead manually. any advise will help
greg

 

[drunktank]

how big is ur tank and what kind of flow do u have running?

and of course ur parameters and are u using tap or RODI water?

 

[grisha]

i do not use RODI water. i have amonia 1 ph 8.1 nitrites and nitrates i need to test. this is 30 g and 20 sump flow is rio 600 . fluval 304 maxi-jet 1200 in sump like a return(100gph at head?)
thank you for yor respons i never got a chence to get to you for that light sorry for been a flake

 

[drunktank]

just my opinion but tap water could be a problem. When was the last time ur fluval was cleaned? I think ur return might be a little weak as well, normally u'd want 20x the flow of ur tank volume.

buti'm sure in the am some better answers will be posted

 

[House of Laughter]

first get rid of the fluval

Second, use red slime remover - worked (s) for me when I get it.

Keep sucking it out and get an RO/DI unit, best investment you'll ever make.

House

 

[grisha]

thanks guys
i cleand a fluval 2 weeks ago(house, what is wrong with it?)
what is red slime remover?
i tried maxi 1200 in the tank every thing whas flying
any hint on rodi?
thank you guys
btw some one told me that two skimmers is totally wrong is there any problem with it?

 

[House of Laughter]

Grisha, they are nitrate factories and likely why your ammonia, and nitrates are high - plus no filtered water - really bad combo

Guys like buckeye field supply for RO/DI and purely H20 as well.

Red slime remover is a checmical that kills cyano - works like a charm - do not overdose.

House

 

[grisha]

thank you jim

 

[meschaefer]

How long has the tank been set up? You amonia should be at zero. If this is a realtivly new tank, i.e. less than one year, it is not uncommon to have a cyano cylce.

I agree the fluval has to go, it is a nitrate factory. They have there place in the aquarium world, but are not generally used in reef tanks. You will notice that most people do not use any mechanical filtration, only protein skimmers.

As far as your water goes, tap water can be a problem. It is better to invest some money in an ro/di unit, but you can get away with using distilled water or using the tap water purifier (i used this with good success for about three years..but now that I have swithced to ro/di...i would never think of running a reef tank with out one).

 

[grisha]

good points
how about fluval carbone only?
need to start save pennys for ro/di
tank is 6 month old

 

[barebucta]

Sorry Greg don't mean to hi-jack, but why are you guys advising to get rid of the fluval? Is it b/c of the brand or you guys just disagree with canister filters?

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

good points
how about fluval carbone only?
need to start save pennys for ro/di
tank is 6 month old

Well the RO/DI is cheap if you go for the ebay one. Like a $100 including shipping.

I got one but never use it due to missing one or two couplings. My main tank has little cyano after 2 months even with very little flow. So that leads me to think that your feeding and nutrient export ratio is not proper. Are you over feeding while you don't have much nutrient export mechanism like macro algae, DSB .....

 

[fritz]

If RO/DI is too much you could try a "Tap water purifier" they are canisters of carbon with DI resin. They are pretty cheap and will get your TDS (Total Desolved Solids) very low, just like an RO/DI.

YOur skimmers won't help (or hurt) your slime problem. Cyano bacteria is usually a sign of too much phosphate which most often comes from tap water, flake food and not thouroughly rinsed off frozen food. Cyphen out all the cyano that you can via water changes and as Jim mentioned Red Slime remover or Chemi-clean works well to treat the symptom (but will not remove your problem of too much phosphate in the water)

 

[drperetz]

...

I think using chemicals is not a good way to start but of course i have no say in this. I think syphoning the slime out with a und. grav. vacume is the best way to go about it with a water change.also get rid of the fluval, its too much hastle. I had it hated it. A sump with a fug is the best way to go.

 

[meschaefer]

Sorry Greg don't mean to hi-jack, but why are you guys advising to get rid of the fluval? Is it b/c of the brand or you guys just disagree with canister filters?

Nothing against fulval, I stongly disagree with the use of canister filters, unless you are willing to clean them out daily. Otherwise, whatever they filter out, just starts to breakdown. Futhermore, they create a place for amonnia and nitrite to break down, thereby increasing the nitrate- but don't do a thing for nitrate removal. Thats a double wammy.

The beauty of a protein skimmer is that it removes the waste completely from the water, as such you have none of the above referenced problems. This would go for almost any mechanical filter.

 

[grisha]

thank you for your input and
back to fluval quastion
guys do you have any solution to clarify water another then mech filter
i got a sump but i need macro (btw i got some but it just grow slow <<low ph?>>)
barebucta how is that lather?

 

[romain]

thank you for your input and
back to fluval quastion
guys do you have any solution to clarify water another then mech filter
i got a sump but i need macro (btw i got some but it just grow slow <<low ph?>>)

Grisha, do you have light over the macro (cheato from me)? Maybe you need dose iron to boost its growth.

Go get an RO/DI. It's a must for the long run.

 

[grisha]

i got the light sun glow 18w
rodi a must