Problem with my tank

[Drshare]

I am fairly new to this and have come across something I'm not quite sure about. You guys have been a great help in the past so I ask you this....... Why is my sand like this and how to I correct it? And is this red stuff growing on my rock something to worry about?

 

[Moneymaks24]

Increase flow to that area sounds like cyano. Pic would help

 

[Drshare]

Put the post up from my phone I guess the pics didn't take, I will try again when I get home and can get on the computer.

 

[NYreefNoob]

if your getting red slime algea i always suggest just going ahead and getting a bittle of red slime remover and follow instructions. make sure skimmer is off for 4-5 days. several things can be causing it if thats what it is

 

[Moneymaks24]

Take it from someone who can't get anything but red cyano to grow in their tank. Don't waste $ on chemicals just increase flow and watch your feeding also blow any detritus of your rocks a few times a week.

 

[NYreefNoob]

moneymaks, do you even know what red slime is ? or what can cause it ?

 

[Moneymaks24]

Yup it's a bacteria. It loves my tank. Used Chemiclean it gets rid of it for 5 days. So what? Unless u change your habits of feeding or maintenance it will return.

 

[KathyC]

Yup it's a bacteria. It loves my tank. Used Chemiclean it gets rid of it for 5 days. So what? Unless u change your habits of feeding or maintenance it will return.

Not necessarily true. It isn't necessarily about flow and feeding.
It tends to happen in cycles and often even the nicest, most well maintained tanks will suffer from it. It is especially prevalent in the winter and in the summer time when homes are closed up and there isn't a great influx of fresh air into peoples homes.
Cyanobacteria ALWAYS exists. Google it, it is very interesting reading


Chemiclean - used properly- please follow the directions carefully and add an additional air source! - will definitely help.

 

[NYreefNoob]

lol ty kathy, really was waiting for the op to respond and get a little info from him. ive debunked alot of the reasons they say of what causes it. old bulbs, ( kevlar shifting ) flow and excessive nutrients. i still get it here and there, and always just end up using the slime remover

 

[Moneymaks24]

Ahm this is what I hate about this hobby!money wasting advice! CHEMICLean does NOT help. Cyano will come back. Just like when ppl keep telling me to buy all the equipment in the world coz it's the " right way to reef". Nonsense I've wasted thousands on my 34 gallon and can't even get a $5 coral to grow. Pleas stop just stop.

 

[NYreefNoob]

money wasting advise ? maybe your just talking to the wrong people. ive been in the hobby for almost a decade. im cheap and hate to spend $ but ive tried alot of stuff over the years, from way out there to the norm. ive learned alot of what works and doesnt. all the equiptment in the world does you no good if your dont know what your doing. please stop giving advice to others if you cant keep your own tank up to par. like a mechanic saying he will fix your car, but doesnt know how to open a hood. not trying to be a smart azz. but i see you offering alot of wrong advice on here. and this is how the cycle begins

 

[Moneymaks24]

Ok noob I don't need to be In the hobby for 10 yrs to know Chemiclean is a waste of money. Know how I know that? Wait for it...... ..... I BOUGHT it! Used it 2 times In 1 month and both times cyano came back after a week. So please tell me how it's bad advice to change your water maintenance or flow and feeding habits versus buying a "silver bullet" cure for cyano which .... Wait for it..... DOESNT exist! Have fun wasting ur $ im just trying to help ppl out contrary to popular jibber jabber. It's $20 il neve get back but I learned my lesson.

 

[Vic8361]

Ok noob I don't need to be In the hobby for 10 yrs to know Chemiclean is a waste of money. Know how I know that? Wait for it...... ..... I BOUGHT it! Used it 2 times In 1 month and both times cyano came back after a week. So please tell me how it's bad advice to change your water maintenance or flow and feeding habits versus buying a "silver bullet" cure for cyano which .... Wait for it..... DOESNT exist! Have fun wasting ur $ im just trying to help ppl out contrary to popular jibber jabber. It's $20 il neve get back but I learned my lesson.

I guess you're trying to help but I know these two people for years and find them to be very helpful. Put it this way I have used ultralife red slime remover quite a few times in the past 15 years and it has helped me after trying and trying to get rid of it with proper maintenance. I don't no if chemiclean is the same chemical as red slime remover all I can tell you is that it has helped me.
Vic

 

[l Morphine]

Okay not sure why there is arguing. Moneymaks chemi clean might not have worked for you but it has helped for other people. Different things work for different people. Instead of debating on everybodys advice, post your own and thats it. The OP will make their own decision on what route to take. It doesnt help the OP in any way. That's why we have forums. Its a discussion on how to solve problems through trial and error.

 

[Moneymaks24]

If you believe u can buy Chemiclean and change nothin about feeding flow and maintenance to get rid of cyano that's your opinion I know from experience your just hiding the issue and you will need to use Chemiclean every month if not more .Best of luck op

 

[Vic8361]

Ahm this is what I hate about this hobby!money wasting advice! CHEMICLean does NOT help. Cyano will come back. Just like when ppl keep telling me to buy all the equipment in the world coz it's the " right way to reef". Nonsense I've wasted thousands on my 34 gallon and can't even get a $5 coral to grow. Pleas stop just stop.

It's sad that you have gotten so much bad advice and had to spend so much of your money trying to enjoy this hobby and then hating it. There are people who really love this hobby and are willing to help. I hope you find them.
Here's a pic of my old tank so you can know why I love it so much.
Vic

 

[Paul B]

Not necessarily true. It isn't necessarily about flow and feeding.
It tends to happen in cycles and often even the nicest, most well maintained tanks will suffer from it. It is especially prevalent in the winter and in the summer time when homes are closed up and there isn't a great influx of fresh air into peoples homes.
Cyanobacteria ALWAYS exists. Google it, it is very interesting reading

Kathy is 100% correct. My reef is older than most members on here and I still have some cyano. It is normal and I would tell the OP to forget about it as it is perfectly normal to have it in a new tank and there is probably something wrong if it never shows up. I would just leave it alone unless it forms mats and starts to cover corals. It is simple to eliminate, but for now, I would just wait.

 

[Mattl22]

Getting it on sand and need to buy a longer plastic hose cyano is easiest of all the nuisance just suck it out if its on sand suck out top layer rinse sand then put it back in

 

[BioMan]

Take it from somebody who's screwed up a 120 gallon by jumping the gun..my first 2 tanks I ever got both 14 and 29 gallon Biocubes, both new, cycled both exactly the way the LFS told me took 2 month for sand water etc, water changes, bringing in water samples weekly, that red stuff always exists and loves bright light.

 

[jackson6745]

Cyano still confuses me. I have it growing at times when I am stripped of nutrients or not. High flow or low flow, high/low/no light, on rocks, sand, and glass..... it's relentless at times.
2 ways that I got rid of it for good in previous systems.

1) I did nothing but siphon some out with scheduled water changes and occasionally blow it off corals to keep them healthy. It took months but it eventually disappeared and never came back.

2) Used Microbe-lift special blend for a 6 week regimen. This stuff smells horrible but the bacteria did wipe out the cyano and improved my water quality overall. Perhaps other bacterias will also wipe it out?

I used a cyano remover in my last system and it works fast however I will never use it again. Some of my SPS faded in color and I lost polyp extension. I think much beneficial bacteria was wiped out as well. On top of it I had cyano return.

IME if you have some patience, and maintain good water quality, it will eventually go aways on its own.