red slime (1 Viewer)

[CaptainGreg]

Your rock and sand will take up Phospate and lock it away under certain PH. Algae and red slime will and can unlock the phospate rich rock and sand. Most people try to use some chemichal to remove the free Phosphate and scratch their head why algae and red slime still grow. Well it will take lot of time for phospate to work it self out of the rock and sand when using phospate removing pad. Do look for quick turn around. It could take up to 6 months of continue usage of phospate removing media to see any changes.

Same as for water changes... It will take many water changes to remove phospate from the rock and sand.

I suggest using bacteria or plant to remove phospate.

When removing phospate, make sure you don't remove too much where it will kill coral... Coral need p and N to grow too...

Good Luck....

 

[reeffamily]

Bemi thanks but i have used slim away. am wondering if it kills it in rock,sand,everywhere.If it does then what brings it back so fast. I'm not worrying about phosphates unless thats the only thing causing my red slime. I've changed my flow patterns. i'll see what that does. My tank is 95% soft corals so they like the phosphates. when i used my reactor to remove phosphates my corals had a fit.

 

[kcooley]

We figured out that you use premixed saltwater from the store. are you topping off with ro/di?

Those chemicals just work short term unless you fix the root of the problem. how often do you feed? do you have any filters that could be storing extra nutrients?

 

[reeffamily]

yes i use store bought salt and ro water. i don't think anything will hold it. maybe live rock that could hold the bacteria. yes i feed alot and often but i have for 20 years and have never had red slime this often.once a year i get it. changed flow in the tank. will see what that does. If i use red slime remover does it kill it in the rock??????? please read post 22. then respond.thanks

 

[hypertech]

It won't do anything about the phosphates bound up in the rock. That's why it comes back so fast. A small amount survives the treatment or gets introduced again and it thrives due to the phosphates and other nutrients bound in the rocks.

If you have had a phosphate problem for years like you say, the levels have probably been increasing and increasing in the rock. And now, it may have hit critical mass where it is leaching back out and compounding a water quality problem.

Step 1: Get your own RODI so you know the water quality is good and your top off is pure.

Step 2: Slowly bring down the phosphates to a more reasonable (even if not completely zero) level.

 

[kcooley]

Step 1: Get your own RODI so you know the water quality is good and your top off is pure.

Step 2: Slowly bring down the phosphates to a more reasonable (even if not completely zero) level.

step 3 max out all of your elements... cal=500, alk=10-11, mag=1400+...

when you change water use the siphon hose to suck all of the red stuff out, off the rock and what is loose on the substrate.

possibly use chemipure or phosguard or GFO to help lower phos in the long run if it is bound up in the rocks. also, even if you think your feeding regiment is spot on, drop it down a little bit or feed smaller amounts for more time to make sure everything eats but there is absolutely none left over.

 

[reeffamily]

thanks

thanks guys. that answered my question. I'll pull my reactor back out and drop my phosphates down a little and see. flow change seems to have changed thing also.