Red Slime: How to Prevent and Remove Cyanobacteria
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- Опубліковано 22 сер 2024
- goo.gl/IOrQcv Today we are going to show you how to avoid and eliminate one of the most common reef tank pests: Cyanobacteria, more commonly referred to as Red Slime Algae.
Simply knowing what causes this slime to grow makes it easier to avoid an outbreak and remove in the event an outbreak does occur.
READ ACCOMPANYING BLOG POST (with full video transcript):
goo.gl/dpxQ9i
WATCH "HOW TO CONTROL PHOSPHATE IN A REEF TANK":
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VIEW RED SLIME REMOVERS AT MARINE DEPOT:
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VIEW PHOSPHATE REMOVERS AT MARINE DEPOT:
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LEARN MORE ABOUT REMOVING RED SLIME/CYANOBACTERIA:
goo.gl/Pl8Ybl
Thanks for watching! If you found this video tutorial helpful, please like or share it with your fellow reef nerds! Don't forget to subscribe to our UA-cam channel to stay up-to-date on all future MD video installments.
Until next time... take care and happy reef keeping!
You hit the nail on the head when you said old lighting. We sometimes forget the basics . I’m 63 and in the hobby since fish tanks had slate bottoms , metal frames and fluorescent bulbs. I knew it was time to change the bulbs when the cyno started. Now we have led lights. Are they really any good . The coralline use to do great also with bulb lighting. Thanks for reminding me of the basics!!
LED's have come a really long way in the past couple years. They can deliver some excellent color and controllability that you simply can't get from T5 or Metal Halide.
That might be a thought. I have two different lights aimed at the tank, so there may be an overload there. Will have to test one set of LED lights on its own and see how that goes. The one set of LED lights is also moonlight strength and even under the moonlight selection the corals will be open. So I guess that tells me that that one set of lights is enough.
Time to experiment again.
I hate to use chemicals.
Used chemiclean on my 180. It worked and with orp over 400 never worried or had any problems with lack of oxygen. No inverts died or anemones, corals etc. Would recommend the product.
you mentioned it can grow in low oxygen areas but i experianced the exact opposite. since i have one powerhead, i usually have to position it to balance surface agitation and flow in the tank. but then i added a air pump from a freshwater tank to help the surface agitation so i could position my powerhead for best circulation. but after adding the air pump, the cyano took off, especially in the corner with the airstone. i was stunned at how much cyano there was. I also thought i discovered a new variety of cyano that was stringy, until i realized it was the last of my greenhair algea that got covered in cyano. My cyano's almost gone now, though and the video definately helped.
Thank you so much for your videos!!! Straight to the point and loaded with information with great personality!! Your customer service is top notch!
Just have one question can a lawnmower blenny Cohabitate with a yellow watchman goby?
Blennys are typically pretty peaceful with tankmates unless they could easily be confused with another Blenny. Unfortunately Watchmen Gobies are similarly shaped so it is possible that the Blenny would show aggression towards it. The major factors would be the size of your tank and the individual personality of the Blenny.
Great vid, now that I had some friends point this out you gave some very specific ways on how to treat it :)
Glad it was helpful!
Got some black cyano on the left side of my tank. It is in a low flow area that detritus does settle in so I'm going to siphon it out, increase the flow and ordered some chemi clean.
Washing filters under tap water? wouldn't you just get more phosphates or kill of any bacteria?
I bet their systems have been converted to RO under the sink.
so will the additives kill other types of algae’s such as hair and film algae
Most of the medications for red slime algae will not particularly help with other algaes. That being said, we have a variety of other additives that will help with those algaes.
Good info. What does not changing your light bulbs on time do? I have led but id like to know.
I had to look that up myself. And the author gave it a pretty wide range, depending on how long a day you keep the lights on, and the brand of the lighting fixture. He gave it anywhere from 3 years to 14 years (yeah, that's quite a range). Maybe someone else has better info on it.
You need to look at the rating for your reef aquarium LED light. (Each brand’s different). But the standard claim is that a bulb should last for 50,000 hours when adequately cared for. What does that translate to in practical terms? If you run your lights for 10 hours a day, it’s almost FOURTEEN years! It’s fourteen times longer than metal halide bulbs. And it means you can set that “change bulb” reminder out pretty far on the calendar.
Now, not every light is rated to last that long. But even if your reef aquarium LED light lasts for 10,000 hours, you’re talking THREE years without a bulb change. LED lights should last you enough time to make the expense worth your while.
I have some purple hair algae looking thing growing over my gsp. Anyone know what it is. Doesn't look like Cyanobacteria. Thanks!!
thatsLITfam 22 purple is coralline algea which is actually good and looks good people love coralline, just scrape on the front glass and leave the rest imo
Could red algee lead to fish dying? I had one fish die. Tried to find out why.. then another died. Then a bloom on red algee for the first time. Fish looked like they were "dirty" before they passes...
I would imagine water quality is to blame but I just cannot be certain. The presence of cyanobacteria does not pose an immediate threat to your fish but is typically found in aquariums with "dirty" or un-balanced water chemistry.
something growing in the rocks and it looks like hair algae but the color is purple and not in the sand. . is that red slime algae? is itdangerous for the tank? how woll i cure it
+patricia farolan Feel free to shoot some images over to our customer service team and they will be happy to help you ID and come up with a plan to beat the algae or bacteria. customercare@marinedepot.com
Can this come in on frag plugs! I got about 30 zoas and all covered in red! The guy said it was red coraline but it comes off when you scape it and I need a razor to get off my glass! It started in one smaller 20 gallon and now its on a patch in my 36! I am scared to try chemiclean because of so many new coarls! I did try it in the smaller tank and seemed to help a little but i have been squirting patches with peroxide and that seems to have helped. I need to get it off the plugs though and to hard to change plugs on zoas! po4 is 0.03 average and nitrates average around 5 to 12 right before water change. The only thing thats changed is buying these damn zoas!
It's certainly possible for cyano to be introduced on coral frags or frag plugs. The very general rule of thumb is that if you can blow it off with a turkey baster, it's more likely cyano. If you have to scrape it off, it's probably coralline.
ur advice is what was told to me @ a store in Highlands ranch Co..im a salt fish hobbyist almost 27 yrs..i never had experience in 27 yrs predominant in Tx. ..relating to red slime deiase.. ?weirdest crap i've ever seen. can the alltitude in Colo maybe be something to do with it?..im gonna change my bulb...but i think positive something about living high altitude manufactured. salt environments don't. do as well
The altitude could have other effects mainly temperature and oxygen based on my best knowledge, but plenty of mile high reefers have success so don't let that discourage you. I would start with the major factors such as phosphate/nitrate levels and water flow. 9 times out of 10 if you address these two factors, Red Slime will drastically decrease. Physical removal is also important on a regular basis until the red slime stops showing up.
-Robert @ MD
i think i know why i might have it. i was using tap water but recently switched to ro/di. i think it also might be less flow. after i found out my koralia was too much flow, i took it out and used two small submersible pumps i had on hand for flow for random flow when i got some coral frags. softies and lps. im thinking i might need to put the koralia back in, but im scared it will be too much for them. its a koralia 425, in a 10g tank. will aiming it up at the water help reduced the direct impact on my frags?
The surface and side walls of your tank can be a great tool to deflect water flow in some cases. It is perfectly healthy to be breaking the water's surface with flow as well to help improve gas exchange. The Koralia Nano 425 should be OK for a 10 gallon tank but this depends on a few factors. The smallest Koralia Nano 240 would be a suitable alternative if you find the flow is just too strong.
mdshop.us/2nSNQd5
Can you get red slimy in new tanks? I have a tank about 3 months old and pretty sure I got red slime. I just started cycling another tank and 2nd week and looks like red alike might be starting in that 1 too. I use RODI water with low TDS so its odd.
Chemiclean works for me, but after using it, I get dinos. Then I treat with Dino-x, and then Cyano comes back and the cycle continues. I used gfo in the past but it never seems to help much. Now using nopox and protien skimmer, but cyano is still slowly spreading. How can I get rid of cyano without getting dinoflagellates and falling back in that cycle. Flow and lighting are not an issue here. And my parameters are good.
Thanks in advance
The next best option is to try to outcompete it with another bacteria. Dr. Tim's Aquatics has their Waste-Away and Re-Fresh that are often used in conjunction with one another to help fight cyano.
www.bulkreefsupply.com/120-gallon-cyanobacteria-treatment-bundle-dr-tim-s.html
I have a 150 g reef tank
how many power heads should I have and what size?
You want to shoot for about 3000 GPH total for internal water movement and having some flexibility to adjust the flow +/- is nice to accommodate a particular corals flow preference. I would start by looking at EcoTech Marine VorTech MP40 or Maxspect Gyre XF130 pumps; both are feature rich in terms of control and perfect for a tank of your size. Either way you choose, it would be best to purchase x2 of them on opposite ends of the tank to dial in flow as needed.
mdshop.us/2bBvNEc
mdshop.us/2c5DhxO
Feel free to contact our support team for further support as well! customercare@marinedepot.com or 1-800-566-3474
Great video but would any of those red slime removers kill the denitrifyers in my Marine pure media? Thanks
Thanks for watching and this is great question. Chemiclean is a great product for this and will not harm your denitrifying bacteria. I have provided a link below for you to check this out on our website below.
mdshop.us/2dhgPVY
Thank you 😉
As a last resort I will try it and chew my fingernails worrying about my corals.
I have the exact same concern. To crash a saltwater tank that the hobbyist loves is on the top list of scenarios that no one wants.
Because it takes a good 4 to 5 years to stabilize a saltwater tank and a lot of work goes into a saltwater setup.
Do you think two 425pumps in my 32gal would be too much flow? I curently only have one going and my tank is having a bad problem with cyno bacteria:/
Are chemi-clean and other products safe with clams, sponges, or other filter feeders?
Chemi-Clean is Reef Safe, but I cannot be confident about "other products". Usually the manufacturers are very honest and upfront if the product will effect invertebrates and filter feeders commonly found in reef tanks.
Wow, thank you for the very prompt response! Doesn't the term "Reef safe" simply mean that it's safe for corals, and not refer to other invertebrates. I've heard from 1 (albeit reputable) source that it will kill sponges, but I have yet to hear from anyone with firsthand experience using it either of these two types of creatures.
This is the direct quote from Chemi-Clean "Safe for reef tanks, all invertebrates, desirable macro algaes, nitrifying bacteria and fish." Somewhat vague and does not mention sponges. I have no personal experience with this but I imagine Boyd Enterprises would be happy to answer your questions!
boyd--enterprises.com/contact/
-Robert @ MD
Thank you! I have reached out to them, and will update this thread with their statement on the matter.
Thanks again,
~Sharkey
Andrew Sharkey it is "just" an intensive Antibioticum (mycosidol) and will therefore also kill the other bacteria and sponges...that is not a good solution and for sure Not Reef safe nor good for the Environment (the usage May cause resistant bacteria) and you!
which is the best reef-safe product to remove cyano?
Red Slime is thankfully one of the easier ailments to overcome. Be sure to get a handle on phosphate and nitrate levels first, then be sure you have good water flow in the problem areas of your tank. Physically remove the cyano weekly with a small water change and you should then see a drastic reduction after a couple of weeks of repeated removal.
If a chemical solution is what you desire, the UltraLife Red Slime Remover is reef safe and just be sure to follow the instruction carefully.
mdshop.us/2kRvzef
Marine Depot Aquarium Supplies I test the water often. the water is good. levels are very low/undetectable. I only feed frozen foods. it's not much cyano but it's just enough to annoy the hell outta me.
I can understand the nuisance, pesky algae and in this case bacteria, can drive a reefer crazy! I wish you the best and let us know if you need more help.
-Robert @ MD
Your hands and new water. Works well for fresh and saltwater tanks.
So With The gyre 150 is possible death spots my tank is a regular 120 gallons 4x2x2
+jose beltran The Gyre XF150 is perfect for a tank of this size. Pending the location of your return pipes, you should be able to get plenty of flow if the pump is placed appropriately in your tank.
I am wondering if you can help me. At the 1:38 minute of your video what is the red/pink stuff on the black area of the back of your tank? I have it in mine and I am trying to find out what it is and how to get rid of it.
That’s coralline algae, its actually a good sign if it’s growing in your tank, some people leave it on the back glass. Best way to remove it is with a razor blade or using sea urchins.
I wonder what camera was used
I use a Cannon DSLR T5i and T6 for most all the video content filmed by MD. We do borrow and share content as well so it is possible some portions of the video are filmed using something else.
Thanks for watching!
-Robert
I am just looking for a couple opinions, do u think that I can get away with a powder blue tang in a 4foot long tank?
I have 0 phos and 0 nitrites
Would any of those products affect corals
+Jose Tufino The Red Slime removers covered in the video are reef safe and will not harm your coral when administered properly.
@@BulkReefSupply disclaimer “when followed correctly” meaning yes it can but it’s a chance you take with any chemical. Do a bunch of water changes and hope for the best. If you don’t change the environment you will not change anything
I have a small patch of. Cyano like a 1”x1” I remove it and it comes back on my rock. Should I try chemyclean or just keep sucking it up?
Air and water floor. It's like a puddle that goes stagnant. Lil adjustment will fix it. Do not throw chemicals at it. You will get it.
Have you ever dealt with dinoflagelates (dino's)? Can you do an episode on remedies for this nuisance algae?
dangappa For dinoflagellates, you will want to run GFO (which removes both phosphates and silicates) and do a TOTAL blackout for 3 days. There cannot be ANY light at all. If the silicate level is under control, the dinoflagellates should not return.
Marine Depot Aquarium Supplies Silica is usually related to Diatoms, not Dinoflagellates.
Add power heads got it
LOL, let us know if you need more help!
Marine Depot Aquarium Supplies I want a free tank ._.
Hi which light is that above the tank in this vid?
At 1:24 in the video, it has EcoTech Radions. XR30 on the left and XR15 on the right. Thanks for tuning in.
Does ultralife red slime remove green cyano??
The product is specifically designed for Red Slime in saltwater aquariums. I have no experience using against a bright green cyanobacteria so I went ahead and reached out the Ultralife for more information. I will be sure to share the information here on UA-cam.
Ultralife manufacturers a similar product for Green Slime in freshwater aquariums, here is a link to the details.
www.ultralife.com/product/blue-green-slime-stain-remover/
But does this work in marine aquarium??
I have sent them an email for you to be sure, I will let you know as soon as I have an answer.
-Robert @ MD
I received confirmation from Ultralife this morning and the product will work on red, black and blue/green algae in a marine tank.
Why do old lights cause slime ?? I know the Kelvin changes
Jeff K Great question! Not all photosynthesis is the same; Cyanobacteria and algae flourish under a particular spectrum of light which is different from what a coral or plant will prefer. As bulbs get older and the spectrum changes it will be less efficient for coral growth and more efficient for algae growth.
I had cyno, but now each grain of sand is turning a dark color. Does anyone know how to treat this??
tia smalls Thanks for watching. Have you followed all of the recommendations in the video? Performing regular water changes, ensuring you have proper water flow throughout your entire aquarium, keeping nitrate & phosphate levels within acceptable ranges and changing out your light bulbs as needed will generally do the trick. You are also welcome to email (customercare@marinedepot.com) our support team a photo (or photos) of your sand bed so we can take a closer look and offer you personal, one-on-one support to help you identify and rectify the issue.
red slime was a huge problem in my tank but I finally was able to get rid of it with chemi clean and multiple water changes
Did it work? Im having the same problem but mine its getting out of control im getting it on my glass tank too.
Yes the trick is do a water change and suck out as much cyno as possible and then use the chemclean. Make sure you follow the instructions on the box.
Nick Torres I'll pick it up later tonight. Thank you so much!
No problem good luck
Have you ever battled red slime in your reef?
ow.ly/NWdsj
i have cyano in my sump where is my chaeto
So I literally have none of the things he said cause cyano. Actually the spot where its growing is exactly what my powerhead is blasting...
In this case, I would probably recommend manual removal. Just siphon out the cyano through a filter sock and then return that same water back into your aquarium. Once it starts to grow back, do the same thing to remove the cyano. After a couple of times, you should notice a drastic reduction. Be sure that you are keeping your waste parameters in check as well.
Thanks for watching and feel free to let us know how it goes!
-Robert @ MD
It grows on the intake grill of my largest powerhead so I think the flow idea might not be so important. Trying lanthanum chloride and sugar dosing as of today as phophates are high I also have a blue-grey version as well as the red.
I watched this whole video in 2X speed.