Red film with bubbles "algae"?

gorey · 01/04/2010, 07:11 PM

I have a red film with bubbles in it on some rocks. How do I get rid of it and what is it? Any help would be great!!! Its ugly!!!!

Juruense · 01/04/2010, 07:15 PM

It is cyanobacteria and the good news is that it is very easily removed with a toothbrush. Just reach in there and brush it off. It will most likely come back however. You need to maintain a higher quality of tank water to truly eliminate it. Is it a fairly new tank?

Sk8r · 01/04/2010, 07:17 PM

old as life on earth---literally. It's cyanobacteria, it's a phase tanks go through. Turn your lights out for 3 days, while skimming hard, and keep sunbeams away from your tank. Do this once a month. Google cyanobacteria, and it will show you why it is nearly impossible to eradicate by any other method. Do NOT get Chemiclean red slime remover: it's not for new tanks. It can take out your sandbed bacteria if not expertly used. Just be patient. Nothing is damaged by it. It won't hurt anything. Just looks nasty for a while. And the red stain goes away magically once it goes.

gorey · 01/04/2010, 07:35 PM

I have had the tank set up for 13 months now. I will go ahead and be better at water changes tho. Sometimes i slack!!

sarmo · 01/04/2010, 07:48 PM

Increase flow too, if possible. That's how i got rid of it.....

jerrym21 · 01/04/2010, 07:54 PM

I have also used a turkey baster to suck most of it off. I comes off very easily. I have since done 10% water changes weekly and have not seen any in about three years.

01/04/2010, 07:11 PM	#1
gorey Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 292	Red film with bubbles "algae"? I have a red film with bubbles in it on some rocks. How do I get rid of it and what is it? Any help would be great!!! Its ugly!!!! __________________ There is fine line between a hobby and an obsession Current Tank Info: 75g AGA 30g/ sump vertex 100 skimmer. Yellow tang, 2 clowns, cardnial, royal gamma, six line

01/04/2010, 07:17 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	old as life on earth---literally. It's cyanobacteria, it's a phase tanks go through. Turn your lights out for 3 days, while skimming hard, and keep sunbeams away from your tank. Do this once a month. Google cyanobacteria, and it will show you why it is nearly impossible to eradicate by any other method. Do NOT get Chemiclean red slime remover: it's not for new tanks. It can take out your sandbed bacteria if not expertly used. Just be patient. Nothing is damaged by it. It won't hurt anything. Just looks nasty for a while. And the red stain goes away magically once it goes. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/04/2010, 07:35 PM	#4
gorey Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 292	I have had the tank set up for 13 months now. I will go ahead and be better at water changes tho. Sometimes i slack!! __________________ There is fine line between a hobby and an obsession Current Tank Info: 75g AGA 30g/ sump vertex 100 skimmer. Yellow tang, 2 clowns, cardnial, royal gamma, six line

01/04/2010, 07:15 PM	#2
Juruense Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 1,138	It is cyanobacteria and the good news is that it is very easily removed with a toothbrush. Just reach in there and brush it off. It will most likely come back however. You need to maintain a higher quality of tank water to truly eliminate it. Is it a fairly new tank?

01/04/2010, 07:48 PM	#5
sarmo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southwest MT Posts: 152	Increase flow too, if possible. That's how i got rid of it.....

01/04/2010, 07:54 PM	#6
jerrym21 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 347	I have also used a turkey baster to suck most of it off. I comes off very easily. I have since done 10% water changes weekly and have not seen any in about three years.