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Unread 02/06/2009, 10:24 PM   #1
chercm
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my sand bed kept getting red slime ~~~ can i remove it ?

pls advice

my tank is a year old but no matter what i do it keeps getting red slime growing , can i remove it ?

my no3 is 0.4 according to salifert


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Unread 02/06/2009, 10:28 PM   #2
Percula9
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Remove the slime by vacuuming it out. Add a phosban reactor to remove phosphates. Phosphates fuel red slime. Reduce feedings and do water changes more often.


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Unread 02/07/2009, 12:01 AM   #3
Toddrtrex
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Quote:
Originally posted by Percula9
Remove the slime by vacuuming it out. Add a phosban reactor to remove phosphates. Phosphates fuel red slime. Reduce feedings and do water changes more often.
Yep.

And too add, if you aren't, make sure you are using RO/DI water -- and make sure its TDS is 0.


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Unread 02/07/2009, 07:57 AM   #4
chercm
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phospate =0 , running rowa

using Distilled water


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Unread 02/07/2009, 07:58 AM   #5
chercm
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but still gettting it


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Unread 02/07/2009, 11:07 AM   #6
dwilly
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You could use the Boyd's red slime remover, but do it at about half of the proposed amount and keep the lights off for 2 - 3 days. Your inverts are at risk w/ the slime remover - some people have had problems.


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Unread 02/07/2009, 11:30 AM   #7
clockman
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I had the same problem with my 90 gallon that had been running for a year. I use phosphate remover in a phosban reactor with carbon in a separate reactor and I use a good skimmer. I also use RO/DI water so I knew it was nothing I was doing wrong. It's cyanobacteria and can live and grow on even small amounts of phosphate. I came to the conclusion that it was using phosphates before the phosphate remover in the sump could get rid of it. No amount of vacuuming would get rid of it as It would grow right back very quickly. I ended up using Chemiclean but at only half the dose. After watching all the critters in my tank very carefully I gradually added more over a 3 day period to end up with 3/4 of the recommended dose. I let it go for a few more days with the animals showing no distress. The cyano however was nuked. I brought the skimmer and carbon back online and everything was fine. That was about a month ago and the tank looks great with no signs of cyano. Just go slowly when using a product that is supposed to target cyano and I wouldn't use a product that is an antibacterial (erythromycin) as that can kill beneficial bacteria also. Use a product that will raise redox and will oxidize the cyano which is what chemiclean is supposed to do.


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Unread 02/07/2009, 02:02 PM   #8
Jefe12234
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If you're using a DSB, cyano can be a sign that anoxic zones are reaching the surface due to a lack of animals (primarily worms) stirring the sand. Once this occurs it tends to perpetuate itself because animals avoid the anoxic areas. Getting your nutrient levels down will reduce the bacterial growth that is depleting oxygen in the sand, and introducing some new sandbed animals will increase sand turnover/oxygenation. If you're not using a DSB, then you just need to work on exporting nutrients. Water changes, proper skimming, algae harvesting, carbon/GFO use, and proper feeding can all help reduce nutrient levels. I try to avoid chemical solutions personally, but some people have very good results with them.


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Unread 02/07/2009, 03:26 PM   #9
austin93
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I removed my sand bed and replaced it with new and upgraded skimmer. That wasn't as bad as I thought, just lots of water got changed during the siphoning of sand. DSB is great, but only if properly maintained, I didn't properly maintain. I don't know about your husbandry skills, but mine were insufficient. HTH


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