Identify this gooey slime and what to do?

KromiX · 02/13/2009, 12:44 PM

So I don't have any of it in my Display Tank only in the mini-refuge in the back of my nano-cube. its only within the boundaries of the egg crate. Now that I have a light there, things grow back there lol.......

It is really gooey and kind of purple I guess, and it is growing over the eggcrate as you can see and over some hair algae....

Maybe once I identify it I can toss a certain creature back there like a crab or something?

I know many people's first guess is CynoBacteria, but it has a really thick GOOEY consistency, not the same consistency atleast of what I have see it as on the sand surface? And its more purple than red ?

spleify · 02/13/2009, 12:46 PM

Looks like cyanobacteria

KromiX · 02/13/2009, 12:48 PM

If that is what it is, what eats it that I can throw back there? I presume its caused by lack of flow in the back chambers of the nanocube + the light I put in for the refugium..........

I Want to keep the light in there for growing chaeto, what can I put back there that will eat it?

goldmaniac · 02/13/2009, 12:52 PM

red slime algae, I believe. I used to get it in my refugium, as well.

I had Caulerpa Prolifera in my fuge and the slime would always compete for nutrients, never really got rid of it.

I think a slower circulation encourages the growth, as well.

I added some REALLY fast growing chaeto I got and it's out-competed the red algae and I don't see it too much anymore.

goldmaniac · 02/13/2009, 12:58 PM

what I'm calling red slime is cyanobacteria. Spleify and KromiX are correct.

KromiX · 02/13/2009, 01:10 PM

To verify, the majority of pictures I have seen of cyano here doesn't match what this stuff is , its more maroone slimey velvety / gooey in texture, as u can see in the first pic its off the wall a bit growing over some green hair algae..... Anyone have a picture of cyano thats more maroone/velvety so I can compare? The majority of cyano pics I see are like this:

However its not like that?? These pictures look more like sand and mine is more velvetty and gooey ?

ctenophors rule · 02/13/2009, 01:17 PM

cyano bacteria, are aka blue green algea, and are members of eubacteria. some are fresh, some are salt, some are deadly and some are delicious.

cyano can come in all shapes colors and sizes.

some formed large calcarius mounds in, i believe, shark bay california, as well as other coastal regions.

i tried to copy and paste photos, but it wouldn't work.

the best way to know for sure is to look at them under a stronbg micro scope

bye

Arati · 02/13/2009, 02:39 PM

Its definetly Cyano. I advise double water changes and reduced feeding till its gone. also as mentioned above chaeto will out compete it so once you have it c leared up add some chaeto and you should be all set.

reefscape15 · 02/13/2009, 06:14 PM

try to throw a Sally Lightfoot in there. I had cyano in my 20 gal for a while, and the crab never really got rid of it entirely, but it did a pretty good job. Also i used to use Erythromyacin tabs and that broke it up pretty good, but i don't like to use any meds in my tank anymore. Also i'm not entirely sure how reef safe that is to use. I didn't have much in my tank when i did use it, but it had no adverse affects. The crab should do good though! Good luck!

Lightsluvr · 02/14/2009, 05:38 AM

On the sandbed, you can toss in a fighting conch or two - they eat the stuff.

LL

spleify · 02/14/2009, 09:17 AM

Do some searches on it here, there are TONS of threads on how to eradicate it.

Increase water changes
Increase flow
Decrease feedings.
Turn lights off for 3 days.

And it is NOT an algae, it is a bacteria.

HTH

Spleify

02/13/2009, 12:44 PM	#1
KromiX V.I.P Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 1,092	Identify this gooey slime and what to do? So I don't have any of it in my Display Tank only in the mini-refuge in the back of my nano-cube. its only within the boundaries of the egg crate. Now that I have a light there, things grow back there lol....... It is really gooey and kind of purple I guess, and it is growing over the eggcrate as you can see and over some hair algae.... Maybe once I identify it I can toss a certain creature back there like a crab or something? I know many people's first guess is CynoBacteria, but it has a really thick GOOEY consistency, not the same consistency atleast of what I have see it as on the sand surface? And its more purple than red ?

02/13/2009, 12:46 PM	#2
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	Looks like cyanobacteria __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH

02/13/2009, 01:17 PM	#7
ctenophors rule Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: port saint lucy Posts: 1,017	cyano bacteria, are aka blue green algea, and are members of eubacteria. some are fresh, some are salt, some are deadly and some are delicious. cyano can come in all shapes colors and sizes. some formed large calcarius mounds in, i believe, shark bay california, as well as other coastal regions. i tried to copy and paste photos, but it wouldn't work. the best way to know for sure is to look at them under a stronbg micro scope bye __________________ just my oppinion....then again... who the hell am I! Current Tank Info: my fishbowls are round 8)

02/13/2009, 02:39 PM	#8
Arati Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: LI,NY Posts: 722	Its definetly Cyano. I advise double water changes and reduced feeding till its gone. also as mentioned above chaeto will out compete it so once you have it c leared up add some chaeto and you should be all set. __________________ I wasn't planning on keeping the turtle until it could pull me around under water. ~RV7AFlyer Current Tank Info: 150 ish gallons of Reef

02/13/2009, 06:14 PM	#9
reefscape15 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Elmira Heights, NY Posts: 2,812	try to throw a Sally Lightfoot in there. I had cyano in my 20 gal for a while, and the crab never really got rid of it entirely, but it did a pretty good job. Also i used to use Erythromyacin tabs and that broke it up pretty good, but i don't like to use any meds in my tank anymore. Also i'm not entirely sure how reef safe that is to use. I didn't have much in my tank when i did use it, but it had no adverse affects. The crab should do good though! Good luck! __________________ A new beginning........... JIM Current Tank Info: 5g standard softie/zoa tank, just starting a 20H

02/13/2009, 12:48 PM	#3
KromiX V.I.P Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 1,092	If that is what it is, what eats it that I can throw back there? I presume its caused by lack of flow in the back chambers of the nanocube + the light I put in for the refugium.......... I Want to keep the light in there for growing chaeto, what can I put back there that will eat it?

02/13/2009, 12:52 PM	#4
goldmaniac Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Yardley, PA Posts: 1,567	red slime algae, I believe. I used to get it in my refugium, as well. I had Caulerpa Prolifera in my fuge and the slime would always compete for nutrients, never really got rid of it. I think a slower circulation encourages the growth, as well. I added some REALLY fast growing chaeto I got and it's out-competed the red algae and I don't see it too much anymore.

02/13/2009, 12:58 PM	#5
goldmaniac Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Yardley, PA Posts: 1,567	what I'm calling red slime is cyanobacteria. Spleify and KromiX are correct.

02/13/2009, 01:10 PM	#6
KromiX V.I.P Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 1,092	To verify, the majority of pictures I have seen of cyano here doesn't match what this stuff is , its more maroone slimey velvety / gooey in texture, as u can see in the first pic its off the wall a bit growing over some green hair algae..... Anyone have a picture of cyano thats more maroone/velvety so I can compare? The majority of cyano pics I see are like this: However its not like that?? These pictures look more like sand and mine is more velvetty and gooey ?

02/14/2009, 05:38 AM	#10
Lightsluvr Tangaroa to 500 gallons Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,855	On the sandbed... On the sandbed, you can toss in a fighting conch or two - they eat the stuff. LL __________________ Click on my username and select "Lightsluvr's Home Page" for a recap of our build thread - AGE Hybrid Tank in a 500G system with dedicated fish room. (Takes a few minutes for photos to load) Leave a note if you stop by... Current Tank Info: 350G AGE Hybrid reef tank. 500G+ total water volume. Three sumps for filtration. Barracuda Gold return and Hammerhead Gold closed loop pumps. DIY T5 light system on rails. MP40W x3 to supplement closed loop. 130G Water management system.

02/14/2009, 09:17 AM	#11
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	Do some searches on it here, there are TONS of threads on how to eradicate it. Increase water changes Increase flow Decrease feedings. Turn lights off for 3 days. And it is NOT an algae, it is a bacteria. HTH Spleify __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH