What is this and how can I get rid of it!!??

dinger28 · 10/05/2014, 07:07 PM

As the title states, no idea what it is but I have been battling it for a month! Just got a nice Acro and Monti and don't want the brown stringy nonsense to mess with their polyps...even though they already have started. Please help!! Have a 29g Biocube with 20 pounds of live rock. Have a WP10 for a powerhead and also the return pump. Not dosing anything and don't have carbon in the tank. Tank is a year old. Lighting is also LED 5 inches above the water...Evergrow D120 dimmable. Also, actinics come on at 12PM and whites on at 2:20. Whites off at 8:10 and actinics off at 9:45. Levels are

Alk- 9.9
Mg- haven't measured yet...waiting for my kit
Salinity- 1.025
Temp. 79
Ca- 360
Ph. 8.0 (little high maybe?)

davidfrances · 10/05/2014, 07:29 PM

Dinoflagellates - nasty stuff and very toxic

see: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2307000

ingtar_shinowa · 10/05/2014, 09:28 PM

Naw, its cyanno use chemiclean and follow the directions. I had the worst cyannobacteria strain ever and for 15 year refused to use chemicals, after one year of that red slime I caved, did one treatment, and have been red slime free for months.

dmh41532 · 10/05/2014, 09:49 PM

I think it looks like cyanobacteria as well. did you test your phosphate? do you use r/o water?

dinger28 · 10/06/2014, 11:37 AM

Yes I use RO/Water and no haven't tested for phosphates. Also, I do not have a skimmer on my biocube. Will that affect anything if I treat with Chemiclean?

scubadan206 · 10/06/2014, 03:55 PM

Are your corals removable? If so, take them out and put them in a separate holding tank. Then turn the lights out in the tank. Wait until the levels of whatever it is becomes acceptable, then do a BIG water change. Put all corals back in and then start maintaining your tank a little better.
I had this same problem and the above solution worked for me. Keep your nutrients in check and you won't have to worry about this as much.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2428496
My thread also. See if it helps you.
Good luck.
Daniel.

Dan_P · 10/06/2014, 05:04 PM

Google "red slime" images to confirm that you have cyanobacteria. Treatment for it diifers from that of dinoflagellates.

A review of Reef Central posts indicates that Chemiclean has been used by forum members without harming the aquarium occupants. Many forum members, however, are very reluctant to use it.

The three day lights out method is recommended about as often as Chemiclean. This approach does not seem to kill the bacteria but rather disrupts the unsightly red film. If the conditons tht triggered the slime are still present, the red slime returns. If the conditons are gone, the red slime goes away with this approach.

Red slime seems to be triggered by high nuitriant levels. Nitrates and phosphates are the key suspects but the trigger might be more complicated. The levels that cause red slime outbreaks in new tanks would not necessarily cause an outbreak in an established tanks. Also, dissolved organic material might also be involved in stimulating red slime growth.

The third option is bringing down nutrient levels and suctioning or blowing off the red slime from rocks nd inhbitants. This could takes weeks to months to end the red slime bloom.

So, whatever route you go, antibiotic or lights out, or lights out then antibiotics, bringing down nutrient levels would be a prudent thing to do.

dinger28 · 10/06/2014, 06:44 PM

It is NOT Cyano because there is no red at all. Seen Cyano many a time and am now convinced it's Dino. Tank is now in the 3 day process of blacking out and we will wait and see what happens. Levels in the tank are great, and have seen the best of the best get this nasty disease. We'll just see what happens.

Xavibear · 10/07/2014, 12:16 AM

Cyano does not have to be red.

I wouldn't use any chemical treatments if you don't have a skimmer.

10/07/2014, 12:16 AM	#9
Xavibear Crazy Prophet Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Worcester, MA Posts: 1,008	Cyano does not have to be red. I wouldn't use any chemical treatments if you don't have a skimmer. __________________ 36g bowfront Current Tank Info: Pair of Occellaris clowns, Royal gramma, Yellow Watchman Goby/Tiger Pistol Shrimp, Blue tuxedo urchin, Fire shrimp, Trochus snails, Cerith snails, Nassarius snails, Ricordea mushroom, Kenya tree, Acan brain & Frogspawn

10/05/2014, 07:29 PM	#2
davidfrances Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Parkville, MO Posts: 666	Dinoflagellates - nasty stuff and very toxic see: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2307000

10/05/2014, 09:28 PM	#3
ingtar_shinowa Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Billings MT Posts: 1,610	Naw, its cyanno use chemiclean and follow the directions. I had the worst cyannobacteria strain ever and for 15 year refused to use chemicals, after one year of that red slime I caved, did one treatment, and have been red slime free for months.

10/05/2014, 09:49 PM	#4
dmh41532 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Bellefontaine Ohio Posts: 771	I think it looks like cyanobacteria as well. did you test your phosphate? do you use r/o water?

10/06/2014, 11:37 AM	#5
dinger28 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Indian Land, SC Posts: 385	Yes I use RO/Water and no haven't tested for phosphates. Also, I do not have a skimmer on my biocube. Will that affect anything if I treat with Chemiclean?

10/06/2014, 03:55 PM	#6
scubadan206 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Kenosha WI Posts: 985	Are your corals removable? If so, take them out and put them in a separate holding tank. Then turn the lights out in the tank. Wait until the levels of whatever it is becomes acceptable, then do a BIG water change. Put all corals back in and then start maintaining your tank a little better. I had this same problem and the above solution worked for me. Keep your nutrients in check and you won't have to worry about this as much. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2428496 My thread also. See if it helps you. Good luck. Daniel.

10/06/2014, 05:04 PM	#7
Dan_P Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 1,432	Google "red slime" images to confirm that you have cyanobacteria. Treatment for it diifers from that of dinoflagellates. A review of Reef Central posts indicates that Chemiclean has been used by forum members without harming the aquarium occupants. Many forum members, however, are very reluctant to use it. The three day lights out method is recommended about as often as Chemiclean. This approach does not seem to kill the bacteria but rather disrupts the unsightly red film. If the conditons tht triggered the slime are still present, the red slime returns. If the conditons are gone, the red slime goes away with this approach. Red slime seems to be triggered by high nuitriant levels. Nitrates and phosphates are the key suspects but the trigger might be more complicated. The levels that cause red slime outbreaks in new tanks would not necessarily cause an outbreak in an established tanks. Also, dissolved organic material might also be involved in stimulating red slime growth. The third option is bringing down nutrient levels and suctioning or blowing off the red slime from rocks nd inhbitants. This could takes weeks to months to end the red slime bloom. So, whatever route you go, antibiotic or lights out, or lights out then antibiotics, bringing down nutrient levels would be a prudent thing to do.

10/06/2014, 06:44 PM	#8
dinger28 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Indian Land, SC Posts: 385	It is NOT Cyano because there is no red at all. Seen Cyano many a time and am now convinced it's Dino. Tank is now in the 3 day process of blacking out and we will wait and see what happens. Levels in the tank are great, and have seen the best of the best get this nasty disease. We'll just see what happens.