[larz1620]

Hi. I am a newbie. I have skimmed through some of the other Identification threads and think that I may have found my issue. However, the solution was to move the powerheads to increase water flow. My 'brown stuff' grows ALL OVER my tank...near the power head and away from it. It was growing on my liverocks until I took them out of my tank and lightly scrubbed them with a toothbrush. It has been about 3 weeks since the toothbrush thing and so far it is just taking over the bottom of the tank...quickly. It comes back within 2 days! humpf.
ugly brown stuff2.jpg

ugly brown stuff.jpg

My LFS suggested Algae Magic to stimulate the oxygenation. So far, no results, but it says it could take up to 30 days.

[rlcline76]

Tis.
I would not want to wait 30 days. I have not heard of Algae Magic. I would start siphoning that garbage out. Test for phosphates and silicates and look for dope that will enable you to get a thumb on it within a few days. Cyano spreads quickly. If you haven't started using RO/DI water or distilled, this is a good time. Start doing water changes to pull the nutrients that this crap thrives on out of your water. Clean your equipment and replace filter media if you haven't done so in awhile. Watch how much you are feeding your fish...

[e_baer]

I wouyld say this is mostly due to high phosphates and stuff like that. Probably due to overfeeding. I would agree with rlcline to use distilled water. .60 cents a gallon at wall mart. Looks like you have a flame hawk? nice yellow polyps.

[jvharding]

Originally Posted by rlcline76

Tis.
I would not want to wait 30 days. I have not heard of Algae Magic. I would start siphoning that garbage out. Test for phosphates and silicates and look for dope that will enable you to get a thumb on it within a few days. Cyano spreads quickly. If you haven't started using RO/DI water or distilled, this is a good time. Start doing water changes to pull the nutrients that this crap thrives on out of your water. Clean your equipment and replace filter media if you haven't done so in awhile. Watch how much you are feeding your fish...

This is a good place to start. but I would Not treat with any chemical! This should be treated by Good water change RO/DI Silicate removed. Using chemicals only treats the symtom and it is not the cure. Sorry becky I lost Thousands of dollars in live stock to a red slime remover that they said would take time to work and the wind up was it killed everything in my tank. I was siphoning everything out and using the chemical and lost my entire Reef in about 2 weeks. I up graded my RO Unit to a 4 Stage RO/DI Plus Silicate remover. I have never seen red slime in the 5 years since. The source of water is most likely the culprit. Test for Phosphate and Silicate

[rlcline76]

Yeah, try some of the simple natural methods first (I am assuming that larz has not, I could be very wrong). I am still fighting it with RO/DI and extra circulation, but I have a couple extra culprits. If I had dope that worked. JV, I read through a few of your posts, there is no way I would treat my tank for as long as you did! I am a fast moving woman who needs crap done yesterday. But I am not going to get into it with you, I had a bad Sopranos night.

[e_baer]

I have some green slime in my 30, but all the levels are good, It is just taking some time from my mithrix to gobble it up.

[larz1620]

Thanks for all of the advise so far. I do use DI water for my water changes and I have been removing as much of the slimy stuff as I can (every day or every other day). I have been doing 25% water changes every 7 days since this has gotton out of control and have replaced my filter every other week (not only due to this issue, but also with the problem of the pump chamber water level falling...see my introduction post for my 'top 3 issues.' However, as I do not have a phosphate tester, I will go get one tomorrow. I also do not have a protein skimmer (would this help?). I also just attached an additional filter to my second power head to try and move things along. To attempt to save my sponge, I moved him under a 'cove' in one of my rocks. Hopefully he still gets enough light. Thanks again...

[e_baer]

yes, a protein skimmer would help tremendously most likely.

[larz1620]

Oh, I should have asked... what is meant by dope?
And thanks for the nice comments about the flame and polyps. I do love my little flame...he comes out to visit me!

[rlcline76]

larz, you might want to check this article out:
An Instant Nitrate Reduction Method - A Multiple Step Water Change Procedure

[rlcline76]

I'm sorry, I forgot to answer your question. When I say "dope" in reference to the aquarium, I just mean chemicals.

[rlcline76]

OK, now that I have jvharding cowering in a corner somewhere...contradict me! What were you thinking, JV???
Seriously, if you can do things the natural way, go for it. Even if you use chemicals, you are still going to need to find out where things are going awry because you will be dealing with it again and again. I wouldn't feel comfortable using chems for too long. If my filter is off for more than a day or 2, I feel naked. Just check the water parameters and see if you can get you water chemistry where it needs to be. Maybe get some extra inverts to eat the detritus off the substrate. You said that you have increased circulation, have you noticed any improvement whatsoever?

[Tecton]

My tanks has the same red creaping curd! I am not sure if it is good or bad. Has any one really identified the stuff in the orginal message posted by Larz1620?

[larz1620]

I want to thank everyone for the advice. I installed a second powerhead and a protein skimmer. My tank has been rid of Cyanobacteria since! Thank you!!

[Kimjo1]

OMG Jvharding! SO SORRY to hear that! I just lost my 7 yr old 75G to a broken heater. I feel for ya!

[Blackjacktang]

I Have The Same Thing In My Tank When I Got Back From Vacation