Red Algae

[Towsley]

Ok I need help my tank is 5months old and the last 2 I have been having a couple patches of algae on the sand, I have a 65 gallon 2 korilla #3s and mag 18 running tank and uv, I have a refug,skimmer. I have been running phoshate remove and carbon they get changed once a month I have them in the sock which gets changed 2-3 times a week. I dont feed much 2 small meals of pellets. What am I doing wrong the PO test has very little color to it. I am totally lost in how to get rid of this stuff

[hexedagain]

Make sure that any water you are using is at 0 tds. Anytime my tds meter reads over 2 on my RO unit, I have a red algae outbreak.

[Towsley]

ill check it i still buy water so it should be ok, but i need water today so i will have them check it

[plc001]

Originally posted by Towsley
....i still buy water.....

I would never trust water that you buy.

[BlueCoast]

I just went through the water thing.... most places sell RO water, NOT RO/DI, expect TDS around 15-30.
That being said, when I first setup I too was using LFS water, and save for a fight the first month or two never had it return even while using LFS water. Cyano loves low flow and high nutrients.

Maybe a little more detail on test kits (most don't detect phosphates well) as well as nitrate readings... Sounds like you are definately on the right track, just a little more fine tuning. Do you skim wet?

[Towsley]

Well I asked the LFS about their water and when I switched to that store the water was 12 TDS they now just changed thier filter, so I think I have found a big source of the problem. I am ordering my RO/DI unit this weekend. any suggestions

[rogergolf66]

also I would change the filter sock every day for about 3 weeks see if that helps also. you can use red slime remover it works great. use a 1/2 dose then what is reccomended. That will get you started fresh. I know most don't like to add cemicals to the tank but JMO I would use it if I was u.

On the filter sock don't let it go more then 2 days for sure, but if you change it everyday and it helps then you have figured the problem. if you change it everyday and it dosn't help then you will at least know that is not the problem. Then try something else. Repeat till you figure it out.

Good Luck]
Roger

[evega]

You can try red slime remover also make sure you have good water flow. If you decide to try the red slime remover turn your protein skimmer off for some time until you do a water change.