red slime chemicals

[Mappelbaum37]

I just added this red slime remover to my tank...for some reason i have a bad gut feeling about this. What should I be checking for? pH drops? anything else

[Mappelbaum37]

also how long does it take to work??

[Pmolan]

I think red slime is caused by excess phosphates. I think a phosban reactor is a better choice than red slime remover. Later on pick up a phosban reactor and when you dont need it, you can run carbon in it instead until you need it again.

[wrott]

Watch out for low O2.

[Landon B.]

Long time ago I had a Cyano outbreak in a nano I had. I dosed Chemi-Clean. Worked great. Ph did take a hit. I ran a powerhead with a venturi for 24 hours and then did a water change.

I have only used this once after I moved the tank and had the outbreak. Remember to use this stuff only in emergencies. Good reefkeeping habits are the best way to combat this problem.

[Twz]

Originally posted by Pmolan
I think red slime is caused by excess phosphates. I think a phosban reactor is a better choice than red slime remover. Later on pick up a phosban reactor and when you dont need it, you can run carbon in it instead until you need it again.

I dont think so,
Im pretty sure its diatoms
I have red slime growning on my bag with the phosban in it.

[Mappelbaum37]

well if i planned on doing a water change in 48 hrs which would be monday night. If there is still slime by then should I dose it again after the water change on next saturday for example and then do another water change that next monday?

[scotmc]

You were warned.

[Mappelbaum37]

temporarily I am going to use the chemicals. if this crap comes back after its fully gone, ill probably end up getting a phosban reactor.

[Pmolan]

Originally posted by Twz
I dont think so,
Im pretty sure its diatoms
I have red slime growning on my bag with the phosban in it.

Nutrients: Phosphates (PO 4 ), DOCs (Dissolved Organic Compounds), and nitrates (NO 3 ) are primary nutrient food sources for red and other slime algae.
Link

[Mappelbaum37]

What exactly was I warned about?

[Twz]

Originally posted by Pmolan
Nutrients: Phosphates (PO 4 ), DOCs (Dissolved Organic Compounds), and nitrates (NO 3 ) are primary nutrient food sources for red and other slime algae.
Link

Okay that dose not make sense at all then if its growing on my phosban bag my protine skimmer is working well and all my nitrate levels are good
and this stuff is out of control
Explain this to me.

[scotmc]

I guess you forgot.
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...readid=1277761

[Pmolan]

Originally posted by Twz
Okay that dose not make sense at all then if its growing on my phosban bag my protine skimmer is working well and all my nitrate levels are good
and this stuff is out of control
Explain this to me.

Two things may cause this.
1) There might not be enough flow through the bag of phosban.
2) Phosban is like a sponge, if it absorbs all that it can take in, there might be some point that it leeches back out so it becomes a source.

Phosphates may not be the only cause, but it is a big part of it.

[NCguy]

Make sure you turn off your skimmer and don't use any carbon for 48 hours. After 48 hours do a 20% water change.If it isn't completely gone after the water change then run it again for another 48 hours.This time the rest of it will be gone(or at least it should be). Do another 10-15% water change,run some carbon and start your skimmer again. Red slime will be gone.

I have never had anything go wrong with using chemi-clean.

[Twz]

Originally posted by Pmolan
Two things may cause this.
1) There might not be enough flow through the bag of phosban.
2) Phosban is like a sponge, if it absorbs all that it can take in, there might be some point that it leeches back out so it becomes a source.

Phosphates may not be the only cause, but it is a big part of it.

I see what your saying but its near the bottom of the exit tube thats about 400GPH
running through the phosban
and i replaced the phosban 4 days ago (Pack says its good for a month)

Any ways im going to pick of some of the chem to get rid of it tomorrow

[Twz]

Another thing it says low flow
i have a 400 GPH return pump on my 30 gal (Tank affected)
And two powerheads (Not sure of the GPH rating on em but they move quite abit of water)
How Much flow do you see fit for a 30 gallon? dont know if this makes a diference but my sump is another 20 gallons.

[Mappelbaum37]

Here is my game plan: Do a water change on monday. If the red slime isnt away by monday add another dosage of chemi-clean to the tank on friday and do a water change a week from tomorrow. By then it should be gone.
Now,when I dont have anymore slime and I'm done using these chemicals should I put the carbon back into my fluval or leave the rubble rocks in there. When I took the bags of carbon out of my fluval today and replaced them with small pieces of live rock I thought this was a permanent change. The guy at my LFS told me that all the carbon does is act as a polisher and clears the water, eliminates odor, and he also said that it isnt even beneficial because it prevents bacteria that corals need to get because the carbon picks it up.

[NCguy]

If the red slime isn't gone don't wait a week just do another treatment Monday after your water change. 48 hours later change out your water again and turn you skimmer back on and run some carbon to help take the rest of the chemi-clean out of the water.

[Mappelbaum37]

wont doing 2 20% water changes in 4 days be a disturbance to the tank??? Thats the only reason i thought of waiting another week

[NCguy]

I've done this twice in 2 years and haven't had a problem. The sencond water change i only changed 10% or so and ran a little extra carbon for a few days. By doing the second treatment right after the first the chemi-clean (left over from the first treatment)will still be working on the slime.

[Mappelbaum37]

What happens if I leave the rubble rock in my fluval and dont use carbon when the slime algae is gone? Is it 100% necessary to use carbon when this red slime algae crisis is over?

[Mappelbaum37]

Also I was just wondering. I have a feeling that im going to be dosing this chemi-clean again so if and when I do, I was thinking about using a turkey baster and when I put the chemicals into a cup I'll let it mix in with the tank water in the cup and then squeeze the chemical water onto the spots in the tank with the slime. Good idea or should I just pour the water into the tank?

[NCguy]

I use the carbon to help take the rest of the chemicals out of the water..I think it would be good to run it at least a few days. i'm not sure if its a MUST but its a good idea.

[NCguy]

Just pour it in the tank.