A question about red algae during startup cycle ???

[the Wizard]

Hi Guys,

I have a 185g that I'm just starting up. I put in many many lbs. of live rock and after about a week or two all the sudden I'm getting a big bloom of a red colored algae everywhere. I seem to recall reading somewhere that this was normal and in fact one of the stages of the cycle. Is this normal? And either way, should I do again about it, or just let it go?

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, it is quite normal. Do a search on cyanobacteria, or "red slime." You'll find a lot of information. But in short, keep up with water changes, don't overfeed, try to clean it out from time to time, and skim. It will eventually subside as your tank stabilizes.

Also, starting a refugium can assist with keeping unsightly cyano and algal breakouts in the main tank.

HTH

HD

 

[Len]

Yup, everything HD said. The high nutrient levels of new tanks fuels all sorts of algae blooms. Once everything establishes (and so long as you properly regulate your nutrient import and export), problem algaes generally go away on their own.

 

[the Wizard]

Would this be a good time to add a gang of tank cleaners?

 

[Len]

No clean up critter that I'm aware of eats red slime algae. It's not going to affect it one way or another, so I'd wait until the tank's nitrogen cycle is established and conditions "settles" before adding clean up critters. These organisms are relatively sensitve to bad water conditions anyhow.

 

[Anonymous]

No clean up critter that I'm aware of eats red slime algae. It's not going to affect it one way or another, so I'd wait until the tank's nitrogen cycle is established and conditions "settles" before adding clean up critters. These organisms are relatively sensitve to bad water conditions anyhow.

You know, when my tank was going through the red slime phase, I had an outbreak of flatworms that I SWEAR ate the cyano! At the very least, they only hung out on the cyano, and when the red slime was all gone, so were the flatworms.

That is just an anecdote, Wiz- I am NOT advocating you go out and get some flatworms! You want to avoid them if possible.

HTH
HD

 

[Anonymous]

Some conchs will eat it but I don't know if that's incidental or not. Also some varieties of hermit crabs will eat it - blue legs in particular - not a sure thing though. Better to keep up lowering the nutrients.

Also it tends to collect in areas of lower flow - I have a little on the sand in my refugium but it's a super low flow area - main tank has never had a problem with it. Also on mature tanks an outbreak can sometimes be cured by getting new bulbs - can't remember if it's an abundance or lack of blue spectrum light that precipitates cyano growth.

Anecdotally I have heard some tropical Sea Hares will eat Cyano.

 

[kparton]

How often would you do water changes during the cycle? I just started cycling my tank last Friday and I'm running my skimmer pretty hard, but I haven't done any water changes yet. I have an RO/DI unit, so making the water is no problem, I just didn't know if water changes were recommended during the cycle. I was planning to do 100% water change after the cycle.

 

[Anonymous]

I did big 3 big water changes per week for the first two weeks until the nitrite zeroed out. I was trying to keep as many of the hitchhikers alive as possible.

 

[Jolieve]

I have three conchs and a nice outbreak of cyano right now. My conchs are resorting to burrowing in the sand bed and eating diatoms off my rocks and off the tank glass near their hidey holes. They don't touch the cyano. Also there is a website out there that says cerith snails eat cyano like gangbusters. Mine don't.

I think len's right. Don't stock your tank with a clean up crew yet my friend, keep up with those water changes and keep up with nutrient control. You'll get it licked, it just takes time.

Oh.. and don't freak out about it like I did. *grin* It'll be okay.

Jolie

 

[Len]

I once believed that Rainfordi gobies ate Red Slime, but after trying a few more I discovered my first two were "gifted." I've had no luck with hermits eating red slime, and conches seem to just push and bury red slime, which comes right back after they've vacated the spot they were mowing down.

 

[panmanmatt]

i am also dealing with cyano at this time my conchs wont touch it but my cerriths won't leave it alone. it's slowly going away. takes time you'll get rid of it eventually