I had a recent outbreak of red slime algae in a reef setup. I mean a enormous outbreak. I use distilled water as top-off and have a efficient skimmer, good water flow and filtration is achieved with carbon, skimming and live rock and live sand. I do not use refugium. I do have about 50 turbos and 35 zebra hermit crabs. I have power compacts actinic and daylight combined. I no this is not very detailed however I will start were I think the problem may be. This is my list of what could be wrong please let me know from your experience how likely these are??? ---
1. carbon was exhausted while out of town and it leached phosphates back into the tank
2. no phosphate removing resin such as phosguard etc.
3. Photoperiod is too long > 14 hours
4. Overfeeding of formula 1 flake food by my caretaker while i was out of town (I later heard someone mention that flake foods are a major phosphate contributor true or not)
By the way the red slime algae is everywhere however my corals are expanding like never before 2 bubbles, 1 hammer, 1 brain, 1 elegance, 1 leather, 1 colony of xenia and mushrooms.
Will this work from your experience?????
Solution: So far I have done is four 10 % water changes (distlled) in a 7 day period --- phosguard added to two over the back filters --- increase in waterflow with a additional powerhead --- two hour reduction in photoperiod --- black paper around over the back filters to avoid direct sunlight --- new carbon and a cleaned skimmer -- absolutely have not fed the tank but once in 7 days -- lastly waiting for my phosphate test kit mailorder.
Is this enough or will I have to physically remove the algae ???? -- if not what happend when or if it dies how do you remove it or will the herbivores and scavengers do their job????
1. carbon was exhausted while out of town and it leached phosphates back into the tank
2. no phosphate removing resin such as phosguard etc.
3. Photoperiod is too long > 14 hours
4. Overfeeding of formula 1 flake food by my caretaker while i was out of town (I later heard someone mention that flake foods are a major phosphate contributor true or not)
By the way the red slime algae is everywhere however my corals are expanding like never before 2 bubbles, 1 hammer, 1 brain, 1 elegance, 1 leather, 1 colony of xenia and mushrooms.
Will this work from your experience?????
Solution: So far I have done is four 10 % water changes (distlled) in a 7 day period --- phosguard added to two over the back filters --- increase in waterflow with a additional powerhead --- two hour reduction in photoperiod --- black paper around over the back filters to avoid direct sunlight --- new carbon and a cleaned skimmer -- absolutely have not fed the tank but once in 7 days -- lastly waiting for my phosphate test kit mailorder.
Is this enough or will I have to physically remove the algae ???? -- if not what happend when or if it dies how do you remove it or will the herbivores and scavengers do their job????
