cyano/red slime algae HELP!!!!

[cafishgirl]

Hi there,
My 14 gallon biocube was doing so well but recently I have had what appears to be a cyano/red slime algae outbreak. I started doing weekly 50% water changes, gentle siphoning of sand and rocks but the stuff comes back over night. I have also tried red slime remover products with little or no success. The two fish I have seem to be doing fine but my first and only mushroom is really struggling. My nitrate, nitrite, ph and ammonia levels are all normal. Any suggestions? Protein skimmer? Thanks

 

[Miller]

For people to be able to help you, they are going to want more information about the setup....examples....

....how long its been up, amount live rock/sand, frequency of water changes, using RODI water, list of the levels (instead of all normal the actual reading), how much do you feed your fish.....ect.

This will make it easier for people to help you figure the problem out instead of them having to ask, then wait for you to reply, then get back with a suggestion.

 

[cafishgirl]

Thanks...will do.

 

[cafishgirl]

My tank has been up for about 4 months with 14-lbs of live rock, ~1-2 inches of live sand and I use RODI for a water source. Chemistry levels are:
Nitrate= 0ppm
Ammonia=0ppm
Nitrite=0ppm
PH=8.2
I have a small watchman goby and a pygmy angel fish that I feed 1/2 small cube of mysis everyother day. I have 4 small hermit crabs and a few snails too.
The two products I've tried recently were Ultralife Red slime remover and Chemiclean Red Slime remover with no effect. I've been doing weekly 50% water changes for about 4 weeks now...(that's when the slime appeared). My lights are on for about 7 hours a day (standard lighting for the 14 gallon oceanic biocube).
The temp. stays pretty consistant at 78 degrees. I also have a koralia for extra circulation. Any thoughts on my slime issues? Thanks so much

 

[pvh]

4 months for a 14G biocube IMO is a bit short for things to mature. I had cyano and used Chemiclean and it worked right away. I have yet to see it return. I know a few other people who used Chemiclean and it worked for them as well. I suggest you keep the extra flow going and keep blowing the slime off with a turkey baster. I don't think a 50% water change weekly is good either especially for such a small tank. I would do only 25%. Try to reduce feeding and if you are feed phytoplankton try to reduce that and see what happen. Then after a couple of months try Chemiclean again.

 

[biggyclops]

how about testing for phosphates?

 

[Rick C]

I don't think a 50% water change weekly is good either especially for such a small tank.

I'll co-sign that. had the same prob in my 12g at first. I did 1g water changes every 2-3 days for 2 weeks making sure to pick all the slime out. Big water changes will hurt you with such a small overall volume. I never used any of the additives but in time it all worked out. what are you using for a skimmer?

 

[cafishgirl]

Thank you for the advise. I'll do much smaller water changes from now on. I don't currently have a skimmer but I think I should get one now. I have seen the Current Fission and one by Oceanic. Any reviews of either product? I will test for phosphates tonight and see where I'm at. Thanks again.