Does anyone have any good remedy for red slime?? I have been fighting this stuff for about two weeks now. Have done water changes, tried some antibacteria meds form the LFS. And have also used some water clarifier. But the red slime is still there, but not as bad and it does not seem to be growing. I just can't seem to get it all gone.


TIA Dan

Alittle bit more information would help us determine what is causing the Red Slime.

What size tank? What is the tank stocked with? What are you using for filtration? What are you using for flow? Did you use RO or tap water when setting up your tank? What is the Nitrate and phosphate levels at?

It seems like alot of questions but without knowing these specific things it would be really hard to help you. :)

If I had to take a guess, you are using tap water, which is putting exess phosphates in the water (food for Red Slime), or don't have enough bio filtration so you've got excess nitrates (also food). If you are using tap water, consider switching to RO water, or bottled distilled water if an RO filter is too expensive and the tank is small enough to make distilled water a realistic option. Also think about upgrading your filtration (particularly your protein skimmer). You could also use some mexican dwarf hermit crabs to help control it a bit, but ultimately you need to do something about the high level of organics that it's feeding off of.

PS - take a picture and submit it to Aquatopia@bellsouth.net for 50 AquaTokens (see the Red Slime Algae page under the disease facts forum for more information).

Perfectblue.
I have a 55gal tank, two damsels,one clown and several inverts. The nitrite = 0 ammonina = 0 nitrate = about 15. I do have an RO unit and i do about a 10% water change every week. I do not have a phosphate tester :( I guess i should get one.
At present i have a hang on bio wheel filter. And a small prizim skimmer.
I just got my sump and i will be getting it set up as soon as possible. Any recommend on a good skimmer. I would like one that sets out side the sump.

Also i will try and locate some of those crabs you talk about Sergeant Major

And thanks for the replys. I need alot of help. This is my first SW tank.

How much food do you feed your fish? and how many times a day? because you might be overfeeding. Also do you have any powerheads for flow? Do you have any live rock for biological filtration?

What size sump are you thinking of adding?

Red Sea Prizm protein skimmers are an okay skimmer, but If you are looking for a much more powerful and efficent protein skimmer than a AquaC Remora is the way to go.

Your using RO water which is good, 10% water changes is a good amount for your setup, and with only three small fish which is only a low bioload.

My main contributors that I'm thinking that are causing the red slime algae would be either overfeeding, high phosphate levels, or not enough flow throughout the tank. Can you take a picture of your tank to see how bad the red slime algae is? I'm sure others will have more input about your situation. :)

The red slime is starting to go away. So i dont have much left to take a pic of. My big concern is that it will come back stronger. I only feed once a day for fish and everyother day for inverts. Anemone and feater dusters couple of shrimp.
The sump is for a 50 to 100 gal sys. There are no bioballs in it. I plan to use live rock.
I guess i should say that the reason the red slime is going away is that a person at the LFS said to use Mardel Maracyn. I used it and the bacteria is going. And it did not hurt the fish or the inverts.
Sorry for all the ? But like i said i am new to this.
As for flow i have the sump now and two aqua 50 powerheads. They are at the top back of the tank pointing down and to center.
Once again thanks for the help and advice.