Early Stages Of Cyano Bacteria ( Red Slime0

[Daniel Stevens]

I have a 550litre marine reef aquarium that is stocked with various corals, fish, anenomes, live rock etc etc...
recently i replaced my t5 actinincs and also my halide bulbs just because they were over 12 months old.
(2 x54w actinics & 2 x 150w 20'000k halides)..... Well!!!!!
Since that day i've had starting to appear on various rocks etc the dreaded red slime, now i know this is it because it has the nitrogen bubbles appearing and it spreads like wild fire, currently i am on top of the removal daily but it is slowly beating me.
How do i rid myself of this menace without affecting my livestock, corals, clam etc etc..
All my water levels are good as is temp, iv'e also had these independantly checked at an aquarium, the only fault i had was a low PH of 8.1 which i have rectifed with a buffer and increasing alkalinity.
Please help with some suggestions!!! many thanks

 

[SkiFletch]

Did you replace with identical tubes? If so, you likely will need to wait for the new halides especially to "burn in". This usually takes a month or so for the phosphors to really burn the correct spectrum. In the meantime though, you have a nutrient problem.

Have you tested for phosphate?

what is your input water source?

what's your feeding regimen?

 

[Daniel Stevens]

Did you replace with identical tubes? If so, you likely will need to wait for the new halides especially to "burn in". This usually takes a month or so for the phosphors to really burn the correct spectrum. In the meantime though, you have a nutrient problem.

Have you tested for phosphate?

what is your input water source?

what's your feeding regimen?

Mate you know your stuff don't you!!! compliments passed.
My Phosphate level is nil and my water source is direct from a reef, off an island here in sunny Queensland Australia.
That checks out well before adding to the tank.
I have in desperation though now moved to a synthetic sea mix from Aqua one for water changes and still my levels are all good.
As for feeding regime i personally feed them little amounts 3 x daily so food doesn't settle. I do however have a wife and 2 children who believe
every living thing is consistently hungry although they assure me they are not feeding them more. But alas i am not convinced.
Just wish i could find the cause and rectify it before it ruins my pride and joy, 551litres is a lot of room for cyano....!

 

[Daniel Stevens]

Did you replace with identical tubes? If so, you likely will need to wait for the new halides especially to "burn in". This usually takes a month or so for the phosphors to really burn the correct spectrum. In the meantime though, you have a nutrient problem.

Have you tested for phosphate?

what is your input water source?

what's your feeding regimen?

Mate you know your stuff don't you!!! compliments passed.
My Phosphate level is nil and my water source is direct from a reef, off an island here in sunny Queensland Australia.
That checks out well before adding to the tank.
I have in desperation though now moved to a synthetic sea mix from Aqua one for water changes and still my levels are all good.
As for feeding regime i personally feed them little amounts 3 x daily so food doesn't settle. I do however have a wife and 2 children who believe
every living thing is consistently hungry although they assure me they are not feeding them more. But alas i am not convinced.
Just wish i could find the cause and rectify it before it ruins my pride and joy, 551litres is a lot of room for cyano....!

sorry forgot... yes the tubes are identical, apart from the fact the ones i removed were nearly white they were obviously OLD!! and the new ones are a good colour.

 

[SkiFletch]

Input water source? TDS?

 

[Daniel Stevens]

Input water source? TDS?

Water source direct from the reef just off an island on the QLD coast where i live... but in desperation lately have started using synthetic mix
with dechlorinated water from the tap.
TDS?

 

[SkiFletch]

QLD? Australia?

Tapwater for topoff may be your problem here. Could be a myriad of things in it feeding the algae including (but not limited to), nitrates, phosphates, and silicates.