Things You'll Need
- Saltwater (made with reverse osmosis water)
- Granular ferric oxide
- Cyanobacteria remover
- Hermit crabs, snails, fighting conch
- Protein skimmer
Instructions
Treating your tank
Ask your local fish store for red slime remover. Red slime remover usually comes in a powder form and can be added to your tank by dissolving it in fresh water first. Follow all directions on the package.
Change your water after the time period has expired. You must change 20% of your aquarium's water after each treatment. After changing the water, add in your clean-up crew. Hermit crabs and snails will sift the sand, and clean any dead debris. Have one hermit crab or snail per gallon of water in your tank.
Keep an eye on your tank over the next few days, if the problem returns, add granular ferric oxide (Phosban) to the sump of your tank. This will reduce phosphates in your tank, and help restore the balance. If the problem continues, add your protein skimmer to the sump or back of your tank. The protein skimmer will pick up any organic matter. These steps should get rid of your red algae bloom. If not, you'll have to dismantle and thoroughly clean your tank.
There is no quick fix for cyanobaceria. Combating this problem will take a lot of time and effort.
The goal is to limit the amount of dissolved organic carbons in your tank. If you do not do so, the red slime will always return.
Once you dose your tank, let the remover work for 48 hours.The remover works by accelerating the solubilization and biological digestion of organic solids. This process will increase the demand for oxygen in your tank. Make sure your tank is able to handle this excess demand.