How to Remove Red Slime Algae

[jamirlima]

I have red slime algae all over my sand in my saltwater planted tank. They are red and purple color and turns into like a carpet..... with some bubbles as well. Someone told me sally lightfoot will take care but i dont see sally eating the red stuff at all. I have 2 tubos but they dont like it either.

Did water change once a week in the last 3 weeks.
Thanks

[agelaus]

try to find a way to reduce the light getting to it. I had a rock that had it all over it, when I moved the rock it all disapeared, and i havent had a problem since

[jamirlima]

I have my lights for around 10 hours a day. Just got brand new bulbs too.

[crabbypatties]

May I suggest that you physically remove as much as possible, check your water source. It may be possible that it is time to change your membranes. Next evaluate your feeding habits and the type of food that you use. Feeding everyday is not needed, dry pellet food is loaded with phosphates which can spark an outbreak.How long where your old bulbs in use? Also what kelvin rating where they and what kelvin rating are they now? A sudden shift in lighting can also be the trigger. After checking your TDS of your source water and it reads within a acceptable range do a water change. All these suggestions will impact the growth/survival rate of the bacteria. If you are like many aquarists you can just go and by Red slime remover which is expensive but works overnight, but this is jus a band-aide unless you find the source. Also I personally NEVER put LFS bag water into my display as great as local stores are, I would rather not risk a new problem. Good luck!!

[jamirlima]

I use dry pellet food and feed every other day. My water should be good because my RO filter is only 3 months old and it had 15 on TDS meter.
Previous lights were 10K and Actinic and they were around a year old. My new ones are now 67K and Actinic plus plant grow lights.

I had a terrible problem with cyno at one time. My solution was a fast growing calupera algae. I instaled a sump and devided it with baffles, then added bubble calupera. In a month the cyno was no longer in my tank.

[Moosejac]

also try increasing the flow in the areas the slime is growing...

[jamirlima]

The slime is in the bottom front on the sand and I am not sure if I can put another powerhead since i have calurpa growing in there.

What is bubble calurpa? Is it the same as small grape calurpa?
Thanks

[abcsnana]

Can't spell the stuff - but as far as I know, they are same stuff. They are very hardy and really do help contain the growth of unwanted algae. I love the stuff for that. So do the tangs.
abcsnana/Jaymie

[jamirlima]

If i use chemi clean to take the red slime off will it affect fish, macro algaes and inverts? Someone at LFS told me its not good for inverts.