Many new saltwater aquarium keepers have had red slime algae appear in their once pristine tanks. And once it appears this algae can literally make a tank look terrible which is why so many marine aquarium keepers wonder how to get red of red slime algae in a reef aquarium?

What Is This Red Stuff Anyway

Red slime algae is a naturally occurring growth that is actually a cyanobacteria and not an algae. It is common in nature and in saltwater tanks. While it can and does appear in older tanks it is more prevalent in newer marine systems that are under six months old.

What Makes It Appear

This red goo is the result of to many nutrients like nitrate and phosphate in the aquarium water from uneaten fish food and fish waste. In newer marine aquarium systems it is a sign that biological equilibrium has not yet been reached in your system.

If you are experiencing red slime algae in a newer system give it some time as it will more then likely disappear in a few short weeks. If it is appearing in an older established system it may be a sign that something is not right and needs attention

How To Get Rid Of Red Slime Algae In a Reef Aquarium

The first method many people turn to to fight the problem is chemicals. While they will work they are only a temporary fix and can actually make matters worse. The algae is feeding off of something and be killing it off temporarily you are allowing the food source to accumulate in the tank. Once the red slime grabs a foot hold it will be much worse then before because the of the build up in the water.

To avoid this problem the best methods are to make sure your saltwater tank is not overstocked with fish and that you are not overfeeding.

The next thing is to make sure you clean your filters and protein skimmers every month and do not let them become clogged up with gunk.

Vacuuming the gravel in your tank will also help to remove fish waste uneaten food and other pollutants that are in the tank that can lead to red slime growth

One often overlooked contributor is the water you use to make your saltwater,. If you use tap water you could very well be adding phosphates into the tank with every water change. This is because most communities put phosphate in the water supply to stop pipe corrosion in the delivery system. To get around this you can use reverse osmosis water systems or buy distilled water.

To create an easy-to-maintain saltwater aquarium grab a copy of our Saltwater Aquarium Guide This illustrated guide will show you step by step how to properly set up your marine aquarium correctly. It’s filled with effective tips and secrets that the pros use to create stunning marine displays! Learn more at http://www.saltwatermethods.com

Tagged with: • •

Filed under: Reef Aquariums

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!