What I used to "cure" red slime in my tank

Waxx · #1 02-05-2007, 09:42 AM

I posted this elsewhere, but I'll post it here as well. I really hope that this can help some frustrated reefers suffering from red slime.

"Howdy,

I don't recommend this to everyone, but here is what I did to completly erradicate red slime from my system. Before I outline the details, you should know that I added a Vortech pump (as well as removed some fish that were way to big for my tank) immediatly after treatment so this could have had an impact on weather or not the cyano would return or the validity of this treatment method.

Anyway, here are the steps:

1. Go to Petland and get Maracyn (freshwater). made by a company called Mardel, it is used to treat bacterial infection in fresh water fish, comes in a blue box. Basically it's an antibiotic.

2. Get about 500 ml of RO/DI water and crush up and mix 1 tablet for every 10 gallons of tank volume (inclding sump and fuge).

3. Turn off your skimmer and fluadized reactor (remove GAC)

4. Add the treatment to a high flow area of the sump over about a 4 hour period.

5. Do not turn on your skimmer for 36 hours.

6. Turn your skimmer back on and prepare for a battle because it will be overflowing like crazy for a while. Make sure you add some nice fresh carbon at this time as well.

7. Do 5 water changes of 10-15% total system volume over the next 5 days.

I had a really bad case of RS and this was like a miracle cure. This combined with the addition of the Vortech pump and my tank is doing fantastic. There has been no trace of cyano since I treated the tank and I don't suspect I'll ever get it again.

I did not loose any livestock at all (inverts, corals, pods and all). As a matter of fact, it looked to me like the animals couldn't even tell I was treating the tank.

A fellow reefer in my area has also tried this method with sucess. Please use this method at your own risk. I find the off the shelf red slime remover to be very abrassive and the red slime just comes back.

Remember that the best cure for red slime is low phosphates and good husbandry. Chemical treatment should only be used as a LAST resort!

Happy Reefing!
Tyler"

Johnny Reefer · #2 02-05-2007, 11:55 AM

How long ago did you apply the treatment?

Thanx much,

Farrmanchu · #3 02-05-2007, 12:56 PM

I know it's been a while. I took his advice two weeks ago, did the Maracyn thing, and it's AMAZING how quickly the Cyano went away. I used it and haven't seen Cyano since, my Pods didn't even seem impacted by the treatment. It does make the Skimmer go NUTS, maybe do a couple of the WCs in the the instructions BEFORE turning the Skimmer back on. My Skimmer cup was filling every 15 minutes, and I couldn't raise the cup anymore. This cure works like a charm. Thanks again Bud!

Quagmire · #4 02-05-2007, 01:35 PM

Running GAC for a few hrs before turning the skimmer on might help also.

Waxx · #5 02-06-2007, 03:09 AM

I'm glad it worked out for you, Rob. Sorry you are selling your Flame Angel BTW.

GrimReefer · #6 02-06-2007, 03:20 AM

i've heard of this before, and it's great that it worked for you. but in my opinion you should correct the cause (excess organics) rather than the symptoms.

Waxx · #7 02-06-2007, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGrimReefer

i've heard of this before, and it's great that it worked for you. but in my opinion you should correct the cause (excess organics) rather than the symptoms.

I agree, and I think I mention this point above.

The discalimer to all of this (also stated above) is that I removed 3 oversized fish (a 7" naso, a 7" foxface and a 4" copperband), as well as added a ton of flow immediatly following treatment. I can't emphasize enough that the medicine was only one part of a combination of efforts to rid myself of RS and may not work for everyone.

This combined with running a large skimmer, GAC and phosban and all of my levels are in check.

I think that chemical treatment should be a last resort. Like, right before you rip the tank down and start over.

Cheers,
Waxx

Waxx · #8 02-06-2007, 03:36 AM

oh, Johnny, it's been about 6 weeks since I treated the tank.

EmilyB · #9 02-20-2007, 01:42 AM

I'm trying this treatment starting tonite. I see the FW instructions involve five days of treatment. So is one sufficient then in this case ? I am just trying to get the crap under control, more flow is coming as in your case as well.

Skimmerking · #10 02-20-2007, 05:15 PM

Ihad the pleasure of using this on my 170 and man i had to change around 130 gals of the water my skimmer didnt work for liek 2.5 weeks after using it it really messed up the levels in my tank But that is IME and IMO. may be it does work it did take the RS away thou lots of maintance to get it back to normal thou.