Can I do a red slime treatment on a zeovit tank?

[Brent F]

I'm in the same boat with zeovit products. The water test perfect (0 nitrites, nitrates, ammonia and phosphates) and is very clear yet I have had some large algae blooms.

I have three tanks hooked in together so they share the same zeovit system. Two of the three tanks are clear but the third cycles through different algae blooms. I'm guessing it is either the lighting or that this one tank doesn't have the correct cleanup crew?

[Pan]

Yeah i had/have a bout with red slime after starting zeo as well...but it is slowly going away...I upped the amount of coral snow and tweaked it a bit...mind you i'm not using the zeo rocks though....

[danny zubot]

That bacteria is one of the oldest living organisms on the planet, and for a good reason. It knows how to survive. I wouldn't know about Zeo and how it is supposed to remedy cyano specifically, but it seams that if you are feeding your tank bacteria, and feeding that bacteria it's own food, you are essentially creating, at least for a while, a perfect environment for cyano to thrive.

Tony, are you planning to do pre & post treatment water changes?

[Delphinus]

Zeovit isn't a cure for cyano - but if things worked they way they say they work - cyano would be outcompeted for nutrients. This is theoretically acheivable, because I know my cube tank used to be a nightmare of elevated NO3 and frequently did suffer cyano. IME, cyano is almost always triggered by elevated levels of NO3. I went to Polyplabs on that tank just for the heck of it, and it sucked the nitrates out. After a month or so down that road the cyano literally disappeared on its own.

I would agree that in this tank though, that the fuel/food added for the zeovit bacteria is instead being consumed by cyano and the cyano is outcompeting the zeo. You are correct, it is a survivor. Give it a foothold and it will make a stronghold.

Anyhow in answer to your question - probably. I do weekly changes as part of the zeo subscriptions but the red slime remover treatments usually call for larger wholesale changes. I'll likely do my weekly 10% before treatment and then do the usual post-RSM-treatment 30%.

[digital-audiophile]

Intersting that the snow has not worked. When I had my problems I followed the advice on zeovit.com, cut back on my doses and mixed CS with Zeobak and the slime went away, it has yet to return.. allthough for some unknown reason I still have issues with green film algae.

[Slick Fork]

I'll bet it's the macro you're trying to grow that's messing things up. I had a similar problem to the one you're describing. I was running a refugium in addition to the zeovit and had slime algae issues everywhere. Following advice on the zeovit forums, I killed the refugium, cut back on my dosing (the zeofood I cut back by 50%) and since then I haven't had any cyano issues worth mentioning. Maybe try disconnecting the tank with the kelp in it.

[Pan]

Originally Posted by Slick Fork

I'll bet it's the macro you're trying to grow that's messing things up. I had a similar problem to the one you're describing. I was running a refugium in addition to the zeovit and had slime algae issues everywhere. Following advice on the zeovit forums, I killed the refugium, cut back on my dosing (the zeofood I cut back by 50%) and since then I haven't had any cyano issues worth mentioning. Maybe try disconnecting the tank with the kelp in it.

Yeah that is one thing i've read as well, not many zeoheads have good results with macro's...i'm sure there are a few..but i believe i've read a few messages on forums stating to get rid of any refugiums as well.