Red Slime Remover.... Fail

[dc4]

I used a cyano remover and it cleared up my entire sandbed within 24 hours, on my box it said to turn off skimmer and remove any carbon. My skimmer was still going nuts for a few days after a 35% water change. Did you check the dosage? I had to use 8 of those tiny scoops for my tank and sump.

[MarkoD]

I followed instructions to a tee. I used 16 scoops for 250 gallons total volume

[daniella3d]

Another possibility is that what you have may not be cyano but rather dinoflagellates? in that case it is a very different treatment.

I used Seachem HO for elevating my PH without raising my KH and it worked well for me to remove all the dino. It never returned.

[Myka]

Doesnt look like dinos.

[mayheim]

Hey Marko. I just used a product called "Chemi clean" red slime remover treats up to 900 gallons, comes in a powder form. Turned off my skimmer, took carbon and any other media out of my sump. one teaspoon per 10 gallons. put carbon backin after 24 hrs., and turned on my skimmer after 48 hrs. It says to do a 20% water change also after 48 hrs, but I waited an extra 3 days and just did my weekly water change. Slime completely gone. I have done this to my fish only tank and reef tank, with no ill effects. Also cut back on the feeding, tend to ovefeed at times which causes the growth. I just finished this whole process this morning. Tanks look great.

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by MarkoD

I followed instructions to a tee. I used 16 scoops for 250 gallons total volume

Did you compensate for displacement caused by rock volume? You could have I'll effects by over dosing.

What brand of red slime?

It seems you are the only one with a box stating leave skimmer on.

[MarkoD]

Cause of cyano is over feeding while I was on vacation.

And yes the box says to keep slimmer on. I'll take a picture of it of I still have it. Brand is ultra life red slime remover

[Reef Pilot]

My Chemiclean instructions say to turn the skimmer off. So sounds like it is not the same stuff.

[Trigger Man]

I've used the chemiclean product in the past and had good results as well.

[Delphinus]

I've used both over the years. To me they are similar (although not identical) products. I seem to recall they both smelled like banana flavored candy to me for example. But Chemiclean is a white powder and RSM is a yellow powder. They might not be the same thing. I think you can also use Erithromycin but I've never tried this myself so don't quote me on that.

I think in a way they are both right because the same sort of thing happens with either of them: 1) the skimmer goes nuts, and 2) the O2 level depletes in the tank as the cyano starts to die off and rot, thereby increasing the risk of suffocation/asphyxiation of the tankmates.

Therefore, leaving the skimmer "on" means it will likely overflow and make a mess, and leaving it "off" takes away something that helps with re-oxygenation. Nothing is black or white, but there are a million shades of grey.

My advice is:
1) If the skimmer is in the sump, just leave it on and let it overflow back into the tank, as there is no risk of flooding your floor or emptying your sump.
2) If the skimmer is a hang on the back style, or external to the sump, then leave it on, but dial the air intake as far down as possible. Lower the water level in the skimmer if you can too. This way it's still bubbling away, but not emptying the tank.
3) If you don't have a skimmer at all then stop being so eccentric and just go out and buy one. (JUST KIDDING. Sheesh, put the tomatoes away. Everyone's a critic.. ). But seriously, if no skimmer, then maybe add a powerhead to agitate the water surface or something like that just to keep up with the O2/CO2 exchange.

Hope this helps..