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Old 08-04-2009, 05:45 PM   #18 (permalink)
drhank
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Default Re: Red Slime Issues

do I have to say +2. OK, +2! Cyano bacteria is present in some amount in just about every tank. It runs rampant when certain conditions are met. A nutrient rich environment and lack of sufficient flow are the usual causes. The bacteria also needs light to survive and thrive. Cutting off your lights for 3 days will knock it back significantly. Increasing flow with additional powerheads is also desired. A final element that often helps is a fuge. The fuge will help to reduce nutrients and starve out the bacteria. A turf scrubber will do likewise but that is a subject for a different time. When you do your water changes try to siphon out any cyano you see. It's a fight that you can win but it will take some time. Good luck.

Dosing Vodka or sugar is a well known technique for reducing nitrate. It works but I'd be sure you know what you're doing before you try it.
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