red in my sand

Question
QUESTION: I have a new 30 gallon saltwater tank. Ive noticed a red growth on one of my live rocks. Now i see the red under the sand near the rock. What is this?

ANSWER: Hello Kyle,

I changed the status to public so others may read this question and answer..

I would need more information about your tank, water conditions, lighting, etc to be positive, but for now, while you are replying with that information, try looking up 'cyanno bacteria'  or 'Red Slime'

This is usual for newer tank, and during warmer months.

If this is 'red slime' please let me know the above information, i.e. water conditions, water temp, nitrate, ammonia, phosphate if you have it..

Also, what type of lightiig, how old are the bulbs, what color are the bulbs, how long are the lights on during the daytime? Is the tank near a window, does it get natural sunlight?

how deep is your sand?



wow, i think that is it... hehehe

it's like an interrogation.  please dont tell me i have to find an ALLEXPERTS.Com expert on torture and water boarding??? hehehehe



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: All the levels are good. My sand is around an inch deep. The guy i bought it from told me i need better lighting. Im not sure what i have now. Its a dark red layer on the rock. It just started today. the water is 78 degrees. No natural sunlight.

ANSWER: hello,
Did you look up 'cyanno bacteria'?

Is that what you have?

With the info you are giving me, this is my 'guess'

you will need to look at your lights and figure out what kind of lights you have, or submit a picture.

most 'store' bought fixtures are or were 'power compact' lighting.  these are 'flourescent' fixtures the bulbs are about 1/2+ inch in diamber might have 'two tube' per bulb

there is also T5 lighting which is also flourescent, but the tube is thinner, about the size of your pinky..

or you have Metal halide, which are larger bulbs, very bright and very hot, but great for coral

if the bulbs are older, 1 yeare or so, then they should be relaced, as they lose intensity and color.

if they are power compact, i would suggest upgrading your lighting to T5 or metal halide..


please let me know if you see pictures of cyanno and if those pictures look like what you got?

and we wll continue from there



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------


red   QUESTION: This is the rock.

Answer
i changed the setting to PUBLIC so others may see the question and answer

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=red+slime+algae&form=QBIR&qs=AS#

your algae looks like this.  especially the third picture???

if it looks like that, and ALL your water conditions are good, then there is a problem...

chances are though you have higher phospates then your test kits are telling you..

you possibly over feed a little.

I still dont know how long your lights are on, so that may or may not be a problem..


Idont reccomend dosing or medicating until you try a few other steps..

stop feeding, do a water change, 20+%  turn off the lights for two to three days...If you have a skimmer, turn it off after the first day of no lights.

Treat the tank for phospates

and then after thre days of no light, scoop out whatever algae is left, or whatever is dead algae

then if there isnt any algae then great, if you still have algae then maybe another day with no lights, and treatement with RED SLIME remover or other product. 'chemi clean'

those are expensive, which is one reason i dont START off with that.

another reason is to try to kill or weaken it, then if you have to medicate it so you are kicking it while it is down, so to speak...

if you want, you could just remove the one rock and put it in a bucket with saltwater and powerhead and no lights...

up to you..

but new tanks and warmer weather tend to make the situation worse



again, this is still guessing based on the info you provided


good luck


bill