Debris flowing back into tank

Question
Hi I have a 220 gallon reef tank calcium is at 450 and all other tests are in range.  Several weeks ago I had red algae slime taking over my tank so I did major water changes and cleaning for a week as suggested by the fish store owner.  No matter how hard I cleaned the algae never left so it was then recommended that I treat the tank do a major water change.  So I did.  Yeah red algae slime is gone but now I have another problem.  On the return flow back into the tank it keeps spitting out debris and I have no idea where this is coming from.  I have cleaned the debris from the bottom of the trickle filter, cleaned the protein skimmer, and replaced all filter pads.  As clean as everything is I should have spotless water.  Any ideas?
Denise

Answer
Hello Denise,

Sorry to hear about all your problems. Can you please tell me how old your tank is?  how long have you had it setup, and when was the last time you did a major change, or added a bunch or rock or sand?

The 'red algae' may have actually been a 'red slime' which is a 'cyanno bacteria', and although water changes is 'part' of the solution, that rarely ever works on its own.  which i am guesing you are figuring out.

There are many causes to red slime, (assuming that is what it was), and most of them are things we want to try to control, nitrates, phosphates, and poor water flow/circulation.

And there is one more thing required for red slime to exist and grow, and that is light.

Light is the only thing we can control with absolute.  ON or OFF.

My suggestions when combatting red slime is to turn off the light for 3 days, and then do an evaluation.  either another day of no light, or to add some 'cyanno bacteria treatment'.  (red slime remover, is a name brand of one product)

I would not start off with medicine, but would use it after I have weakened it.

Keep in mind that there are 'cloudy' days inthe tropics so turning off the lights for a few days is not bad, and almost everyone that has done it has sated the wter actually looks better after.

But, to address you current question....  I would have suggested you do everything you said you did.

If you have a 'bottle brush' then you might want to clean your plumbing lines also...

Can you access the pump and remove and clean the pump parts??  (onthe skimmer and onyour return pump from the trickle filter)

Do you have any critters that are stirring up the sand and causing the sand or debris to be constantly in the water column??

Other then that, I would not know what else to suggest.  Sorry,

Please let me know what you end up doing.


Bill



Can you replace the plumbing lines?