Red "alge"?

[Roech13]

Hey all, run into an odd problem that Im sure you all will know about. In both my fish tanks I have a red scum growing. I was thinking it might be Cyanobacteria and am treating for that now to see if that clears it up. I have done one 48 hour treatment and starting a second one trying to get rid of this stuff. Do any of you have an idea what it might be other than Cyanobacteria? Im using Chemiclean to treat it. Water stats are GH= 300, I live in NE we have very Hard water, N02= .5, N03= 10, CL2= 0, KH= 40 and ph is 7.6.

Pictured here are some of the things in the tank that have this red/rust gunk growing on it.

 

[Roech13]

Im hoping this hasnt gotten completely lost in posts. I did a full restart of my tanks. Pulled all the stuff from them, trashed the live plants, scrubbed everything with Dawn and rinsed everything like mad including cleaning the sand in the bottom of the tank. After a couple weeks the same brown crap came back. Does anyone have any idea what this stuff is and how to get rid of it?

 

[A201]

Could the problem simply be Diatom
algae?

 

[Roech13]

Diatom alge? Like Cyanobacteria? If so I have treated the tank for that multiple times and no effect.

 

[cmsbthebest]

Diatoms are commonly known as Brown Algae. Very common in new tanks and feed off of a silica source.

I've been battling it in one of my tanks for a year, yet every other tanks I've ever owned has had very little.

 

[Roech13]

Diatoms are commonly known as Brown Algae. Very common in new tanks and feed off of a silica source.

I've been battling it in one of my tanks for a year, yet every other tanks I've ever owned has had very little.

I had wondered. I got a algae eater and it was munching on the stuff but died after 2 days. So I dont get why this stuff kills algae eaters but wont respond to Cyanobacteria treatments.

 

[Deadeye]

Just looks like diatoms.
Cyano has a more slimy, almost hairy look:

I don’t know what “algae eater” refers to, but I doubt it died from eating the algae. More likely it was sick when you got it or reacted poorly to your tank water.

 

[Roech13]

Just looks like diatoms.
Cyano has a more slimy, almost hairy look:
View attachment 1480091
I don’t know what “algae eater” refers to, but I doubt it died from eating the algae. More likely it was sick when you got it or reacted poorly to your tank water.

The algae eater was a Plecostomus. Red lizard whiptail. Got it specifically since they dont get huge. Ill have to see if I can find another fish that feeds on algae. The whole front of the tank is covered in the stuff now.

 

[Deadeye]

Recent pics?
Algae eaters aren’t always the best solution as they just add to the bioload and many aren’t very efficient cleaners.

 

[Roech13]

Recent pics?
Algae eaters aren’t always the best solution as they just add to the bioload and many aren’t very efficient cleaners.

Not home at the moment but Ill snag pics and up load them when I stop by on my way to work.