How do I get rid of this red slime in my freshwater tank?

Question

I have a newer tank, about 2-3 wks old, 10 gallon. I have 3 tiger barbs, 3 stripped danios, and a rainbow shark. Fish guy told me these were all durable, and none have died yet. But over the last week or so I've noticed this reddish/rust colored slime covering the bottom, fake plant, and 2 props..is this some sort of algae? and if you know how would I be able to get rid of this.

Answer 1

Forms in soft brown clumpy patches. In the freshwater aquarium, these are usually diatoms. Usually indicates a lack of light or an excess of silicates. Increased light levels will usually make it disappear. Easily removed by wiping the glass or siphon vacuuming the affected area.

Planktonic forms in freshwater and marine environments typically exhibit a "bloom and bust" lifestyle. When conditions in the upper mixed layer (nutrients and light) are favourable (e.g. at the start of spring) their competitive edge (Furnas, 1990) allows them to quickly dominate phytoplankton communities ("bloom"). As such they are often classed as opportunistic r-strategists (i.e. those organisms whose ecology is defined by a high growth rate, r).

When conditions turn unfavourable, usually upon depletion of nutrients, diatom cells typically increase in sinking rate and exit the upper mixed layer ("bust"). This sinking is induced by either a loss of buoyancy control, the synthesis of mucilage that sticks diatoms cells together, or the production of heavy resting spores.


phosphates Pads purchased at your LFS can be cut and added to your your tank filter but brown algea loves silicates. Since your tank is new, your light source may not be powerfull enough for your tank. Try a brighter light along with the pads.

Wipe off your plants and decorations. Vac the bottom after scraping the sides of your tank. This should clear up.

The main source of this algae is from your regular tap water.
Once you are rid of the majority of the spores, the pads should do the rest. Remember to rinse them out everytime you do a water change.

Added note: You do not have ich. Free swimming Ich is too small to see. DO NOT TREAT for ich. You also may steer clear of algae killers since this is not a light feeding algae.

Answer 2

Your having a outbreak of something call diatom. It's like a layer of brown algae on the tank, it probably due too too much nutrients in the water so all you need to do is to do more water change and it'll be solved.

While you're draining the tank, use the hose to vacuum the fake plant and the gravel, Get a gravel vacuum attachment for your hose is you don't already have one, ask the guys in the aquarium shop and they'll know what you need.

Once your water contains less waste or nutrients, the brown layer will stop coming back.

Answer 3

It sounds like you are feeding your fish way too much food. If it were my tank, I would do a partial water change (20%) and siphon the gravel with a gravel vacuum and remove the slime. Reduce the amount of food that you feed your fish. They only really need to be fed once a day and if you skip a day or two it won't harm the fish.

Heinz M is right, buying a snail would help keep your tank clean but be careful because if you buy more than one snail you'll have hundreds of baby snails to deal with and then all you've done is traded one problem for another.

Answer 4

you can also use algae destroyer it helps with the algae problem, also do more water changes. Another thing all fish are durable you can't take everyone advise to stone you have to learn what works for you, just because your friend for instance had a dwarf frog and it died and every time he got a new one it died doesn't mean it wouldn't work for you. Just remember that. Just do your weekly water changes and change your filters, to you can get a pleco and a snail, those are life savers.

Answer 5

I had the same problem and everyone told me different things that didn't help and just wasted too much time. Finally, someone told me that I was leaving my lights on too long and feeding them too much. I put the lights on for 8 hours now, on a timer, and I don't have that red gunk anymore. The amount of food isn't even an issue anymore. Good Luck!

Answer 6

Sounds like you're wayy overfeeding! And it's a new tank, yikes! I would go ahead and do a partial water change (maybe 25%) and vacuum your gravel...remove the decorations and rinse in water and salt (if you need to scrub) if you need to, as best as you can, no soap!
Most likely, you'll get some cloudy water and your tank will have to start it's cycle over, but that's ok. Get your water tested in a couple weeks to see how things are coming along.

Answer 7

You have ick in your tank, go to a pet store or a fish store, get ick its for tanks to clear the water,you put 2 drops in the tank in a hour or 2 your tank is cleared up, its safe for the fish too, remember to change your filter .

Answer 8

Snails in most cases will feed on that and eliminate it.