Green Slime

rob · 10-11-2006, 05:10 PM

I have recently inherited a huge problem.

A pet store with salt water tanks.

The problem is there is a green slime film growing thoughout my tanks.

Since its a commercial unit all the tanks filter into one sump and filtering system and from there back into the units.

I have tried vacuming and scrubbing the tank walls and dividers but the next day its back again across the coral and walls.

Someone said it is and bare with me on the name Subtle Bacteria, but i cannot find anything on this as well they said E.M. Tablets might cure it. However I want to be save and not sorry I have alot of fish in those tanks and do not want to kill them.

Rob

Tommy Gun · 10-11-2006, 05:26 PM

I think you may have meant Cynobacteria. I have read, that this is the very first form of life to occur on earth and is very, very common. You are right, it is easily treatable with antibiotics, at least as far as freshwater tanks are concerned. I had this problem once, treated with half doses of an antibiotic fugus/bacteria medicine and have not had a repeat of the problem.

However, I am not the expert on this subject and I know that Jay and Aaron both have a good technique for you. I think the biggest problem you may have is not being able to create a 'blackout' situation in order to reduce the amount of light in the tank since, I am assuming, need to keep these tanks on display for customers.

CrypticAnimal · 10-11-2006, 05:34 PM

One way to determine whether your organic load is high is to perform a DO and a BOD test (dissolved oxygen and biological oxygen demand). This is done in the following manner:

-Take two samples of water.
-Use one for immediate testing
-Store the other in the dark making sure there is no air trapped in the
container you use (fill it under water and then put the cap on).
-Test the first sample for dissolved oxygen and write the result down
-Store the second sample for 48 hours
-After that time has elapsed, perform a dissolved oxygen test on the second
sample.
-Write down the result
-Compare the results of the first test to the second one and note what the
difference is
If it is greater than 1 mg/l your organic load is high and you definitely need to intervene. This is done either by upgrading the skimmer or making it more efficient, or starting a potassium permanganate solution treatment. Ideally and in most cases the better method is to do both.
Note that even though the tests reveal to some extent what the DOC (dissolved organic carbon) level is, any protein material that is in the tank that has not decomposed yet is not measured by this test and will eventually increase the amount of DOC even further.
It is important for correct DO and BOD measuring that your test be chemically active. Most tests have expiration dates listed on the box they come in. Make sure yours is still within the useable period. If it is not you will get meaningless results.
Keeping organic loads to a minimum is paramount to avoiding outbreaks of Cyanobacteria. The techniques to do so have been outlined. Adding potassium permanganate several times a week will keep all blue-greens out of the tank. Of course, efficient skimming is necessary as well and don't forget to siphon out as much as you can.Also do you have bio balls?Were is the largest amounts located?Do you run a skimmer?When was the last time you change your lights?The are more questions but it could make things easyer if we had a pic...

rob · 10-11-2006, 05:52 PM

I will take some pictures this week and post them back up, I am out of the store on business till the weekend.

I will take pictures of our complete setup.

rob · 10-18-2006, 09:48 PM

I have pictures but not sure how to upload them or what not

email me at rgeorge at cogeco dot net and i can send you pictures of my setup.

Rob

TommysGirl · 10-19-2006, 10:17 AM

Rob,

I don't know a lot about saltwater tanks, but pictures and PC's I can do! I upload all my pics through Free Image and Video Hosting - Photo Image Hosting Site : Photobucket.com and it is free. You just upload them to their site and then photobucket will have three options (URL, tagging, and one other one that I can't think of). You use those codes to get your pics up. You can also resize the pics through photobucket if a website has a max resolution. Best of luck!

TommysGirl

ahill3780 · 10-19-2006, 05:58 PM

Not to get too far in depth at this point I will offer a few suggestions to start. You can email me the photos to ahill3780@hotmail.com and I will take a look at them.

For now, here are a few things that might help the situation a bit and not harm the livestock:

Step up the water changes for the next couple of weeks to help remove any excess nutrients that are fueling the cyano breakout.
Check the operation of the Skimmer to make sure the pump is not clogged and degrading efficiency.
If you don't have a skimmer on these tanks then install one.
UV Sterilizers are, IMO, essential on systems that plumb multiple tanks into a single filtration loop. This will help to eliminate the free-floating cyano before it has time to nest and reproduce.
(this one is a bit drastic) Remove all traces of the alga/bacteria that you can get to: vacuum out the buildup inside the tanks, replace the pvc plumbing to all the tanks from the sump area, replace all filtration foam in the sump, and scrub off any buildup in the sump as well.

I will review this thread again later and offer any other suggestions that come to mind in the meantime.

HTH,
Aaron

rob · 10-19-2006, 08:27 PM

Pics....

rob · 10-19-2006, 08:28 PM

ahill3780 · 10-20-2006, 05:28 PM

Hmmm... is the shop open for business currently, or are you still preparing things?