If you have any advice for me, please, please let me know. I am at my wit's
end. I have had a problem with red slime algae for at least a couple of
months now, and despite my best efforts is just isn't going away.

I have had a 29gallon tank for about 8 months now, my filter is a Pengiun
biowheel, the temp stays around 78, SG is 1.023, PH is 8.4, ammonia and
nitrites are both zero, and nitrates are <10 ppm.

At first I tried battling it by doing massive water changes every week and
scrubbing the corals and rock, but within a few days it always came back.

So, I added a prizm protein skimmer thinking it would solve my problems.
When it didn't, I added a powerhead, thinking surely all of this additional
circulation would take care of it. Then, I upgraded my lighting (from two
regular fluorescent 15W bulbs to a Aqualight compact fluorescent double
linear strip with two 36 watt lamps). I

Finally, I consulted my LFS, and they offered me two options: A small vial
of this white powder stuff ($20) that supposedly kills cyanobacteria but
doesn't harm fish or inverts, or... they could sell me RO (premixed) water
with which to perform my water changes.

I was a little reluctant to buy the powder stuff because I've heard that
chemicals are bad for the tank. So, I bought 6 gallons of the RO water and
resigned myself to returning to the store each week to get water for my
water changes. But, I did a water change yesterday, and was very
disheartened to get home this evening to find that the red slime stuff was
already starting to appear on the substrate again.

So, am I doing something wrong? Should I try the white stuff? Any
suggestions? Thanks in advance for the help.

-Mer

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