Should I remove my sandbed?

QuagmireMan · 02/01/2008, 09:58 AM

I have been having algae problems that will not go away. I have cut back major on my feeding to the point I almost feel guilty, I only use RO water, I do a 10% change every 2 weeks, I tred phosphate and silica removing material.

THings I have noticed my sumps cheato barely wants to grow even with lights on 16 hours of the day. All my levels NO2 and NO3 are no exsistant, i know it is probably from the algae eating them all up.

I have no idea wha the source maybe that is feeding my algae!?!? I was thinking about going bare bottom in my tank to see if that would take care of it.....

What do you guys think?

shred5 · 02/01/2008, 10:16 AM

Have you tested your make up water that is used for top off or water changes? Always start here first because you can do everything to your tank but you will never get it under control if you are constantly adding nutrients to your water. R.O. water still can be high in nutrients if your tap water is high.. Nutrients are so high in my area it takes to d/i cartridges to take care of them. Buy a good low range phosphate test kit like hach or merc and test for phosphate. This is always where you start looking for problems.

You could go through all the trouble removing your sandbed and still have a problem or make it worse. It very well may be your sand bed but who knows. I have had tanks with sand beds for 10 years with no problems.

Dave

02/01/2008, 09:58 AM	#1
QuagmireMan Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Columbus (campus) Posts: 164	Should I remove my sandbed? I have been having algae problems that will not go away. I have cut back major on my feeding to the point I almost feel guilty, I only use RO water, I do a 10% change every 2 weeks, I tred phosphate and silica removing material. THings I have noticed my sumps cheato barely wants to grow even with lights on 16 hours of the day. All my levels NO2 and NO3 are no exsistant, i know it is probably from the algae eating them all up. I have no idea wha the source maybe that is feeding my algae!?!? I was thinking about going bare bottom in my tank to see if that would take care of it..... What do you guys think?

02/01/2008, 10:16 AM	#2
shred5 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Waukesha , WI Posts: 4,998	Have you tested your make up water that is used for top off or water changes? Always start here first because you can do everything to your tank but you will never get it under control if you are constantly adding nutrients to your water. R.O. water still can be high in nutrients if your tap water is high.. Nutrients are so high in my area it takes to d/i cartridges to take care of them. Buy a good low range phosphate test kit like hach or merc and test for phosphate. This is always where you start looking for problems. You could go through all the trouble removing your sandbed and still have a problem or make it worse. It very well may be your sand bed but who knows. I have had tanks with sand beds for 10 years with no problems. Dave