Can't keep the sand white

[Mirugai]

I can't seem to keep the sand white. It's always got covered by brown algae. My CUC don't bother to clean it up either. Parameter is fine, Nh4=0 No2=0, No3=.5, Po4=0. PH hovers around 7.9 to 8. Alkalinity around 9, ca=450 and Mg=1230.

Feeding consist of salifert energy plus granular for the fish once a day and DT with cyclopeze and mysis for the corals twice a week.

I have 2 picasso clowns, Randal goby, pistol shrimp, and cleaner shrimp. CUC consist of 20 nassarius snails and 10 of variety snails.

Is there something that I can do about it?

Thanks

[Mirugai]

Picture

[mike810]

IDK why its getting covered but I have a diamond goby and he works wonders on my sand. My sand stays white even though i have diatoms all over my power heads.

[jformani]

what about flow?

[Mirugai]

I have MP10 in reef mode on the top left of the tank. I don't think the flow is the problem.

This problem just appeared recently within a week.

[Mikef973]

second the diamond goby. but a word of caution. i got one last week and within a few days it jumped out of my tank. my sand was pure white by the second day tho. make sure you have a tanklid because they are jumpers. i would also recommend ro/di unit.

[Mirugai]

wouldnt my randall pistol goby does the same thing? I can't have a jumper in my tank. There's no way I can put a lid on. And I have been topping off using RO water.

I'm thinking of replacing the skimmer that came with the mini and get tunze nano skimmer. Maybe that'll improve, any thoughts?

[Tryx]

i had the same problem. I could actually see it getting worse throughout the day. It got to the point where I had to stick my hand in and pull up the sheets of brown crap at least once a week.
I just recently added a sump with some cheato and phosguard. I'm not sure which one did it, but the brown stuff disappeared almost overnight.

[mike810]

Originally Posted by Mikef973

second the diamond goby. but a word of caution. i got one last week and within a few days it jumped out of my tank. my sand was pure white by the second day tho. make sure you have a tanklid because they are jumpers. i would also recommend ro/di unit.

That sucks mike. I have a open top and luckily my diamond goby has not jumped out

[jmski333]

i have a diamond goby and my tank is in my bedroom. The first night i got him i happened to be up late at night and heard a splash and than a thump off my lid than another splash. Luckily i had a lid, otherwise i would of heard a thump on the floor instead of that other splash.

In regards to your algae problem, how long do you keep your light on for? And have you added any new LR to the tank lately?

[Mirugai]

Lights on @9am off@9pm. No new LR addition

[Mirugai]

Should I replace the skimmer first or adding GFO? do you think any of this would help?

[jmski333]

replacing the skimmer wouldn't hurt. Im just not so sure it will solve your problem. I had the same issue but it only happened for like 6 days strait than slowly stopped. What i did to stop it was cut my main lights down to 2 hours a day and than slowly bring them back up about 30mins-1 hr a day. I kept my actinics on their normal schedule.

[troyman]

they are diatoms for one thing lights are on to long second it has to be somthing in water or tank. i wouldnt do water change let it starve itself out i would put in a phosphate remover media and nitrate remover it most likely silica in you water are you using rodi water i had the same problem but it grew everywhere like long strings like snot with air bubbles in it i used phosoguard and matrix carbon cut lights to 6 hours a day it was completely gone in one week havent had a problem since good luck

[magikfly]

Troyman is right, I get the same crap on my substrate each time my DO resin needs replacing. It's most definitely silica-related