About to start water change - Images inside

[Tropix]

Uploaded 3 images,

2 will show you the algae on the sand, I am ready to start the water change of 10 gallons on this 60 gal system. I am going to vacuum the sand and try to pull as much up as I can instead of just removing 10 gallons of water.

Image 3 will show you the bubble algae on the wall and what you don't see is that it is on other areas of the tank as well, I was going to scrub it all off.

I should also add that I have been cycling this tank now for 9 months, I know I do very long cycle periods and I believe the algae issue is because I leave the lights on for 12-14 hours a day.

[talon4x4]

A lot of times that algae is caused by feeding too heavily. I recently had the same issue and cut back to 1 feeding/day and it has pretty much all disappeared.

[Tropix]

My question is before I start this water change, should I vacuum the sand. I am going to move some of the rocks around to get those areas as well, Starting the water change in a few minutes and hope to get a reply by then.

Thanks for the above poster about over feeding, I have one small fish yellow tail damsel which I feed every 3 days and my light cycle is 12-14 hours a day.

4 55watt power compacts the HQI's are shut off since I don't have corals for them to be on.

[greech]

Just looks like dusting of diatoms. Normal over the first year from what I have read. I have them too and did not start vacuuming my shallow sand bed until recently. I have a 40B and do a 10 gallon WC each week. The first time I vacuumed my bed I pulled soooo much gunk out it was scary! I still get a dusting now and then but feel my tank is much cleaner now that I vacuum.If you have a deep bed or deep areas in your tank I would not vaccum it. You're going to stir up some stuff by moving your rocks off the bed. Make sure you have a siphon right there to pull out the detritus.

If you "scrub" the BA make sure you rinse the rock in some SW before you put it back in. Other option is to use just tubing to suck them off the rocks. Works well for me.

I also feel your light cycle is too long. I run my T5's for 8 hours (4 hours with all 4 bulbs going).

[Tropix]

Originally Posted by greech

Just looks like dusting of diatoms. Normal over the first year from what I have read. I have them too and did not start vacuuming my shallow sand bed until recently. I have a 40B and do a 10 gallon WC each week. The first time I vacuumed my bed I pulled soooo much gunk out it was scary! I still get a dusting now and then but feel my tank is much cleaner now that I vacuum.If you have a deep bed or deep areas in your tank I would not vaccum it. You're going to stir up some stuff by moving your rocks off the bed. Make sure you have a siphon right there to pull out the detritus.

If you "scrub" the BA make sure you rinse the rock in some SW before you put it back in. Other option is to use just tubing to suck them off the rocks. Works well for me.

I also feel your light cycle is too long. I run my T5's for 8 hours (4 hours with all 4 bulbs going).

Great Thank you for your answer. I do have a 1-3" sand bed and will try to suck the bubbles off the back wall before scrubbing.

[Tropix]

Original question was to HOWTO - this is my question right now following - will it spread all over the tank if I scrub the bubbles off the aquarium walls, I went out and bought a turkey baster and they just don't work the way the LFS guy was telling me about it and how great it is, I have scrubbed before and had no problems, I think from the pictures I was being busy and lazy not taking care of the tank for about 3 weeks.

[Tropix]

I would not vaccum it. You're going to stir up some stuff by moving your rocks off the bed. Make sure you have a siphon right there to pull out the detritus.

The pictures I have taken time to edit and post on here, can I vacuum those area's, I would like to have a very clean sand bed, so here is a bump and I can already perceive another bump coming soon. My water is ready to go, been 3 day's and nobody seems to have taken interest in helping me do this water change and how to clean the rocks, picture will show you what I am referring to, I bought a soft brush to scrap it all off in freshwater and transport back into the tank.