Tank issue with sand? HELP?

DustinS85 · 01/27/2015, 03:55 PM

I had sand that was white-ish in color at first. I am now getting tannish brown on all the sand. The Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite, and Ph levels are all normal/safe. Ammonia is 0ppm, Nitrate is around 5ppm, Nitrite is 0ppm, and Ph is 8.2. I don't get why this is happening. Any ideas? Tank details: 20gal High, Aquaclear 30 filter with carbon, foam insert, bio max bag, 100 watt heater, 8lbs of liverock, and lined with about 25lbs of live sand. Water temp is 79.

GilliganReef · 01/27/2015, 03:59 PM

Diatoms dont sweat it.

Sk8r · 01/27/2015, 04:00 PM

It's normal. Or at least expected. What's not growing goes to brown with bacteria, and if golden brown, diatoms are a possibility; if reddish, cyano, and if green, algae. It's alive, is all.

DustinS85 · 01/27/2015, 04:02 PM

Here is a pic of it.

dbl · 01/27/2015, 04:11 PM

Looks like diatoms to me. Perfectly normal and they will dissipate over time.

mrsixstrings12 · 01/27/2015, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbl

Looks like diatoms to me. Perfectly normal and they will dissipate over time.

+1 My tank has been brown for the past week. Starting to go away now.

01/27/2015, 03:55 PM	#1
DustinS85 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Elyria, OH Posts: 88	Tank issue with sand? HELP? I had sand that was white-ish in color at first. I am now getting tannish brown on all the sand. The Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite, and Ph levels are all normal/safe. Ammonia is 0ppm, Nitrate is around 5ppm, Nitrite is 0ppm, and Ph is 8.2. I don't get why this is happening. Any ideas? Tank details: 20gal High, Aquaclear 30 filter with carbon, foam insert, bio max bag, 100 watt heater, 8lbs of liverock, and lined with about 25lbs of live sand. Water temp is 79.

01/27/2015, 04:00 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	It's normal. Or at least expected. What's not growing goes to brown with bacteria, and if golden brown, diatoms are a possibility; if reddish, cyano, and if green, algae. It's alive, is all. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/27/2015, 03:59 PM	#2
GilliganReef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 379	Diatoms dont sweat it.

01/27/2015, 04:02 PM	#4
DustinS85 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Elyria, OH Posts: 88	Here is a pic of it.

01/27/2015, 04:11 PM	#5
dbl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: SW Florida Posts: 258	Looks like diatoms to me. Perfectly normal and they will dissipate over time.