fuzzy/stringy stuff after sand

ajm · 02/21/2008, 07:40 PM

I changed from pool filter sand to some sea chem agronite two days ago. After the tank cleared I noticed there is a brown film almost like diatoms on the back glass and the rocks have some fuzzy/stringy brown stuff which looks kinda like spider webs on them. Does anything have an idea what this stuff is? Im not real worried about it im just curious how it popped up after chaning the substrate.

Aquarist007 · 02/21/2008, 07:45 PM

sounds like red slime or cyano. If you disturbed the sand bed then you disturbed or killed of the useful bacteria in it. this probably caused a spike in nitrates and phosphates that fuel the cyano.
Make sure your flow is really good 20-40 times your tank vol in gph and that you have good flow across the bottom
Take a turkey baster to that area and lightly baste it
Take any off that you can physically collect or suck up with the baster
Do a 20 per cent water change
Turn the lights off on the tank for 3 days

Keep us posted how it goes--good luck

ajm · 02/21/2008, 07:50 PM

Thanks. Ill keep up with it and see how things go. I noticed that the spider web stuff isnt too bad (only 2 spots very small) but the little fuzzy things are everywhere.

02/21/2008, 07:40 PM	#1
ajm Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 103	fuzzy/stringy stuff after sand I changed from pool filter sand to some sea chem agronite two days ago. After the tank cleared I noticed there is a brown film almost like diatoms on the back glass and the rocks have some fuzzy/stringy brown stuff which looks kinda like spider webs on them. Does anything have an idea what this stuff is? Im not real worried about it im just curious how it popped up after chaning the substrate.

02/21/2008, 07:45 PM	#2
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	sounds like red slime or cyano. If you disturbed the sand bed then you disturbed or killed of the useful bacteria in it. this probably caused a spike in nitrates and phosphates that fuel the cyano. Make sure your flow is really good 20-40 times your tank vol in gph and that you have good flow across the bottom Take a turkey baster to that area and lightly baste it Take any off that you can physically collect or suck up with the baster Do a 20 per cent water change Turn the lights off on the tank for 3 days Keep us posted how it goes--good luck __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

02/21/2008, 07:50 PM	#3
ajm Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 103	Thanks. Ill keep up with it and see how things go. I noticed that the spider web stuff isnt too bad (only 2 spots very small) but the little fuzzy things are everywhere.