DSB changing Color

jasonrp104 · 01/25/2009, 09:06 AM

It's killing me to start a thread on this because I know there was one not too long ago but I can't find it. The surface of my DSB is turning a sort of grayish black color. Is that because I need more sifters in it? It's also starting to clump a bit.

Geodriller · 01/25/2009, 12:15 PM

My buddy just had the same problem with his sand. After extensive research we still did not find a difinitive answer but chalked it up to some kind of BGA. As far as the sand clumping, that is indicative of depleted Mag. Get a Salifert Mag test kit and make sure your Mag is at least 1200ppm. The calcium is precipitating. That is if the sand is clumping hard like a rock. If the sand is clumping soft and you are able to "unclump" it with your finger then it is algae in the sand... battling something similar in my tank righ now.

Whys · 01/25/2009, 12:23 PM

I have an area on my DSB that also turns a dark gray or purplish color. It tends to come and go and I read a pretty convincing explanation somewhere that it is likely cyano. I can't say for sure tho.

jasonrp104 · 01/25/2009, 12:42 PM

The cyano would make sense as I am having a bit of an outbreak but the sand is clumping hard as a rock. Could be a little ofboth I suppose. I've never tested Mag since it's a fowlr but I have started to increase calcium since i'm going to start adding softies soon. Last I checked it was 440 but I just did a 5 gal water change so I'm sure it's lower now.

BGA?

Thanks for the tips btw

Geodriller · 01/25/2009, 01:24 PM

BGA Blue/green algae, which is not a true form of algae but a type of Cyano. Bob Fenner wrote a good article on this at www.WetWebMedia.com. They are very much pro's there but sometimes you find conflicting info (like pretty much everything in this hobby) and they are a little old school there aswell which is somtimes not a good thing.

Whys · 01/25/2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Geodriller
BGA Blue/green algae, which is not a true form of algae but a type of Cyano.

The misnomer strikes again!

I really need to start keeping a list.

Geodriller · 01/25/2009, 01:29 PM

also without the proper mag all the calcium you are trying to put in will just compound the problem with more precipitated calcium as there is not enouph mag to hold the calcium in the water. FOWLR or reeftank you need mag. As far as I know there is no salt brand that has the proper amount of mag exept for Redsea Coral pro salt mix. It tests at 1300ppm. Alot of people have problems with this salt , but I have used it for over a year now and I love it.

Geodriller · 01/25/2009, 01:31 PM

please explain, is BGA not a Cyano?

Geodriller · 01/25/2009, 01:48 PM

sorry about the reply post...I understand what you are saying now and I agree.

jasonrp104 · 01/25/2009, 02:53 PM

My bad. I thought that mag didn't really matter until you got into reefing.

Thanks for the help guys

Geodriller · 01/25/2009, 07:09 PM

Your assumption is for the most part correct. It is not as important until you get into reefing. However it is much easier to keep your water perameters stable when everything is in check.

01/25/2009, 09:06 AM	#1
jasonrp104 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: vt Posts: 1,113	DSB changing Color It's killing me to start a thread on this because I know there was one not too long ago but I can't find it. The surface of my DSB is turning a sort of grayish black color. Is that because I need more sifters in it? It's also starting to clump a bit.

01/25/2009, 12:15 PM	#2
Geodriller Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pekin, Illinois Posts: 257	My buddy just had the same problem with his sand. After extensive research we still did not find a difinitive answer but chalked it up to some kind of BGA. As far as the sand clumping, that is indicative of depleted Mag. Get a Salifert Mag test kit and make sure your Mag is at least 1200ppm. The calcium is precipitating. That is if the sand is clumping hard like a rock. If the sand is clumping soft and you are able to "unclump" it with your finger then it is algae in the sand... battling something similar in my tank righ now.

01/25/2009, 12:23 PM	#3
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	I have an area on my DSB that also turns a dark gray or purplish color. It tends to come and go and I read a pretty convincing explanation somewhere that it is likely cyano. I can't say for sure tho.

01/25/2009, 12:42 PM	#4
jasonrp104 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: vt Posts: 1,113	The cyano would make sense as I am having a bit of an outbreak but the sand is clumping hard as a rock. Could be a little ofboth I suppose. I've never tested Mag since it's a fowlr but I have started to increase calcium since i'm going to start adding softies soon. Last I checked it was 440 but I just did a 5 gal water change so I'm sure it's lower now. BGA? Thanks for the tips btw

01/25/2009, 01:24 PM	#5
Geodriller Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pekin, Illinois Posts: 257	BGA Blue/green algae, which is not a true form of algae but a type of Cyano. Bob Fenner wrote a good article on this at www.WetWebMedia.com. They are very much pro's there but sometimes you find conflicting info (like pretty much everything in this hobby) and they are a little old school there aswell which is somtimes not a good thing.

01/25/2009, 01:29 PM	#7
Geodriller Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pekin, Illinois Posts: 257	also without the proper mag all the calcium you are trying to put in will just compound the problem with more precipitated calcium as there is not enouph mag to hold the calcium in the water. FOWLR or reeftank you need mag. As far as I know there is no salt brand that has the proper amount of mag exept for Redsea Coral pro salt mix. It tests at 1300ppm. Alot of people have problems with this salt , but I have used it for over a year now and I love it.

01/25/2009, 01:31 PM	#8
Geodriller Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pekin, Illinois Posts: 257	please explain, is BGA not a Cyano?

01/25/2009, 01:48 PM	#9
Geodriller Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pekin, Illinois Posts: 257	sorry about the reply post...I understand what you are saying now and I agree.

01/25/2009, 02:53 PM	#10
jasonrp104 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: vt Posts: 1,113	My bad. I thought that mag didn't really matter until you got into reefing. Thanks for the help guys

01/25/2009, 07:09 PM	#11
Geodriller Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pekin, Illinois Posts: 257	Your assumption is for the most part correct. It is not as important until you get into reefing. However it is much easier to keep your water perameters stable when everything is in check.