Sand wont clean

cam1102 · 10/09/2006, 09:09 AM

I have had my tank for about two months now and since about the first week my sand has been covered in brown algae. I have plenty of snails two sand sifters two tigertails and the sand is still not clean at all. I was wondering if i neede to make more current on the sand or mayeb turn the light schedule for fewer hours. Right now they are on from 8 am to about 7:30 pm.

abugs1985 · 10/09/2006, 09:14 AM

I would turn the light back by a couple hours for now. It's normal for new setups to take a while to cycle through. You'll eventually begin to see it die away but since you're still into the begining of your setup it is most likely still cycling. Try turning your tank temp down to around 78 - 79 degrees if it's around 80 - 82, and get some more flow in your tank if the brown algae looks like it has bubbles in it and is really smooth on the outside. If thats the case than you have a bit of cyano in your tank. Not a problem at all. Just means you don't have a great O2/CO2 exchange rate. Other than that time will take care of the problem, or at least it should be if you're cycling the tank through correctly : )

Ah64av8tor · 10/09/2006, 09:15 AM

Sounds like a Diatom bloom, very common in new tank it should go away once things settle down. they are common in tanks with a high silica content, do you use RO/DI water?

10/09/2006, 09:09 AM	#1
cam1102 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 12	Sand wont clean I have had my tank for about two months now and since about the first week my sand has been covered in brown algae. I have plenty of snails two sand sifters two tigertails and the sand is still not clean at all. I was wondering if i neede to make more current on the sand or mayeb turn the light schedule for fewer hours. Right now they are on from 8 am to about 7:30 pm.

10/09/2006, 09:15 AM	#3
Ah64av8tor Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Bradenton Fl. Posts: 2,362	Sounds like a Diatom bloom, very common in new tank it should go away once things settle down. they are common in tanks with a high silica content, do you use RO/DI water? __________________ Greg Fish geek <')))>< Current Tank Info: Old School Reefer: Building a new 225 from the old 150 gal SPS main display, 125 gal sump W/ 10 year old Plenum, 40 gal miracle mud refugium, Reeflow 250 Skimmer, Korallin C3002 Calcium Reactor W/ 30’secondary chamber, 2 Ice cap 250w MH SE W/ AquaC

10/09/2006, 09:14 AM	#2
abugs1985 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 193	I would turn the light back by a couple hours for now. It's normal for new setups to take a while to cycle through. You'll eventually begin to see it die away but since you're still into the begining of your setup it is most likely still cycling. Try turning your tank temp down to around 78 - 79 degrees if it's around 80 - 82, and get some more flow in your tank if the brown algae looks like it has bubbles in it and is really smooth on the outside. If thats the case than you have a bit of cyano in your tank. Not a problem at all. Just means you don't have a great O2/CO2 exchange rate. Other than that time will take care of the problem, or at least it should be if you're cycling the tank through correctly : )