What should I do about white sand turning brownish?

JaredSD · 11/21/2006, 02:31 PM

My white sand is looking rather brownish, maybe algae is growing on it? Should I get more crabs and snails or what! I have 30 crabs and 20 snails in a 55 gallon tank.

Reefer421 · 11/21/2006, 02:32 PM

What is your light cycle?

Reefer421 · 11/21/2006, 02:33 PM

When did you start your tank?

JaredSD · 11/21/2006, 02:57 PM

I started my tank about 1 month ago, and my light cycle is 10,000K for about 9 hours, and actinics for about 10 hours a day, the actinics turn off 2 hours after the 10,000. Let me know of any suggestions.

acrylic_300 · 11/21/2006, 03:11 PM

It's diatoms....you can expect this and a few others untill the tank is established.

Everyone deals with diatoms, red slime, green hair and various others at first.

Reefer421 · 11/21/2006, 03:34 PM

I agree, I had diatoms that lasted for what seemed like forever after my cycle when I changed tanks. It really was only there for about 6 or 7 weeks, but what I did to help get rid of it was shorten my lighting to 6 hours for a couple of days then went to 8 hours and after about a week the diatoms are gone...(knock on wood!)

11/21/2006, 02:31 PM	#1
JaredSD Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 60	What should I do about white sand turning brownish? My white sand is looking rather brownish, maybe algae is growing on it? Should I get more crabs and snails or what! I have 30 crabs and 20 snails in a 55 gallon tank.

11/21/2006, 02:32 PM	#2
Reefer421 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spring Hill Posts: 251	What is your light cycle?

11/21/2006, 02:33 PM	#3
Reefer421 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spring Hill Posts: 251	When did you start your tank?

11/21/2006, 02:57 PM	#4
JaredSD Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 60	I started my tank about 1 month ago, and my light cycle is 10,000K for about 9 hours, and actinics for about 10 hours a day, the actinics turn off 2 hours after the 10,000. Let me know of any suggestions.

11/21/2006, 03:11 PM	#5
acrylic_300 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Moberly, Mo Posts: 876	It's diatoms....you can expect this and a few others untill the tank is established. Everyone deals with diatoms, red slime, green hair and various others at first.

11/21/2006, 03:34 PM	#6
Reefer421 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spring Hill Posts: 251	I agree, I had diatoms that lasted for what seemed like forever after my cycle when I changed tanks. It really was only there for about 6 or 7 weeks, but what I did to help get rid of it was shorten my lighting to 6 hours for a couple of days then went to 8 hours and after about a week the diatoms are gone...(knock on wood!)