how do you keep your sand alive?

[Tooch81]

Ive finally got the coral growing (you might remember my issues with this in the past), but my sand is always covered an algae? Is there a trick i'm missing? What could cause this algae bloom or does everyone have this issue and you have to clean it constantly?

 

[delta]

I do not remember your issue or tank specifications/age etc. So I can't really advise. But you should end up with the system balanced enough to keep the sand free of algae

I will say about once a year I take some LR rubble and a cup of sand from a healthy system and reseed my tank. But again not really advice just something I do to keep balance in my system

 

[Tooch81]

ok, looks like i'm still out of balance hten. Back to the drawing board!

 

[mcf6188]

i have the same with the alage. i have been told many times my tank is young at 7 mos old.do not over feed, make sure your skimmer is up and running.it will pas in time mine is getting better . good luck

 

[delta]

ok, looks like i'm still out of balance hten. Back to the drawing board!

how old is your tank? do you have a image of the algae?

 

[Tooch81]

My tank is about 8 months old and it's brown diatom algae. This isn't my picture but it's almost exact (sorry i'm at work)

https://www.google.com/search?q=bro...PSxI4QvlM:&usg=__cmrRRJhOp2Yq7gUGUiHGZI5idKo=

 

[STiTCH87]

I too add sand from various HEALTHY tanks every 6 months or so, as well as I dose beneficial bacteria once per month from Dr Tims. I cannot prove that it works, but I cannot prove that it doesn't either, lol.

The fact that my sand is still white with zero clumping is good enough for me. Though I also have a tiger tail sea cucumber which has helped IMMENSELY in keeping the sand clean as well as a billion spaghetti worms in the sand and some nassarius snails.

 

[delta]

My tank is about 8 months old and it's brown diatom algae. This isn't my picture but it's almost exact (sorry i'm at work)

https://www.google.com/search?q=bro...PSxI4QvlM:&usg=__cmrRRJhOp2Yq7gUGUiHGZI5idKo=

Not uncommon to have that at the age of your tank. It is frustrating but it will pass just keep up you regular maintenance.

 

[jdeb101]

Not to hijack the thread as I believe it may be helpful to op as well, but how often do you guys vacuum sandbed? I don't do it too often and feel when I do that I'm mostly just mixing the sand and a lot of the crap on top is just getting mixed underneath the sand. I'm sure if that's that case then all this buried stuff can't be good and will creep up on me over time releasing nitrates?

 

[STiTCH87]

I never ever vacuum. My top layer us turned over daily by hermits, nassarius snails, and most importantly my tiger tail sea cucumber. He's been a huge game changer and I recommend everyone to have one.