Added New Live Sand now seeing something weird

[R33fLover]

I added new (30lbs.) Fiji white live sand from West Mariculture to my existing sand which is 2 years old. I did not stir the new sand in with the old I just put it on top. I am now seeing a lavender looking substance leaking up through the sand in several places. Is this something I should be concerned about our what? So far it doesn't seem to be causing any problems YET! If anyone has seen this before or you have any suggestions on what steps I should take it would be appreciated.

Tanks

 

[jdstank]

I can give you personal experience from West Mariculture. I tried setting up my wife's 38g in her office using their "premium sand" or whatever it's called on Ebay and it was a complete nightmare. First, it took 5 days just to get clear enough to see through the tank (and another 4-5 days to get crystal clear). This took changing floss out daily and twice daily initially. I had a battle with cyano like crazy - never had that problem with Caribsea live sand which I've used in my 75 and 29. I pull the stuff out in bunches even leaving the lights off for days on end. I ended up asking for a refund and received one. I think the guy's name was Paul?? He said I must have got a bad batch of sand but I found junk in the sand like chucks of wood that should not have been there. I asked if he was taking the sand from a local lake (they're in Ohio so Lake Michigan would be a possibility) because it certainly looked very suspicious. Never did get a straight answer.

Best guess...this substance you're seeing is cyano....get some crabs and cross your fingers. I had 2 hermits and they couldn't keep up with it. I ended up tearing the tank down, cleaning the sand myself, scrubbed all my rocks clean then started it back up. Been about 6 weeks now - just has a CUC, a blue reef damsel and the 2 crabs back in it now but I've defeated the cyano it seems. Hopefully you don't have to go to that length but I can tell you if your sand goes the route mine did, you're in for an uphill battle.

 

[R33fLover]

It just doesn't look like cyno which believe me I've battled before. I added this sand to an existing tank and didn't have any problems with cloudiness at all, as a matter of fact I was impressed on how clear my tank stayed. I have been really checking my NO4 and NH4 but they have been at 0. If this wasn't live sand I would think I would have seen a spike in either one or both. This gray or lavender color that is coming up doesn't seem to be causing any problems, I just hope it stays that way.

 

[Sk8r]

[welcome]
First, test the water. Daily. Watch especially for fish distress/ammonia, yes, and keep a log so you can spot a minuscule move. You might do a 20% water change in case. And run carbon for a few days. In case. It may be a kind of dieoff sludge you get from cooked rock: your tank lights can affect what color it seems to be. I would, if you have the option, continually have spare salt water prepared so if anything does g wrong, you can rescue your specimens into a qt tank. I'm not totally alarmed, but I would keep a close eye on it, and take these precautions, which as a rule don't hurt, and can be used in regular use if it turns out to be all-ok.

 

[R33fLover]

Thanks,
That is what I'm doing just keeping an eye on things and doing a lot of testing. So far everything is within normal parameters and all my creatures seem to be doing fine. :spin1:

 

[canesfan44]

you should try to post a picture. That will help a lot.

 

[aleonn]

I agree, the photos would be more definitive and descriptive.

 

[cabezon2469]

I thought cyano grew where there were phosphates.

 

[noahm]

Do take pictures-- if not to post, just for your own record in case you discover something that shouldn't have been there.