Can't beat this sand algae

[Nano_Marek]

Having a problem with this sand algae...did another 6 gallon water change in my Biocube 29 yesterday and this brownish colored algae is forming on my sand, it gets darker as days go by, yesterday you can see it forming and overnight into the morning its def more noticeable. This time around I tried to syphon a lot out of the sand bed during the water change. My sand bed is only .5" deep so its less than most peoples.

My reactor is the deluxe BRS reactors 2/3 of cup of Carbon .08, 1/3 of cup granular GFO, mixed well, packed tight on highest flow. I feel like the thing isn't even working.

Haven't tested the phosphates yet but I will do that today or tomorrow. Based on this sand algae my guess is, it might be the same .36-.64 range. Should I be doing a bigger water changes maybe? Thought for sure the reactor and removal of the panther grouper would solve this problem. Not sure what the heck is going in this tank.

Any help would be appreciated if you had this issue. Trying to avoid any chemicals also.

thanks

 

[soulpatch]

The GFO and such takes some time to really kick in. As of now your tests are reading a certain amount and that is whatever is left that the algae is not consuming. Give it more time and let it go.

Pics of the algae would be helpful though so we can see what type it is.

I find typically anything on the sand bed is easy to take care of. Just siphon it off leaving the sand there. IE use a python or such to tumble the sand while the algae breaks free and is siphoned off.

 

[Nano_Marek]

Here is a photo of the sand bed. I have no problems giving it more time. Thought maybe my reactor wasn't working properly.

 

[Nano_Marek]

Sorry for the sideways photo, not sure why it uploads that way. So as you can see its starting to get pretty brown...that is 1 day after my 6 gallon water change. I use Red Sea coral pro salt, RO water only.

 

[soulpatch]

it is not an overnight change. The GFO helps but is not an end all solution. It pulls phosphates and such from the water that it can get its hands on but if you have limited flow and such in the tank then the algae will get to it first.

 

[soulpatch]

I use Red Sea coral pro salt, RO water only.

No RODI water? Only RO?

Also Red Sea coral pro salt hurt my system as it raised certain levels way too high. Just keep an eye on your corals with it...

 

[itsmeraja86]

how long this tank been running?

 

[Nano_Marek]

sorry RODI water. isn't it suppose to be the best salt out there?

 

[soulpatch]

sorry RODI water. isn't it suppose to be the best salt out there?

there is no clear best salt but you need to check your parameters after using it. It spiked my alk and I wasn't watching at first causing me to lose some SPS and other corals. Once I tested it I found it was the salt and now I need to mix it with reef crystals to mitigate the damage and still get the buffer to my elements.

 

[Nano_Marek]

how long this tank been running?

9 months now. been a roller coaster ride, been adding mods to it. had an anemone that disappeared. just have a clownfish, and royal gramma in there now. torch, plate, hammer coral, devils hand..along with some other frags that i been trying to grow.

have brs deluxe reactor, aquamaxx hob skimmer, tunze ato nano topper, aqua illumination prime led lights.

possible lighting is the problem? there is a full spectrum of colors and % that you can set the colors too. i been keepign them around 50%

 

[soulpatch]

just change out the gfo weekly and see what you get in the next week or two. Keep up with water changes and siphon the sand bed to clear out what is in there.

 

[Nano_Marek]

there is no clear best salt but you need to check your parameters after using it. It spiked my alk and I wasn't watching at first causing me to lose some SPS and other corals. Once I tested it I found it was the salt and now I need to mix it with reef crystals to mitigate the damage and still get the buffer to my elements.

i been on the lower end in values for my Mg, Ca, Alk, Salinity

last reading was Mg: 1260, Ca 380, Alk 8.2, Salinity 1.023.
po4/no3 both out of range on the higher end, but this was right aroudn the time i got the reactor

what are your thoughts on the sand algae? does it look familiar from photo?

 

[Nano_Marek]

just change out the gfo weekly and see what you get in the next week or two. Keep up with water changes and siphon the sand bed to clear out what is in there.

sounds like a plan...i have been good about water changes. every 7-10 days

usually 6-7 gallons

 

[soulpatch]

looks like normal diatoms which are annoying to look at but really are not "bad" for the aquarium. Nutrient export, water changes, and such are the solution.

My only worry is if you let them grow in a bit if they would look more like dinos. IE this:

If it is dinos then you have a bit more of a battle on your plate but it is doable. Bit more aggressive treatment needed if it turns out to be dinos though...

 

[soulpatch]

sounds like a plan...i have been good about water changes. every 7-10 days

usually 6-7 gallons

I would step this up to 6 gallons every 5-7 days personally

 

[itsmeraja86]

Weekly 6 gallons, change the Carbon, No over feeding.. This is most likely nutrients in ur water..
I had this issue for atleast 4 to 5 months when i started.. i had this issue with Crushed coral.. I use the BRS mini reactor.. it does took some time to kick in..
Its certainly annoying to see these diatoms.. but they will go away .. the source is what we need to tackle..

 

[itsmeraja86]

i been on the lower end in values for my Mg, Ca, Alk, Salinity

last reading was Mg: 1260, Ca 380, Alk 8.2, Salinity 1.023.
po4/no3 both out of range on the higher end, but this was right aroudn the time i got the reactor

what are your thoughts on the sand algae? does it look familiar from photo?

those looks like diatoms.. PO4 and NO3 are the cause.. reduce your feeding.. and if something dies do water change rightaway..

I did a 50% water change when i had .3 ppm P04 and cut down on the food( I am running 30G nano) so disaster happens so fast in Nano..

 

[Nano_Marek]

I would step this up to 6 gallons every 5-7 days personally

done...i will do water changes every 5. i won't touch the sand bed for a few days....looks like the dinos have more slug that expands upward.

or do diatoms algae eventually turn into dinos? i will have to read up on it a little more to know what i am dealing with here

 

[Nano_Marek]

those looks like diatoms.. PO4 and NO3 are the cause.. reduce your feeding.. and if something dies do water change rightaway..

I did a 50% water change when i had .3 ppm P04 and cut down on the food( I am running 30G nano) so disaster happens so fast in Nano..

right...a smaller system can be a lot more problematic if things die off or if problems arise.

i just changed the carbon/GFO yesterday so hoping the reactor starts to kick in...my feeds have been pretty consistent..i don't over feed. usually a few pieces of mysis that has been rinsed in RODI water

 

[homer1475]

Diatoms are a natural progression in a new tank.

Just watch you intake and make sure your exporting everything your importing. They will eventually clear up on their own since your running GFO already.