Kitty litter effect

[Fmellish]

I have a 120 gallon reef tank. No fish in it recently, only corals and inverts.

This weekend I noticed a small area of my sand bed looked green. It looked as if a small patch of sand has started growing algae. I wasn't quite sure what I was seeing though.

I took my mag float and made some quick circles to blow the sand bed around. The small area of green sand lifted a little, it appeared to be solid.

I made some bigger more vigorous circles with my mag float to really swell the water around the sand bed and the area lifted up completely. I could now see that an area of my sand bed had become green and stuck together, very much like a martian cow pie.

What would make part of my sand bed clump together like used kitty litter? And why was it green? Some kind of large sticky green slime must have settled on the sand bed and then glued this area together?

I used my tongs and I went in and broke up the clump.

All of my corals and inverts seem ok.

Any ideas of what this phenomenon could have been?

Thanks
Josh

 

[atzak]

I'm guessing you use a 2 part calcium? If they are used incorrectly, it can cause the aragonite to bind together. I don't know the chemistry behind it, and I've never heard of it turning green, though

 

[Fmellish]

That would make sense. But in my case I use neither aragonite based substrate or any supplements.

My calcium is in my salt mix, and I do water changes frequently enough that the calcium never dips.

Thanks
Josh

 

[AquaticFins]

Sounds like a simple green slime "algae."

It typically does bond the layer of sand its on together into a cohesive mat.

 

[Fmellish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6997067#post6997067 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AquaticFins
Sounds like a simple green slime "algae."

It typically does bond the layer of sand its on together into a cohesive mat.

I did not know that. If that's all it is, then I am relieved.

Thanks
Josh

 

[Alaskan Reefer]

Slime algae will mat if the sand underneath gets nasty enough. I would take the mats out and siphon -- sounds like the top layer of the sand might have some detritus buildup.

 

[Fmellish]

I'm sure your're right. My sand bed and rocks are pretty nasty, covered with lots of stuff.

My worm and pod population is out of control. I need to put some fish in this tank. My worms and pods don't even wait until night anymore they are just always out eating the gunk that is all over my rocks and sand since my cycle ended.

I had a ton of sponges and plants and life on my live rock when I bought it. So all of that stuff decomposed during the cycle and now it's just everywhere. A few weeks back I went in and stirred things up and went through 2 filter socks that night. I need to do that again soon.

Thanks
Josh

 

[Alaskan Reefer]

Worm populations are usually directly proportional to how nasty your sand bed is.

Get the sand cleaned up...