Need some Help growth in sand

[Reefer2216]

Frustrated, my corals have receded and this growth keeps coming on my sand... in the last two weeks I have vacuumed the sand twice, gave all rocks and corals a RO bath... and done 3 25% water changes, also changed the filters in my RO.... the shop said I was at a 5...how do I fix this? Help please!

 

[lionfish300]

Did you recently set up your tank? If it is newly set up then it is very normal

 

[Reefer2216]

No the tank has been established for a couple of years...

 

[Sk8r]

The pink is cyanobacteria, which is a very mild case; the brownish could be dinoflagellates, a worse problem, or just crud. For starters, I'd recommend 3 days with the lights off, then a 30% water change day 1; day 3 a 20% water change, and day 5 another 20% water change. Since you have already done two 20%-er's, I'd just do the 30% this round AFTER the lights-out period. That should lower the nutrient load in your tank, and dent the cyano problem: you might have to do that once a month for a bit. Secondly, do you have a skimmer that produces bubbles, or does it produce thick froth? Froth is better. If your skimmer is underpowered, that might be an improvement you could look into down the road. Also your ro/di filter: is it producing 0 TDS? If it was at a 5, that's one big problem. Don't freak about the cyano, it happens; but if sunlight due to change of seasons is reaching your tank, that needs to be prevented. And all that SHOULD help. It's a water quality issue. Check your parameters against mine in my sig line. Mine would be good for stony coral. And stay with us. We'll try to help.

 

[Reefer2216]

Thank you, Sk8r!

I will put your plan into action. Would adding a little hydrogen peroxide help my tank is 150 gallons...I just turned up the skimmer and now it is foaming....just replace the RO filters and now it is at 0.

 

[Heart of Dixie]

What are your N03 & P04 levels? If they are very low or zero and the growth is only on the sand it could be amphidinium dinoflagellates. Under a microscope they will be roundish. I had something similar and thought it was diatoms, so I waited a month or so, then pulled out the microscope. Long story short, they were not diatoms.

 

[AlSimmons]

It just looks like a Diatom bloom IMO. Just use something like a Mag-Float on the glass and for a quick fix you could get your self a long stick or something and just stir up the sand bed a little when it looks dirty. Overall though what your seeing is really no big deal. If you haven't already you might want to look into running some Phosguard and see if that helps. (Silicate removal)

On a side note; you have a RO unit not a RO/DI unit correct? I can't remember what a RO unit removes specifically, but Silicates may not be on the list.

 

[tnw50cal]

What are your N03 & P04 levels? If they are very low or zero and the growth is only on the sand it could be amphidinium dinoflagellates. Under a microscope they will be roundish. I had something similar and thought it was diatoms, so I waited a month or so, then pulled out the microscope. Long story short, they were not diatoms.

I think Dinos too. If your running something(GFO) to lower phospates stop using it and stop doing water changes. I've beat Dino's many times, my best weapon= UV sterilizer, kills 3 out of 4 types of Dinos.