Turquoise dots

[tcorriveau]

Are the turquoise dots in the sand something I should be worried about? I know what the green dots are and they are slowing disappearing, but the turquoise dots are fairly new.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

How long has your tank been setup? Looks like some sort of algae.

 

[tcorriveau]

End of April, beginning of May

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Tank is very new and will go through all kinds of algae blooms. I suggest that you get a varied clean up crew.

 

[tcorriveau]

Thanks

 

[Dkuhlmann]

For hermits I recommend the scarlet leg, the blue legged are good but get murderous and will kill your snails for their shells more so than the scarlets. 90% of my blue legs are now in the sump. They seem to get worse as they get bigger. I do also suggest nassarius snails, they are great for cleaning your sand and are fun to watch pop out of the sand when you feed your fish. I love these guys!

 

[CStrickland]

I wouldn't put nassairus in to eat that, they are carnivorous. No point until there's leftover food imo

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Sure nassarius snails eat leftover food and they also eat detritus in the sand. They are very beneficial even if you don't overfeed. They also eat algae and clean my rocks and glass. Absolutely put them in!

 

[kmbyrnes]

+1 Nassarius

 

[cloak]

I've yet to see a Nassarius snail make a pile of detritus disappear... They're good, but not that good...

 

[CStrickland]

I love my nassairus, I just wouldn't put any in unless I knew there would be something meaty for them to eat. Stirring up the sand might make it harder for whatever the turquoise is to grow, but they need food also. I don't think detritus would be a good staple diet

https://www.reefcleaners.org/aquarium-store/nassarius-vibex

Excellent sand stirrer and scavenger. These snails will pop out of the sand when they smell food, or when you are feeding the fish. Contrary to popular belief these snails do NOT eat algae; they eat detritus and leftover fish food. [...] Your feeding regimen and fish load should be the reference point of how many Nassarius snails you add to your tank.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Well if they don't eat algae I'll be surprised as to how much they are on my glass and rocks. Not arguing for sure, bottom line is they are a great addition to any tank!

 

[ericarenee]

I've yet to see a Nassarius snail make a pile of detritus disappear... They're good, but not that good...

I agree. best detritus remedy is Lots of Current , Good Over flow surface skimming and .50 MICRON FILTER Socks or pads changed often and cleaned with bleach/water solution.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Well they do stir up the sand which in turn puts the detritus in the current don't they? So maybe they don't actually eat it but they do help get rid of it in this way.

 

[cloak]

Passively... Put your finger in the sand bed and shake it vigorously... Two different stories.

 

[tcorriveau]

Thank you for all the replies. I do plan to get nassarius snails in the future to help maintain the sand bed. I am more concerned if the turquoise dots are an indication of a potential issue getting ready to show its ugly head.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

You're going to have many things raise their ugly heads, all part of setting up a new saltwater tank.

 

[JammyBirch]

I had these too, they really never did anything, I look under my tank at the bottom of the sand and see this color and red/pink blotches. I think it's coralline algae.

 

[tcorriveau]

I have red, pink and green growing on my base rock which I'm okay with because it was dead rock and I want stuff to grow on them lol. I just don't liklike watching the white sand change colors heh

 

[CStrickland]

Does it feel slimy or hard?