What is growing in my sand??

[jesterns2]

This is growing in my sand and I was curious if anyone knows if its just algae or what? My tank is 1.5 years old but the top two inches of sand is 4 months old.

 

[cloakerpoked]

tough to tell...and chance of getting a higher res pic?

 

[SirusX1721]

Any current blowing across your sand bed?

 

[jesterns2]

Yes there is good current on the sand.

 

[Sullyman]

It's cyno bacteria, was probably traped in the sand. You can siphon it out but you may have to do that a few times before it's gone. Need to figure out what is causing it though, sometimes flow, sometimes W/C, skimming, bio-load, feeding are all a part of it.

 

[jesterns2]

Sullyman what is W/C? As far as bioload I have 2 clownfish,small cleanup crew and sandsifting star. If I get anymore flow on the bottom I will start pushing sand around. I have a coralife superskimmer 125. It is getting replaced this week with a SWC 160 CONE skimmer

 

[raynist]

W/C = Water Changes

 

[jesterns2]

LOL I feel stupid. I have a rodi and I do 10% W/C's every 2 weeks

 

[Sullyman]

Skimmer should make a difference, that's a big upgrade. Have you blown out your rock, even at 1.5 years it can have a lot of trapped junk. Once LR is clogged up it's not acting like LR anymore, instead of helping filter it can be leaching nitrates and phosphates back into the tank, fueling algae and cyno out breaks.
Did you have any hint of cyno before you added more sand? As for phophates test kits that are accurate are expensive and even a low test doesn't mean you're free of them because the cyno or algae is consuming it as fast as it is availbale. Try using some ferric oxide if the skimmer doesn't stop it and you may want to try some even if the skimmer kicks butt. From BRS in not real expensive.

 

[LeviChar1]

Dont feel bad. there was probably a pocket of dead stuff in the sand, and algae grew wit it. siphon it, and it wont come back.....unless u have more dead pockets in your sand. eventually, worms and micro animals will turn all your sand into livesand....and you/ll never have that problem again.

 

[jesterns2]

I have all the worms and micro animals in the sand already that`s why I`m not understanding, but that`s cool I will siphon it out. Thankyou guys!!