WTB sand sifting star

[laskopyre]

It sounds like cyano. A skimmer would be super beneficial. For a light timer, you can go to home depot, lowes, giant eagle and get a cheap light timer http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...angId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100652847.

You can buy hang on the back refugiums, but they are pricey. I would get a skimmer first, and probably increase the flow, and shorten the light on time.

 

[BrunstuckyJoe]

The brown is diatoms.....get a conch snail. They love the stuff. Sounds lik you have new tank syndrome....you definitely need a sump with a skimmer.

 

[sohal1025]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15207810#post15207810 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bluetanggirl
No i am not using RO/DI water the guy at Captain Larry's tested my phosphates and they were 0.1.

As for my lights they r not on timers but I am trying to turn the lights off at 12 hours. But maybe i need to lower it until I get rid of it.

Would it help to stir it up?? and clean the sand bed??

DON'T stir it up and for your phosphates- they are probably reading low because thats what is feeding your algea. The algea consumes it and it is mostly undetectable when testing for it.

 

[bluetanggirl]

would a serpant star help with this problem??

 

[Akronviper]

No a serpant star will eat left over food and dietrus possible helping with the sand bed but not much. You biggest problem is with those lights, not running a skimmer and the biggest problem is the tap water. Solve those and you will have no issues.

 

[bluetanggirl]

But would it help with stirring up the sand bed?

 

[Akronviper]

just by walking on it and moving, for what you want I would say no. Nassarius snails or a sand sifting goby would be your best bets.

 

[bluetanggirl]

ok maybe i need to try that.