Algae growing on sand bed

[Jé123]

Almost every two days, I need to stir my sandbed because algae keeps growing on it.. is there anyway to prevent this? I would like to keep my sand white. My parameters are all good, I don't seem to have barely or even any nitrates and phosphates. I feed little and I make sure there is not wasted food. Also, I run my lights 10 hours a day which seems not to be too much. I have a clean up crew (hermit crabs, nassarius snails). I run carbon, a biomedia and a nitrate and phosphate remover thing. I have a good amount of flow as well. What am I doing wrong?

 

[Peace River]

I would reconsider your lighting intensity and color spectrum. How long has the tank been set up?

#reefsquad

 

[Jé123]

About two months now, algae started growing a lot for two weeks

 

[Fudsey]

More than likely it new tank uglies.... not much you can do about them. They should pass. Are you sure its algae and not diatoms?

 

[Jé123]

I would reconsider your lighting intensity and color spectrum. How long has the tank been set up?

#reefsquad

I’m not sure can you confirm?

 

[Jé123]

More than likely it new tank uglies.... not much you can do about them. They should pass. Are you sure its algae and not diatoms?

I’m not sure ... Can you confirm?

 

[Idoc]

Looks like diatoms... especially if only 2 months into the tank setup. It will pass on its own. Make sure you are using RODI water. Stirring the sand bed will temporarily remove the discoloration, but until the silicates are out of the sand, it will return.

Eventually, you can get a diamond goby if you want pretty, clean sand!

 

[Peace River]

Looks like diatoms... especially if only 2 months into the tank setup. It will pass on its own. Make sure you are using RODI water. Stirring the sand bed will temporarily remove the discoloration, but until the silicates are out of the sand, it will return.

Eventually, you can get a diamond goby if you want pretty, clean sand!

+1. The picture looks like diatoms. If it gets really bright green then it may also be algae and if that is the case then I would turn down the intensity of your lights.

 

[robbyg]

If you can vacuum the sand that would help. As the other have said your basically in a cycle that will take at least another 12 months to get out of. Just don't throw any chemicals into the water to try and instantly fix the issue. Keep your parameter good and keep cleaning and removing the stuff that bothers you. It will soon start to pitter out if your phosphate and Nitrate levels are kept very low.

 

[Gernader]

In a 2 month old tank, it is a common thing to have. Just wait for some more time and it will slowly disappear. Now for lighting, I actually keep my lights on for 7 hours. I don’t know if that makes a big difference for the algae. I recommend you to double check your lighting if your par numbers are in good range.

 

[flchamp89]

There is a little GHA. Check top off source too.