Algae in sand bed causing high nutrient levels?

[Alexreefer]

I've been fight high nitrates for about 3 weeks now. I've done weekly water changes, upgraded my skimmer, got more dry rock and added a refugium chamber into my sump. The tank is a 85 Gal mixed reef. I've started to lose my torch coral more and more over time. now his polyps are barely extended. all parameters are in check except nitrates at 60 and Dkh at 12. Under my old refugium the water bounced alot of light back up toward the underside of the aquarium. Now there is alot of algae growing there, do you think if siphon it out and clean my sand bed this would help or even fix my nitrate levels. Any other ideas you would think is the problem. Any help is greatly appreciated

 

[lzrlvr]

High nutrient in water causing algae in sand bed

 

[lzrlvr]

Or you just have to wait and let it grow and remove as much as you can until your system can handle the bio load

 

[lzrlvr]

Hey do you stir your sand?

 

[KrisReef]

cleaning out detritus from the sand bed should help with nutrient levels and coral health

 

[TheHarold]

How could an algae be producing nutrients? No, your nutrients are feeding your plant...

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Also in some cases an I’d can be helpful. Somthing like bryopsis doesn’t care what your nutrients are. It’s actually amazing the survival strategy of that algae once you dig into it.

 

[Alexreefer]

Thanks for all the quick replies. I will try to get a picture and no I don't stir my sand I have a sand sifting star and a diamond back goby