Aquabiomics reef sand a game changer?

[Vyper]

So I have battled the brown and red nasties for over a year. Decided to try Aquabiomics live sand and see if some diversity might help. None of the bottled stuff ever seemed to help but this is supposed to be actual ocean sand so gave it a whirl. 6 weeks later all the nasties are all going away and my corals are suddenly going from slow growth to spreading and looking better than ever. The only other thing I changed was stopping kalkwasser and switching to all4reef. Maybe it’s a combination of them both but I couldn’t be happier that my investment is finally looking how it’s suppose to instead of being embarrassed to show people. Has anyone else tried this stuff and had similar success?

 

[KStatefan]

So I have battled the brown and red nasties for over a year. Decided to try Aquabiomics live sand and see if some diversity might help. None of the bottled stuff ever seemed to help but this is supposed to be actual ocean sand so gave it a whirl. 6 weeks later all the nasties are all going away and my corals are suddenly going from slow growth to spreading and looking better than ever. The only other thing I changed was stopping kalkwasser and switching to all4reef. Maybe it’s a combination of them both but I couldn’t be happier that my investment is finally looking how it’s suppose to instead of being embarrassed to show people. Has anyone else tried this stuff and had similar success?

I have tried it and did not see those results but it did get my colaline to grow.

I would use it again though. I use the reef rubble to start my tank.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Sounds like it would be effective to me... honestly your post highlights to me just how little of an effect the bottled bac products actually have on problems like this just as much

 

[Jekyl]

6 weeks of advancing in a reef tank will take care of a lof of issues on its own.

 

[Vyper]

This tank will be 2 years old in December. I have been battling this stuff for over a year. Might be a coincidence and that is why I was curious if anyone else has seen similar results.

 

[Dan_P]

So I have battled the brown and red nasties for over a year. Decided to try Aquabiomics live sand and see if some diversity might help. None of the bottled stuff ever seemed to help but this is supposed to be actual ocean sand so gave it a whirl. 6 weeks later all the nasties are all going away and my corals are suddenly going from slow growth to spreading and looking better than ever. The only other thing I changed was stopping kalkwasser and switching to all4reef. Maybe it’s a combination of them both but I couldn’t be happier that my investment is finally looking how it’s suppose to instead of being embarrassed to show people. Has anyone else tried this stuff and had similar success?

Being trace element depleted can be a problem. Fixing that would be a big help. I don’t recall anyone crying Eureka! for trace elements ending microorganism nasties though it is on my list of things to look into. My money is on the live sand. Nice to read about a happy ending once in awhile.

 

[Jeffbear]

So I have battled the brown and red nasties for over a year. Decided to try Aquabiomics live sand and see if some diversity might help. None of the bottled stuff ever seemed to help but this is supposed to be actual ocean sand so gave it a whirl. 6 weeks later all the nasties are all going away and my corals are suddenly going from slow growth to spreading and looking better than ever. The only other thing I changed was stopping kalkwasser and switching to all4reef. Maybe it’s a combination of them both but I couldn’t be happier that my investment is finally looking how it’s suppose to instead of being embarrassed to show people. Has anyone else tried this stuff and had similar success?

I am adding a pound of this sand to my 9 gallon Macro tank this week. After a year of syphoning Diatoms off the sand it need a recharge. I let you know how it goes!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I am adding a pound of this sand to my 9 gallon Macro tank this week. After a year of syphoning Diatoms off the sand it need a recharge. I let you know how it goes!

You sure it is diatoms? Cutting off the silicate source usually works fine to deal with diatoms.

 

[Jeffbear]

You sure it is diatoms? Cutting off the silicate source usually works fine to deal with diatoms.

I'm pretty sure. It doesn't look like any of the dino's I've seen (documented anyway) under the microscope. It's nothing major, and I'd like to diversify this little tank a bit more anyway.
I'm treating this with increasing my phosphates (nitrates are sitting around 13ppm as of now Phosphates are dosed to .03 and sucked up by the next test 3 days later) and my RO/DI membranes were all switched out in the last month. Oh! and my last test did show silicates getting through my RO/DI in the beginning of January, thats what I changed them all out.