Bare bottom ?

[RC88]

Hello fellow reefers, happy new year all.

I wonder if you could help me make a decision here. I currently have a soon to be 5 month old reef aquarium. Over the last 2 weeks I have had a Diatom bloom. My rock and sand have had a brownish dirt like matter on it. I understand this is normal and that it will go away on its own eventually but going through this has made me debate on whether to have a bare bottom tank. Apart from it being a personal preference when it comes to looks, does anyone think given the age of my tank that removing the sand could have a negative impact on the parameters of my tank?

 

[Cory]

Hello fellow reefers, happy new year all.

I wonder if you could help me make a decision here. I currently have a soon to be 5 month old reef aquarium. Over the last 2 weeks I have had a Diatom bloom. My rock and sand have had a brownish dirt like matter on it. I understand this is normal and that it will go away on its own eventually but going through this has made me debate on whether to have a bare bottom tank. Apart from it being a personal preference when it comes to looks, does anyone think given the age of my tank that removing the sand could have a negative impact on the parameters of my tank?

It wont do much to parameters. But it will lower the surface area for bacteria to grow and may result in an ammonia spike. Doubtful though. bacteria grow everywhere including in the water. I have a bb tank with a macroalgae refugium and wouldn't worry one second about water parameters after removing sand with the macroalgae growing. Do you have any live rock? That will provide plenty for bacteria.

 

[RC88]

It wont do much to parameters. But it will lower the surface area for bacteria to grow and may result in an ammonia spike. Doubtful though. bacteria grow everywhere including in the water. I have a bb tank with a macroalgae refugium and wouldn't worry one second about water parameters after removing sand with the macroalgae growing. Do you have any live rock? That will provide plenty for bacteria.

Hi - thanks for that. I do have a live rock yes and also a mini refugium in my back chamber. It’s only a 23gallon tank. I guess the main reason for this is to minimise these algae blooms. I’ve had the initial green algae a few months ago. And now this. My nitrates have also been around 25ppm so wonder if I’m removing the sand it will also be easier to control / monitor.

 

[Cory]

Hi - thanks for that. I do have a live rock yes and also a mini refugium in my back chamber. It’s only a 23gallon tank. I guess the main reason for this is to minimise these algae blooms. I’ve had the initial green algae a few months ago. And now this. My nitrates have also been around 25ppm so wonder if I’m removing the sand it will also be easier to control / monitor.

The brown algae is likely diatoms they need silicate and it comes in salt mixes and tap water inputs. Sometimes its from silica sand. When the source runs out they fade away. And then comes hair algae usually. Thats if its diatoms and not dinoflagellets. Basically supply and demand lol. Removing the sand wont make ot easier to control nitrates. Ime in an overstocked tank i had to add a sulphur denitrator to reduce 150ppm no3 to 5 or less now. Sand can help with that too.

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

One thing's for certain - it will be a lot easier to keep clean with bare bottom !

 

[RC88]

The brown algae is likely diatoms they need silicate and it comes in salt mixes and tap water inputs. Sometimes its from silica sand. When the source runs out they fade away. And then comes hair algae usually. Thats if its diatoms and not dinoflagellets. Basically supply and demand lol. Removing the sand wont make ot easier to control nitrates. Ime in an overstocked tank i had to add a sulphur denitrator to reduce 150ppm no3 to 5 or less now. Sand can help with that too.

So I’ve been using the same salt for almost a month I’d say and I use RO/DI water from my LFS. Would removing the sand at least combat these algae blooms? I’ve already had a cyano outbreak before.

 

[Cory]

So I’ve been using the same salt for almost a month I’d say and I use RO/DI water from my LFS. Would removing the sand at least combat these algae blooms? I’ve already had a cyano outbreak before.

Got a pic of this algae? Lets make sure its not dinos first. Removing the sand would help with dinos and cyano for organics, diatoms only if its silica sand.

 

[wonroc]

sand always

 

[Tired]

You can get some good detritivores living in sand, and some fish and other animals require it to feel comfortable. I would also expect that brownish stuff to quite possibly turn up on the bottom of a bare-bottom tank, anyway, depending on what it is.

 

[ReefDuke]

Going bare bottom “no sand” will help however this could be the result of countless issues so I wouldn’t aim for the sand being the #1 culprit right away. You mentioned you get RODI water from your LFS, have you ever tested the TDS of the water they’re given you? Over the past 5 months how often were you doing water changes? Are you dosing anything? What’s your phosphate and nitrate levels?

 

[RC88]

Going bare bottom “no sand” will help however this could be the result of countless issues so I wouldn’t aim for the sand being the #1 culprit right away. You mentioned you get RODI water from your LFS, have you ever tested the TDS of the water they’re given you? Over the past 5 months how often were you doing water changes? Are you dosing anything? What’s your phosphate and nitrate levels?

Got a pic of this algae? Lets make sure its not dinos first. Removing the sand would help with dinos and cyano for organics, diatoms only if its silica sand.

 

[RC88]

Going bare bottom “no sand” will help however this could be the result of countless issues so I wouldn’t aim for the sand being the #1 culprit right away. You mentioned you get RODI water from your LFS, have you ever tested the TDS of the water they’re given you? Over the past 5 months how often were you doing water changes? Are you dosing anything? What’s your phosphate and nitrate levels?

Got a pic of this algae? Lets make sure its not dinos first. Removing the sand would help with dinos and cyano for organics, diatoms only if its silica sand.

It’s hard to get a picture of it. I will try again today but it looks like dirt particles in the sand rather than algae. The brown particles also float around in the water occasionally. Regarding water changes I’ve always done weekly changes about 12% each week. I’ve never tested the TDS from my LFS. I have asked and they said it’s really low. Don’t think it’s 0. But I’m going to buy a TDS meter and check my self. I’m not dosing anything at the moment however I did dose Magnesium a few weeks back. My nitrate levels have always been at 25ppm and phosphates are at 0.2.

 

[Cory]

Its definitely not cyanobacteria, but looks sort of like a dusting of diatoms. Can you get a pic with flash later?

 

[RC88]

Its definitely not cyanobacteria, but looks sort of like a dusting of diatoms. Can you get a pic with flash later?

 

[RC88]

Its definitely not cyanobacteria, but looks sort of like a dusting of diatoms. Can you get a pic with flash later?

Yes that’s a good way to describe it - a dust like matter. Almost like live rock particles if you like. I had a load on my back wall but cleaned it over the weekend. So now it’s mainly on my sand bed and some on my live rock. Is the best thing to do here leave it alone and try to syphon as much as possible during WC?

 

[Cory]

Sort of looks like diatoms. What kind of sand is that? Looks like silica based. If it is, its making diatoms last longer than they usually do.

 

[RC88]

Sort of looks like diatoms. What kind of sand is that? Looks like silica based. If it is, its making diatoms last longer than they usually do.

I’m using two types both made by UNIPAC one is called Maui Fine Quartz and the other is Coral Sand. Neither specify if they are silica based. Where could I check?

 

[Cory]

I’m using two types both made by UNIPAC one is called Maui Fine Quartz and the other is Coral Sand. Neither specify if they are silica based. Where could I check?

Fine quartz would leach silicate which diatoms love. It will eventually slow down but for the most part it will cause this algae. Removing tbe sand will get rid of them in this case provided your using ro/di water and not just tap water (which has silicates)

 

[Cory]

Fwiw diatoms are a good algae they are just ugly. Lots of things eat diatoms. Sponges love them and silicate too.

 

[RC88]

Fine quartz would leach silicate which diatoms love. It will eventually slow down but for the most part it will cause this algae. Removing tbe sand will get rid of them in this case provided your using ro/di water and not just tap water (which has silicates)

I’ve done some research and I think Micro Bacter 7 will help with the diatoms. I think once it’s gone I’ll fall back in love with my sand. I also have a candy hog that loves cuddling into the sand. Probably can’t get rid of it.