Brown sand

[Tyguy35]

Hey, my tank has been running for 5 months and I can’t seem to get rid of the brown sand. I believe it is a nutrients issue but want to get a second opinion on that.

mall my numbers are in check except my calcium was 380 this was prior to a water change after being on vacation for 2 weeks.
My nitrates are also high at
10ppm which is where I believe my issues are.
The brown sand use to just sit in one corner but not it is spreading and algae is getting all over my rocks.

 

[Marc2952]

10ppm nitrates isnt bad tbh, your issue might be the phosphates being too high.

 

[Tyguy35]

Phosphates are 0.25. I added a phosphate and nitrate reducer can’t remember the name of the company

 

[Marc2952]

Yea the phosphate is definitely the issue, you gonna have to syphon the sandbed when you do a water change and lower the phosphates below 0.10 preferably 0.05

 

[KrisReef]

Typical funky bio growth in a young tank. Try to keep the nutrients low(feed less!) and be patient the ugly phase will pass.

 

[Tyguy35]

I usually always siphon the sand bed. I am using purfiltrum to help with the nutrients maybe I should get some phosphate remover as well.

 

[Tyguy35]

Update for everyone I went out and bought a higher quality test kit for phosphates and my phosphates read 1ppm so it’s a phosphates issue for sure.

 

[Spare time]

A bag of phosphate remover will help for sure