Brown stuff on sand

[Rodolfo Garcia]

How's it going guys, i know about diatoms but i was wondering what this brown stuff that is only on my sandbed is. I don't understanf if it is diatoms since the brown stuff disappear at night when the lights are off and stays off as the lights are off. When the light turns back on about an hour or two later the brown stuff shows up again. It looks unsatisfying and i don't like it. It behaves strangely as it comes and goes daily, so is it diatoms? Any ideas guys?

 

[Cory]

Likely diatoms. Probably just the sand moves around then it re grows. Silicates is what it eating. Tap water and ro/di thats not 0 will introduce it. Also if its silica sand, it will dissolve slowly or when stirred.

 

[jeff williams]

Looks like diatoms to me also, vacuum it up

 

[Rodolfo Garcia]

Likely diatoms. Probably just the sand moves around then it re grows. Silicates is what it eating. Tap water and ro/di thats not 0 will introduce it. Also if its silica sand, it will dissolve slowly or when stirred.

I use distilled water from walmart as im on a budget (college student). I can't afford a RO/DI unit yet. I only have a 20 gallon so i buy about 5 gallons a week at 0.80 cents a gallon. Im not sure if it is silica sand, but it's sand from the LFS , it is sand that is recommended for reef tanks though , so i don't know if they would add silica to the sand.

 

[Rodolfo Garcia]

Looks like diatoms to me also, vacuum it up

Lol how do you vacuum sand?

 

[cgdcinc]

Mine does this too. I used pool filter sand and I think it's using the silicates in that sand. My other tank I used aragonite sand and don't have this issue. I'm not sure if it will ever go away. I just keep blowing and vacuuming every week hoping it will go away soon.

 

[jeff williams]

Lol how do you vacuum sand?

They make a sand gravel vac is what I call it its a round tube with a hose attached and you start a siphon and it vacuums the sand

 

[Rodolfo Garcia]

Mine does this too. I used pool filter sand and I think it's using the silicates in that sand. My other tank I used aragonite sand and don't have this issue. I'm not sure if it will ever go away. I just keep blowing and vacuuming every week hoping it will go away soon.

I used this sand

 

[Rodolfo Garcia]

They make a sand gravel vac is what I call it its a round tube with a hose attached and you start a siphon and it vacuums the sand

I have one but when i siphon the sand , i siphon out a lot of the sand lol

 

[jeff williams]

 

[jeff williams]

I have one but when i siphon the sand , i siphon out a lot of the sand lol

You have to suck up sand then kink the hose let the sand settle out of the tube and then repeat and you shouldn't get to much sand that way

 

[Cory]

Distilled water wont have silicate in it. If its a new tank, this is normal as the sand has some in it, and new water will too. Once it uses up all available silicate it will stop growing. That kind of sand should be calcium based not silica based so it shouldnt contain much silicate but usually has a little at the beginning.

 

[Rodolfo Garcia]

Distilled water wont have silicate in it. If its a new tank, this is normal as the sand has some in it, and new water will too. Once it uses up all available silicate it will stop growing. That kind of sand should be calcium based not silica based so it shouldnt contain much silicate but usually has a little at the beginning.

The aquarium is 3 months old, has 2 clownfish , one hammer coral , one brain coral both growing beautifully, i have 3 hermits , 3 nickel sized snails , and 3 inch cone shaped snail, no idea what its names is.

 

[Cory]

The aquarium is 3 months old, has 2 clownfish , one hammer coral , one brain coral both growing beautifully, i have 3 hermits , 3 nickel sized snails , and 3 inch cone shaped snail, no idea what its names is.

Id just give it a week or more and see if it dissapears.

 

[Rodolfo Garcia]

Id just give it a week or more and see if it dissapears.

I guess i have to play the dreadful waiting game. I hope everything clears up , thanks for your help man.