Detritus built up in hours...

Jordan berry · Jul 30, 2015

I went to work today and came back and the front of the sand bed started to turn brown. Should I use my fingers to get it up or vacuum it? Also haven't had any ditritus build up in 2 weeks. I fed once a day instead of every other day for my 2 damsels and yesterday I left a whole algae wafer for the cuc since they were acting hungry. Could the over feeding be leading to the build up?

twilliard · Jul 30, 2015

What mechanical filtration do you have?
also what flow?
sump?

Jordan berry · Jul 30, 2015

90 gallon tank with 35 gallon sump. Bubble magus curve 7 but doesn't seem to be working all of the time. Still breaking in. A filter sock and tons of flow. 2 rw-8 wave makers and a 9000 liter return pump.

bkostuch · Jul 30, 2015

How old is the tank? is it fine sand? are the powerheads kicking the sand up occasionally?

Sorry for the 20 questions but during my initial cycle I ran into the same thing and I bumped up my CUC a little and added my diamond goby. Took care of the brown beds. I also found out that with super fine sand it took about a month for the sand to stop turning brown when the powerheads kicked up the sand.

twilliard · Jul 30, 2015

The best thing to do is to see what circulation you have at the bottom of the tank.
keeping the detritus in suspension is key
when you feed does anything settle to the bottom?

Jordan berry · Jul 30, 2015

Yes. My fish are oblivious unless you drop it right in front of there face. The sand is crushed coral no. 3 and barely moves. I turned up the power heads I had them turned down because the fish looked like they were having to work hard to stay in place and I thought it might help there acclimation. Will the diamond Goby be okay in a tank that's only been up for a couple weeks?

bkostuch · Jul 30, 2015

Diamond should be okay, but just like any fish they are sensitive to any drastic changes in water conditions. If you are keeping your levels in check there shouldn't be a problem adding him. Be mindful if you aren't out of your cycle I would wait to add anything else and let it run its course.

Jordan berry · Jul 30, 2015

The cycle finished but the lfs thinks that the 35 lbs of live rock cycled and that the 60 lbs of caribsea life rock couldn't have cycled. They think I will have a second cycle. Since adding the 10 snails 10 hermits and 2 nasarius with 2 damsels 3 days ago my numbers have stayed perfect.

bkostuch · Jul 30, 2015

Did you add anything like a shrimp to kick start the cycle or just add live rock? might be getting the tank in line now with bioload, not that there is a lot of it.

chefjpaul · Jul 30, 2015

Sure it's not a diatom bloom.

bkostuch · Jul 31, 2015

That's where I'm going with it as well.

Jordan berry · Jul 31, 2015

I'm not sure... it seems to be just on the sand. I cycled with a shrimp. Spiked to 2.0 ammonia and 2.0 nitrite removed shrimp took 1 day to be at 0 nitrite 0 ammonia and 20 nitrate

Jordan berry · Jul 31, 2015

My nitrates have been steady around 10 to 20. They aren't going anywhere.

bkostuch · Jul 31, 2015

Sounds more like diatom blooms, if you have nothing but live rock you probably wouldn't notice it on the rock but if would show up more on the sand bed.

Jordan berry · Jul 31, 2015

Would pics help? I only have live rock and crushed coral

Jordan berry · Jul 31, 2015

If it is a diatom bloom would a diamond Goby be a bad idea?

bkostuch · Jul 31, 2015

Yes snap a picture of the sand bed where it's at. I seeded with about 25lbs of live rock and dry rock on the rest. I could see diatoms on my dry rock but not the live rock.