Good,Bad or just Ugly ?

[William Norman]

Hi everyone, hopefully everyone is not just focused on the WWC Sale today.

What is this brown/red round thing on my rock ?

Some sort of toxic thing that will kill my tank ?

 

[easternreefer]

how old is the tank? looks like cyano. at least a little bit. maybe increase the flow in that area a little.

 

[William Norman]

It is about 6 months old. It is on a rock in the middle of my tank 50G on the sand. Ill try to hit it with the powerhead a bit or should I scrub it it off.

 

[jsker]

I would also say cyano, did it dye down when the light go down? look at your phosphate levels mainly and nitrates.

 

[easternreefer]

scrub if you want.. but it will need more consistent flow to that area

 

[Rip Van Winkle]

My vote is "just ugly"

 

[William Norman]

Any suggestions for better flow ?

I have 2 800 gph powerheads + HOB Aqueon 75 on 50G tank. I have the 2 powerheads on timers so they create random flow and a few times a day both are on to create a gyre. At night I shut them down, so fish can rest. They are on left and right sides of tank towards the top. They do create a good disturbance of water. If I point them lower they create large divots in the sand. I have limited rock currently. It is a few pieces on the bottom. I plan on adding about 30lbs more rock in the coming weeks, and more soft corals.

Should I get 2 small pumps to create action along the sand. Any suggestions on gph for pumps ? I want something that is very small in size.

 

[Rip Van Winkle]

Maybe reduce the flow at night (but don't shut off completely)? If not possible to reduce the flow with the powerheads you have right now then not sure.... Maybe add less powerful powerheads and have them come on only at night? Although I'm pretty sure people don't want extra powerheads in their tanks but can't think of anything else but switching up to variable speed / DC controllable PHeads? If you're gonna switch your PHeads then I think it's best you do your own shopping. That's why I didn't suggest.

My solution for powerheads making divots in the sandbed is to use marinepure blocks in the area where the divots are, level with the surface of the sandbed at that area. I like a DSB but don't like how it shows up on the front of the DT, so I use shaped marinepure blocks to landscape my sandbed and have it sloping towards the front of the tank. The marinepure blocks are secured in the bottom of the tank. I use them to retain the sand in place in the bottom of the tank and to support my rockwork. That's all I got.

 

[William Norman]

Rip - great advice. Thank you. I tired my cobalt MJ900 at 230gph it is way to strong. It created a sand storm. So now I am thinking about putting a rio 50 in the bottom hidden behind a rock with a T and 2 tubes to blow on either side of the rock.

 

[Rip Van Winkle]

I checked out the MJ900. I thought it was kinda big and bulky but it's not your choice anyway.
I also looked at the Rio. [https://goo.gl/photos/rVArSSXVBa2eisoMA] Seems like you were thinking to put the pump inside your DT? Are you able to take a pic of your tank? Asking because just trying to visualize how you would set that up, meaning the T.

Edit: you know, I just thought of something. Can you move your rock where the problem is to a better spot?