Help!

[Ethan9696]

I had this start growing on my sand! I have no idea what it is or if it’s good/bad or how to get rid of it. I have done water changes (30 and 50%) and it keeps coming back. Any idea what it is and how to get rid of it? Thanks!

 

[wesman42]

How old is the tank? It looks like it might be cyano.

 

[Ethan9696]

How old is the tank? It looks like it might be cyano.

The tank is about 3 months old and I haven’t had any issues with algae at all until recently

 

[ReeferBean]

Its cyanobacteria. I've had success using bacteria to outcompete it. Something like Microbacter 7 or a Dr. Tim's product. Some will say not enough flow, which you could try, but I've found it will grow in high flow as well.

 

[Ethan9696]

Its cyanobacteria. I've had success using bacteria to outcompete it. Something like Microbacter 7 or a Dr. Tim's product. Some will say not enough flow, which you could try, but I've found it will grow in high flow as well.

So it’s a 20 gallon aquarium. Are there powerheads small enough to put in an aquarium this small? If not, what are the best ways to increase flow in an aquarium this size?

 

[ReeferBean]

So it’s a 20 gallon aquarium. Are there powerheads small enough to put in an aquarium this small? If not, what are the best ways to increase flow in an aquarium this size?

Yeah sure there is. Depends on your budget. Tunze 6015, Koralia Nano, a Maxijet 400, or even a MP10 QD if you want to go baller.

Do you have a sump? If you have returns with loc line, you can add the Random Flow Generators from VCA.

 

[Ethan9696]

Yeah sure there is. Depends on your budget. Tunze 6015, Koralia Nano, a Maxijet 400, or even a MP10 QD if you want to go baller.

Do you have a sump? If you have returns with loc line, you can add the Random Flow Generators from VCA.

No sump. In college so that’s out of my price range right now. Plan on upgrading to one in the future but I currently only have 2 hang on the back filters. One made for a 30 gallon aquarium and another made for a 20.

 

[ReeferBean]

No sump. In college so that’s out of my price range right now. Plan on upgrading to one in the future but I currently only have 2 hang on the back filters. One made for a 30 gallon aquarium and another made for a 20.

I'd get a couple bottles of bacteria, and add a powerhead of some type and see where that gets you. With your limited filtration, I'd recommend doing more frequent water changes. New tanks get algae and cyano, not always but it happens.

 

[Ethan9696]

I'd get a couple bottles of bacteria, and add a powerhead of some type and see where that gets you. With your limited filtration, I'd recommend doing more frequent water changes. New tanks get algae and cyano, not always but it happens.

Thanks for all your help! Any suggestions on animas to add to help? Snails or crabs or anything?

 

[ReeferBean]

Thanks for all your help! Any suggestions on animas to add to help? Snails or crabs or anything?

Nothing really eats cyano, but you can get a couple of conch snails or possibly a goby that sifts the sand to help reduce the nutrients built up in the sand bed. Cyano doesn't need much to survive so that may or may not work.

They also sell a product called Chemiclean, which I have also used in the past that will work, but its better to go the natural route first.

 

[Ethan9696]

Nothing really eats cyano, but you can get a couple of conch snails or possibly a goby that sifts the sand to help reduce the nutrients built up in the sand bed. Cyano doesn't need much to survive so that may or may not work.

They also sell a product called Chemiclean, which I have also used in the past that will work, but its better to go the natural route first.

Thank you for all your help!

 

[lapin]

More Cyano in the Sand

 

[cracker]

try lights out for a couple of days, that helps me . Do we know what your Po4 No3 levels are ? Remember the tank is still young & these things happen every so often.