I have heard complaints about fiji pink, it has its own thread. i have it no problems.
its weird.
its weird.
How do you keep sand clean
- Thread starter Mark3
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dbrewsky
Active Member
So I want to reiterate, sand beds eventually become nutrient sinks. It's highly likely that the nutrients and the possibility of elevated silicates in the beach sand are most likely the root cause of your algae issues. The reason the algae is showing on the sand instead of your rocks etc is because silicate and algae fueling nutrients are easily accessible by the algae.
I would look into systematically replacing your sand over time to reduce the available nutrient load in the sand bed. Chemicals and gobies do help, but don't actually address the issue. Many long term successful reefers will do this exact thing so that the sand bed is never more than a year or two old.
I would look into systematically replacing your sand over time to reduce the available nutrient load in the sand bed. Chemicals and gobies do help, but don't actually address the issue. Many long term successful reefers will do this exact thing so that the sand bed is never more than a year or two old.
yup. agree. Its beautiful.
but to be specific about nutrients though. No and detritus and poo can be washed away by vaccuming or rinsing and broken down furter by added bacteria and unicorn extract. Phosphate likely had bound to the rock and sand and will need to be removed with gfo a refugium leprichaun juice etc.
kinda doubting the silicate addition as we'd see diatoms yes? and amazing sponge growth or both. it sould have caused problems long ago. I think there's a difference in silca and silicates in sand. i looked at that one long ago.
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Mark3
Active Member
If I remember right, I had a heavier sand, almost a fine gravel, changed to the beach sand when we moved here to Florida. I figured if it was natural sand from the beach, it would be good for the tank, and gave the tank a new "Florida Look" ....It has worked good so far, but I think it was a big risk looking back. When I say natural beach sand, I mean fresh wet sand direct from the beach into the tank. Yea, probably not the best idea, but it worked. So then about 7 months ago I changed tanks from a 120 to a 125....when I transferred the stuff from the 120 over to the 125, I rinsed the sand off in buckets till the water ran clear. The sand has just recently started to have this problem, and I am thinking that it might be that I need to get some more sand dwelling snails. Snail population looks like it might be dwindling. Hard to know how many snails I have in the sand. So, that means the sand got a rinse, and sort of a new start 7 months ago...thought all was well with the transfer, but maybe not?
Nassarius snails will help and cerith do to. Conch help also. I have the special grade sand by carib sea oh so many years ago. Not sure what the newer stuff is like. I vacuum mine, pull it out of the tank every so often, bleach, let dry and add some back in as needed. Pain, but keeps yuck down.
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Mark3
Active Member
I'm sure it could use a good vacuum, that is what I started to say in the last post, I used to vacuum when I had the heavier sand/gravel but haven't done so since changing to beach sand....it is difficult to vacuum.
I haven't vacuumed in years. ...lazy reef keeper.
I haven't vacuumed in years. ...lazy reef keeper.
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nervousmonkey
LPS Lover, SPS Enabler
Also, you could try clicking your heels together three times and saying, "I want white sand at my home". Works for me.
Scotty LaBeouf
Active Member
The fix is RODI water I finallyy discovered whole food by my house has and dionizing unit and once i started using that my sand has been white and it has been undisturbed for months, plus i havent done a water change in at least a month and all there is, is a little algae on the glass.
i thought that was the cure for dino'sAlso, you could try clicking your heels together three times and saying, "I want white sand at my home". Works for me.
im still such a newb
Hunter S Thompson
Community Member
Based on the pics... Your sand is food. That's the problem with your sand. You have nothing that is eating that food. It's that simple. As for how to solve it, you seem to have about 2 inches of sand. Not a good amount. Add 2 inches more and add sand sifters, or take an inch or more away and resign that your sand is decorative only.
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Mark3
Active Member
I use RO water, but that reminds me of another change I made 7 months ago with the transfer to new tank, ... I put in a 48" UV sterilizer.
I think this sterilizer makes the skimmer stink like never before, has anyone else have any experience with UV sterilizers? This is a big pond sterilizer, it may have been an overkill on the tank. Not sure if it was a good thing or not, but it has been running for 7 months now....won't be long and it will need a new lamp.
dump it. what have you got to lose.
Kershaw
Valuable Member
I am one of the evil people that used beach sand because I wanted purple sand that no one else had. My dirty sand is directly affected by my heavy feeding. I feed less it gets clean I feed heavy it gets dirty. High flow helps. But watchman goby is my next step. I had one but it committed suicide. But now I have a top.
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Mark3
Active Member
What is the best depth of sand? ...I have about 4" of sand ...except where the fish move it around and stack it into piles about 6" or 7" high. I have it deep so snails and fish can dig in it, but being that deep it hides a lot of rock.
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Scotty LaBeouf
Active Member
Ive never used a sterilizer, but if you use just RO water and RODI there will still be silicates in the water that cause the algae to grow on your sand. the best solution is the get a sand sifting goby and youll never have to worry about it again, plus its good for gas exchange.
Ooh I'd like to see that.
AllSignsPointToFish
"No Longer The Guy Without FaceBook"
My preference...sleeper goby 
