I want to go bare bottom

[Fishyj]

Hi all, I have a bc29 that has a sand bed. I have been fighting hair algae and bubble algae for 6 months now. I have decided to go bare bottom and started removing the sand in sections during water changes. I normally remove 5 to 10 gallons a week. I have about 20 pounds of live rock in the tank. The tank is not fed, and I have no fish. I did have fish in the beginning but developed ick so my tank has been fishless for 10 months. I run ro water. Wondering how fast I can remove the sand safely?

 

[Eckolancer]

No food or anything for the corals at all? How long was it setup with fish and food? Less then 6 months? If so you could remove half check levels for spikes if good remove the rest about 3 days later. Check levels for any spikes. If you get spikes add amino lock and do water changes.

 

[Fishyj]

Sorry, I did target feed my Duncan's, zoa's and others. I know I did overfeed in the beginning,

 

[Reefing Madness]

Should be good at the rate your going, removal of some at the time of your WC will get r done.

 

[Frozn]

You've been fishless for 10 months and you're having algae problems? Where are the nutrients coming from? Your tank should be crystal clear. Are your rocks leeching phosphates?

 

[c.poindexter]

I would suspect the rocks as well have something being released.

 

[scardall]

Add a reactor and put Carbon(lignite) and GFO. This will help stabilze phosphates/nitrates. I had a problem with phosphate leaching out untill I started using an reactor. :nerd:

 

[ReeferEric]

Consider an algae scrubber, this will grow algae specifically and keep the annoying hair algae out of your main tank. Rather than changing so many things, remove the nutrients the natural way before it can grow on your rocks and corals.

 

[h8z2luze]

Get a Tominii tang and a bunch of hermits. They took care of mine. But my frag/qt tank is bare bottom. Looks kinda cool.

 

[Fishyj]

I did remove my sand bed. I also ordered an algae scrubber. I really believe the problem is from over feeding when I had fish in it. I am doing water changes now every 4-5 days. Once the algae scrubber gets here, I will begin to feed the tank more than once a week. Eventually I will add about 3-4 fish in it. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[kgk]

If you have a bad issue, you need to get comfortable removing algae from your rock in your tank as well. Otherwise, it could take a very long time to clear up.