Is this just diatoms?

[Matt Miller]

I just did a 25%+ wc and my sand looks like this a few days later.

The tank is only about 4 months old, lots of snails a small fire fish and 2 small clowns. No corals yet. 20g cube with sicce 1.5 and nero 3. I feel like I've got lots of flow but can still turn it up.

 

[Matt Miller]

I just replaced my sand bed with fresh sand during my tank transfer 5 weeks ago.
I'm seeing the same thing. I'm probably just going to ride it out until it burns through the fresh silicates.

I hope this is all it is, I left my lights off for a while and have them slowly ramping up to full. I have been doing good with water changes and cleaning the glass but this one kinda popped up on me.

I'm hoping and praying it's just dirty lfs water.

 

[Matt Miller]

I wouldnt keep changing the water or messing with it if its just brown on the sand. It will run its course but will take time. Dont run your light if you dont really need to. Snails dont need light. I assuming you dont have any corals. No need to feed the snails they will eat algae and diatoms for most part

No corals in this tank right now and I can definitely back off on the food.

 

[Unregistered1]

So i see you said no corals so i would just cut way back on lights it will help. I mean no need to run them 8 hours maybe just 4 if your worried about it until things clear up. Sooner or later you will get green hair algae growing so make sure your clean up crew can handle it when the time comes so you can stay ahead of it

 

[Unregistered1]

No corals in this tank right now and I can definitely back off on the food.

Only feed enough for the fish so none is left over so wont cause any blooms. They dont need to be fed everyday

 

[Matt Miller]

Only feed enough for the fish so none is left over so wont cause any blooms. They dont need to be fed everyday

I have been giving a small amount of frozen plankton 2x/day and pellets 1/day. The clowns and firefish act like they're starved every time.

 

[DerekB4]

Is any of it on the rocks too?

If I have stuff that looks like OPs picture on my rocks should I be concerned about diatoms?

 

[Matt Miller]

Whats in the background with the skull on it?
D

That's my Nero 3 anemone cover, it's a seashore.

 

[Unregistered1]

If I have stuff that looks like OPs picture on my rocks should I be concerned about diatoms?

Its hard to say with out clear pictures....It might just be hair algae or diatoms or if its stringy with bubbles its possible to be whats called dinoflagellates

 

[Matt Miller]

I do have a good sized turbo snail in my coral qt that's probably about starved....tempted to try putting it in

 

[Unregistered1]

I have been giving a small amount of frozen plankton 2x/day and pellets 1/day. The clowns and firefish act like they're starved every time.

Over feeding,,,they will always act like they are starving..

 

[Matt Miller]

I haven't seen it with lights on yet today but when I looked this morning I swear the sand was clean.

All I did was turn the lights down and added a bottle of pods.... anxious to get done with work and go home to check it out lol

 

[Matt Miller]

Ok lights on it looks better but the algae is still there so got my hopes up for nothing.

 

[Unregistered1]

Ok lights on it looks better but the algae is still there so got my hopes up for nothing.

Its going to take some time to work itself out. Just stay with a less light hours and try to not over feed. If you can increase the flow in the areas its accumulating...maybe moving your nero to a better place to get more flow might help. Hard to say without being there.