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.

 

[Quietman]

Doesn't look like diatoms to me. Looks like the other "D-Word". That stringy stuff is worrisome.

 

[Unregistered1]

Yep looks like dinos but who knows without positive id

 

[taricha]

looks like new tank, raw sand and rocks. Too early to care what it is. Call it uglies and vacuum or ride it out.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Ya ride that out.
If it worses and becomes stringy with air bubbles u need to do something.
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Worsens* idk. Lol

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Whats in the background with the skull on it?
D

 

[Quietman]

Don't ride it out too long...I did. Lost all but 2 corals and two (eventually 3) fish. A $40 kids microscope is worth a lot of piece of mind and developing a solid treatment plan.

 

[Unregistered1]

It could be just abundance of Silicates...hard to tell

 

[Unregistered1]

Is any of it on the rocks too?

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

The op should watch it yes. It will either clear up or get worse.
D

 

[Matt Miller]

It's not on rocks at all just the sand and a little on the glass.

 

[Matt Miller]

I am getting my water premixed from lfs. I have a rodi with meter that reads 0 out.

I have a bucket and am waiting on salt to start mixing myself.

 

[Unregistered1]

It's not on rocks at all just the sand and a little on the glass.

Probably just diatoms from silicates then. It will burn off eventually. Are you using rodi water?

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

When you start making ur own.
Ull see a diffrence
D

 

[Unregistered1]

SO you are not sure what there water is reading Lfs always suspect

 

[Matt Miller]

I added a small bag of carbon this morning.

I do feed a little extra for the snails and shrimp.

I can do another 20%ish wc tonight and will definitely kr p an eye on it.

Are there signs I should watch for when siphoning or just clean and watch it grow back?

 

[Matt Miller]

Probably just diatoms from silicates then. It will burn off eventually. Are you using rodi water?

I have my own rodi, 0tds, but I have been using lfs mixed salt. I'll be mixing my own in the next few weeks

 

[Pwnm30rdi3]

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.

 

[Unregistered1]

I added a small bag of carbon this morning.

I do feed a little extra for the snails and shrimp.

I can do another 20%ish wc tonight and will definitely kr p an eye on it.

Are there signs I should watch for when siphoning or just clean and watch it grow back?

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