My sand is turning to soft stone ??

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HPIM9238.JPG Ok , my sand is rocking up in a few spots. Is it biological or chemical ?
 
Tidal Gardens
Precipitation of calcium carbonate can harden sand and precipitate on GAC, especially if there is GFO.
Many of us have gotten it and there is often not a lot you can do.
 
Tidal Gardens
Parms, don't have a recent Ca results . This is a fish only at this time. Was trying to keep Alk up to at least 7.5 & dosing equal 1 & 2 prt. I stopped after seeing this .
No3 >3
Po4 o.o5
Alk 6.6
So it's chemical reaction? I thought I was watching out for this but missed this one area.
Thanks !
 
Diesel said:
Precipitation of calcium carbonate can harden sand and precipitate on GAC, especially if there is GFO.
Many of us have gotten it and there is often not a lot you can do.
Click to expand...

Can you translate the abbreviations for the newbies
 
Top Shelf Aquatics
Sure !
No3 or Nitrates >3
Po4 or Phosphates 0.05
Alk or alkalinity 6.6
Iv'e read where calcification "could be from bacteria so was wondering. I realize there's not a lot I can do.( maybe bust it up as best as possible) I was dosing 50/60 mls ( millimeters) parts 1 & 2 in this 180 gl tank to ready it for a soft coral, then realized the sand was rocking up so stopped about a week ago. Iv'e been at this for a while now & it's always one thing or another. I really don't sweat it it any more,just want to understand.
How about You Hot dog ? How is Your setup going for You ?
 
i started noticing this recently too. is this bad?
 
I suspect it's both chemical and biological. Although I do not routinely agitate my sand bed, I do occasionally break up any obvious agglomerations with a length of PVC used like a pestle. FWIW, sand burying wrasses are very useful in helping to prevent sandstone.
 
Tidal Gardens
Agree with Ca1ore. I stir my sand regularly and don't have it as much since I started doing that. I do have several sand sleeping wrasses. Don't confuse their sleeping mucous cocoons for precipitation as they are very soft and dissolve on their own in a few days.

If you find them when they first start forming you can rub them in your hands and they will fall apart easily.
 
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