questions about sanbed

[Fish?]

hey, so I was just wondering about this spot on my sandbed where algae grows when the light is on but when I turn it off for the day it seems to go away, and when I turn it back on the next day its replaced with specs of brown. I vacuum my sand when I do a water change and that does the job, but it obviously comes back. and the hermit crabs or snails don't eat it. I'm assuming it's not a problem but it looks ugly. Thanks for the help.

 

[Quietman]

How long has your tank been up and running? Nutrient levels? Any pics?

I'll assume new tank. If it's just mostly a dusting of brown with perhaps some minor fuzziness or some minor strings and your tank is <6 months old with detectable nitrates/phosphates it could likely be diatoms and not a worry. They'll go away on their own keep up the maintenance.

If excessive stringiness (snot really) then something else.

 

[Spieg]

Hard to say without some pictures, but it sounds like Dinoflagellates to me. They often go away when lights are off and return when lights are on. Do you ever see small bubbles in the film?

 

[Fish?]

How long has your tank been up and running? Nutrient levels? Any pics?

I'll assume new tank. If it's just mostly a dusting of brown with perhaps some minor fuzziness or some minor strings and your tank is <6 months old with detectable nitrates/phosphates it could likely be diatoms and not a worry. They'll go away on their own keep up the maintenance.

If excessive stringiness (snot really) then something else.

So from seeing pictures and seeing other stuff I think it's diatoms cause my phosphates are .25 and nitrates 5-10. Its not stringy or bubbly. The tank is about 6 months old. So I think I'm worrying for no reason

 

[Fish?]

Hard to say without some pictures, but it sounds like Dinoflagellates to me. They often go away when lights are off and return when lights are on. Do you ever see small bubbles in the film?

There aren't bubbles in it and I do have readable nitrates and phosphates.

 

[Quietman]

Diatoms can show up anytime first 6 months. Mine showed at 5 months. They went away on their own after a few weeks. Just be patient and keep up the maintenance.