Red/brown layer on sand bed

[WIReefer]

So I have this red/brown layer on my sand bed is that bad tank is only 2 months old.what is it and is it bad?

 

[Bbfishb81]

Cyano bacteria. You usually see it in new tanks. It feeds off light and phosphates. You can siphon it out with Turkey baster, then water changes. Turn down lights and cut feeding back. If that doesnt work, I've used chemi-clean to get rid of it.

 

[WIReefer]

Will it go away on its own? I turned down my lights another hour less.

 

[jeffchapok]

Will it go away on its own? I turned down my lights another hour less.

Over time, yes, but it's not an overnight process. I've been dealing with it for some months now in a tank that is about 10 months old. I still get a little, but it's much better than it used to be.

It'll help to lower your phosphate levels and clean it out manually as much as you can. I siphon it off my substrate a couple of times per week. You can blow it off with a turkey baster then suck it out too.

Supposedly cerith snails will eat it, but I haven't tried any yet.

 

[lapin]

So I have this red/brown layer on my sand bed is that bad tank is only 2 months old.what is it and is it bad?

As above : it is cyano
It likes light and still water,
Solutions:
Suck it out daily and with water changes. Point a power head at it. Turn down the lights or even off for a few days, as you have done. Get something like sand sifting snails or starfish to keep the bed stirred up. It will take time but should go away if you keep nutrients in line.
Last resort is a chemical solution. This can have good and bad effects on your tank so read what others have said before going that route

 

[vetteguy53081]

+1 cyano which is a bacteria. Loosen and siphon with siphon and/or Turkey baster.
Reduce white lighting 10-15% and add 1ml of Hydrogen Peroxide per 10 gallons at night.

 

[WIReefer]

Thank you guys!