Sand Help! Keeping my sand white!

[Bebow]

Hi guys..
So I took these just now..
Do they look like diatoms as suspected?

Thanks

From the picture and your description I’m 99% sure those are dinoflagellates. I’ve been dealing with them for several months now. Mine will disappearing at lights out too. I would suggest looking at the thread here https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dinoflagellates-–-are-you-tired-of-battling-altogether.293318/ You are not alone! Low phosphate and nitrate gives them a foothold in our tanks. If you can get your hands on any microscope you will know for sure.

 

[Cae]

If you're having trouble with your sand bed try a sifting goby. Or you can try a sand sifting goby. And also maybe a sand sifting goby. They really are the best. I love my Golden headed sleeper goby.

 

[Susan Edwards]

I have a gold head sleeper goby and he is a sand sucking machine. He'll go into my new tank when its ready--he's in a display refugium at the moment. My 66 gal has too many corals on the bottom. How do you keep corals on the bottom from being buried, like micromussa's?

Can you mix gobies? A diamond and a sleeper?

 

[W@tchm@n]

I already have a pink spot goby and a yellow watchman goby in there.
plus a flymo blenny...

would adding additional sand sifting goby's lead to aggression?

 

[W@tchm@n]

Also, i have turned off my GFO reactor last night...

 

[stevieduk]

my sand gets like that but as i am trying to duplicate a tiny bit of the ocean, and that is how the bottom is in the sea , if you have ever been diving, then I do not mind. I try to duplicate nature, not falsify it

 

[Carl Salamone]

Im having a similar problem with sand discoloration, but only beneath the top surface of the sand. The top is nice and white. Anyone have thoughts on this?

 

[Susan Edwards]

Im having a similar problem with sand discoloration, but only beneath the top surface of the sand. The top is nice and white. Anyone have thoughts on this?

I use a turkey baster to blow and scrape the build up away

 

[bh750]

Yes, I'm sorry but really looks like you have the dreaded Dinos (large cell Amphidinium probably). Dont worry it seems like everyone in the hobby has them now!! Really only way to know is to take out a sample and inspect under a microscope. Do you have one? If you have dinos you must participate in this thread..

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dinoflagellates-–-are-you-tired-of-battling-altogether.293318/

Good luck!

 

[BryGun]

If you get it under a microscope and it is dinos, it will look like little brown circles swimming around. It is in your best interest to verify because if you start doing water changes and cleaning, it will only make it worse and drive you crazy (been there done that). Sand sifting creatures definitely do not eat or make them go away.

 

[BryGun]

Here is a microscope on Amazon that will work great for identifying most things in your tank.


https://www.amazon.com/My-First-Lab...TF8&qid=1517514617&sr=1-9&keywords=microscope

 

[atb395]

I already have a pink spot goby and a yellow watchman goby in there.
plus a flymo blenny...

would adding additional sand sifting goby's lead to aggression?

Get a few fighting conchs! My tank is 120gal and I got 10. That stuff was gone in 5 days. Your local fish store should carrying them if not, here’s a link. https://m.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+2057+1754&pcatid=1754
FYI I tired every trick in the book and only the conch worked. No BS

 

[Coone]

We're doing an experiment for solving this problem
Adding 1 theaspoon of honey (the clear stuff, not the commercial **** with added suplements) daily for every 600l

Seems to work

 

[Bebow]

Get a few fighting conchs! My tank is 120gal and I got 10. That stuff was gone in 5 days. Your local fish store should carrying them if not, here’s a link. https://m.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+2057+1754&pcatid=1754
FYI I tired every trick in the book and only the conch worked. No BS

Don’t waste your money on any sand sifting animals till you know it’s NOT Dino’s. Eating dinos will eventually kill fighting counchs. Killed mine along with some snails. You’ve already had several people advise that I looks like Dino’s, so far you’ve ignored them.

 

[W@tchm@n]

Hello mate..
Not ignoring any advice..
As most have suggested its dinos.. I will take that view. However, people have suggested many ways of fighting dinos... Which I am considering...
I've turned off GFO in an effort to raise PO as suggested..

Also suggested was removing the sand bed completely for a rinse.. However given the size of the tank I don't think I can...

Raising neutriants slowly will be my approach.. But also I am considering bubble scrubbing as some on the thread have suggested and have had success.

As always... Appreciate all the advice I an get...
There are lot of people on here that know a whole lot more than me.. So thanks all [emoji6] [emoji106] [emoji108]

 

[JasPR]

Do 10-15% water changes daily for 5 days. Then every other day for three more water changes. You will be amazed.

 

[Bebow]

Hello mate..
Not ignoring any advice..
As most have suggested its dinos.. I will take that view. However, people have suggested many ways of fighting dinos... Which I am considering...
I've turned off GFO in an effort to raise PO as suggested..

Also suggested was removing the sand bed completely for a rinse.. However given the size of the tank I don't think I can...

Raising neutriants slowly will be my approach.. But also I am considering bubble scrubbing as some on the thread have suggested and have had success.

As always... Appreciate all the advice I an get...
There are lot of people on here that know a whole lot more than me.. So thanks all

My apologies if I came on a little strong! I get frustrated when I see bad advice send animals into an inviorment that that they cannot survive.
Sounds like you are trying to get a handle on the situation. I know I have received a lot of help from https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dinoflagellates-–-are-you-tired-of-battling-altogether.293318/ There are a lot of fellow reefers there that have fought the battle and won!
Good luck and happy reefing!

 

[Bebow]

Ending up with a double post, that’s what I get for jumping between my iPhone and iPads!

 

[jeffscooby13]

Are you using RODI water? Checked your DI and filters? Perhaps post a pic to confirm. If it is diatoms, the bloom would likely be fueled by silicates coming from something and usually after that long it is usually water or could be a salt mix. The good news is that apart from looking ugly, they're harmless...I'd stop siphoning, let them run their course and eventually will go away as long as you're not adding more fuel for them.

Your params look good, at that high Alk, I'd let the phosphates go up a bit if you are keeping SPS to prevent potential alk burns...

It’s even possible that the siphoning is stirring up available silica for the diatoms. I have a 4” sandbed in a 210 and always keep sandbeds in my tanks. The diatoms always finally disappear. May take 6 months, may take two years. I’ve also found that sand sifting starfish and cucumbers can help.

 

[CDavmd]

As I stated back on page 2 of this thread this is Dino’s not diatoms. This has been echoed by several others as well.

Based on the behavior and your photo it appears to be the Amphidinium species. You need to look at a sample under a microscope in order to ID the species.

Go to the thread “Dino’s are you tired...” start at page One and follow the links for your species. It will be a long hard battle so don’t get frustrated and give up.

I know everyone is trying to be helpful but the focus on this being diatoms is in error. Do not add more livestock in attempts at eat this. They will simply die or be ineffective. Many of the Dino species are highly toxic.

Luckily I believe your species is Amphidinium which is the least toxic and least difficult to get under control. Good luck!