Sand question

brownsalt92 · Nov 17, 2015

So I have a more course sand. I sand siphon it. I scoped the green cyno off the top. No matter what I do it always comes back.do I go bare bottom for a bit? Or should I change the sand out completely? I have no fish in the tank right now only some coral live rock a sand sifting star some porcelain snails and some hermit crabs. please help!!!! What should I do??

Dastins · Nov 17, 2015

How old is the tank? If it's new this is part of the natural cycle and should die off eventually.

brownsalt92 · Nov 17, 2015

9 months old

Dastins · Nov 17, 2015

This may sound silly but is your tank exposed to the sunlight? Near a window? Green cyno feeds off of sunlight as do most algea. You can buy a few chemicals to kill it off but I haven't used them myself and don't know the effects it would have on the rest of the bacteria in the sand.

brownsalt92 · Nov 17, 2015

Funny you say that yes it gets a little sun towards the end of the day.

cginter · Nov 17, 2015

My tank is going on its 8 month and I'm getting what I say is green cayno as we'll. I dunno if it's part of the cycle but I've dimmed my lights and cut back on hours. the algae or cayno is all over he sand bed not so much the rocks or coral. In my opinion if you have algae it's either excess phosphate or an nutrient imbalance. (High/low nitrate/phosphate).

There is still a lot of variables still... Flow, gfo, carbon, how much you feeding, how are u exporting nutrients, water source, water changes (how much how often) parameters, skimming etc. all things that would help to give you better advice.

brownsalt92 · Nov 17, 2015

I skim 3 hrs at a time 4 times a day lights run for 8 to 10 hrs. Bi weekly water change. I sucked the sand with the sand cleaner for the first time this weekend it looks like that slowed it down a bunch. Water source is good my 110 is going good no green cyno. And my dad's 300 has no cyno either all 3 get water from same source. Hob bak pak protein skimmer plenty of flow no carbon should I add that? Plenty of flow

melypr1985 · Nov 17, 2015

those bigger grain sizes tend to trap detritus inside the top layer and cause nutrient issues.

Pete polyp · Nov 17, 2015

cginter said:
My tank is going on its 8 month and I'm getting what I say is green cayno as we'll. I dunno if it's part of the cycle but I've dimmed my lights and cut back on hours. the algae or cayno is all over he sand bed not so much the rocks or coral. In my opinion if you have algae it's either excess phosphate or an nutrient imbalance. (High/low nitrate/phosphate).

There is still a lot of variables still... Flow, gfo, carbon, how much you feeding, how are u exporting nutrients, water source, water changes (how much how often) parameters, skimming etc. all things that would help to give you better advice.

Yes algae is a sign of excessive nutrients. Cyano is actually a bacteria, not an algae. Some people have their theories on what causes cyano but nothing has been proven. Imo(with absolutely nothing to back it up) I think cyano is an indication of excess carbon whether it be inorganic or organic.

brownsalt92 · Nov 17, 2015

Okay would it be best to change out the sand?

cginter · Nov 18, 2015

brownsalt92 said:
Okay would it be best to change out the sand?

You can if you want, I would wait it out, cut back your lights a few hours. And see if that works first.

cginter · Nov 18, 2015

Pete polyp said:
Yes algae is a sign of excessive nutrients. Cyano is actually a bacteria, not an algae. Some people have their theories on what causes cyano but nothing has been proven. Imo(with absolutely nothing to back it up) I think cyano is an indication of excess carbon whether it be inorganic or organic.

Is there a read up on this theory. I'm in no way doubting you as I don't understand how I have it when I'm running a LNS. Carbon could be the factor as I thought it would help, but the clearer the water is, the faster the cayno comes back.