Sand turns green everytime

[roggy23]

I added a very thin layer of sand and next day already turning green. Same thing was happening before I added new sand. What is it?

 

[MillennialReefer]

It looks like you have high phosphates. I could be wrong though...only saying that because I notice hair algae on your rocks. Also, is your tank directly near a window? It could be a result of the outside light penetrating in your tank.

 

[roggy23]

It looks like you have high phosphates. I could be wrong though...only saying that because I notice hair algae on your rocks. Also, is your tank directly near a window? It could be a result of the outside light penetrating in your tank.

Phosphates are low at .o3 and. 06.
I do have annoying hair algae. Just added a cheato reactor. Sliding glass door is about 20 feet away

 

[Saltyreef]

Tank looks newer. Algae likely feeding of silicates in unrinsed sand.

If i were you id remove the rocks into a bucket of removed water change water and scrub all that hair algae off.
Then remove all the sand....rinse in tap water until all the algae and silt is gone. Then a final rinse in RODI before placing back in tank. Then rocks back and new salt water.....
Then get some giant mexican turbo snails to finish off the algae left u didnt get.

Mind you the snails will eventually die with there is no more food so maybe remove all but 1 and return to LFS.

 

[blaxsun]

What do you all have for cleanup crew in the tank?

 

[roggy23]

What do you all have for cleanup crew in the tank?

Not much.. 1 sand sifting starfish that doesn't sift sand.. 6 hermit crabs 2 nessarius snails

 

[roggy23]

Tank looks newer. Algae likely feeding of silicates in unrinsed sand.

If i were you id remove the rocks into a bucket of removed water change water and scrub all that hair algae off.
Then remove all the sand....rinse in tap water until all the algae and silt is gone. Then a final rinse in RODI before placing back in tank. Then rocks back and new salt water.....
Then get some giant mexican turbo snails to finish off the algae left u didnt get.

Mind you the snails will eventually die with there is no more food so maybe remove all but 1 and return to LFS.

Tanks about 10 months old.. the sand is just a recent top off if new sand i did yesterday...this 180 was a xfer from my 90

 

[blaxsun]

Not much.. 1 sand sifting starfish that doesn't sift sand.. 6 hermit crabs 2 nessarius snails

I'd look at a few turbo snails, some trochus snails, spiny astrea snails and maybe an orange conch.

 

[MichaelReefer]

Phosphates are low at .o3 and. 06.
I do have annoying hair algae. Just added a cheato reactor. Sliding glass door is about 20 feet away

The algae consumes the phosphates so it looks lower than it really is...just fyi.

 

[roggy23]

The algae consumes the phosphates so it looks lower than it really is...just fyi.

Ya

 

[SlugSnorter]

Not much.. 1 sand sifting starfish that doesn't sift sand.. 6 hermit crabs 2 nessarius snails

that star will die, it likely doesn't have enough food

Get a fighting conch

 

[roggy23]

I'd look at a few turbo snails, some trochus snails, spiny astrea snails and maybe an orange conch.

My turbo snails always die lol

 

[roggy23]

that star will die, it likely doesn't have enough food

Get a fighting conch

Ya

 

[roggy23]

Ya

that star will die, it likely doesn't have enough food

Get a fighting conch

Whats a fighting conch do?

 

[SlugSnorter]

Whats a fighting conch do?

Beeg snail who eats a more and digs

(its passive its just called fighting cause it looks like a gladiator helmet)

 

[SlugSnorter]

My turbo snails always die lol

Acclimate them, make sure they have food (most stuff never really eats long hair algae), and if your tank is new the fluctuation params can kill them

 

[vetteguy53081]

Is this tank at or near a window?

Are you using tap water from the faucet or RODI water ?

REDUCE WHITE LIGHT INTENSITY AND SCHEDULE

 

[Saltyreef]

Tanks about 10 months old.. the sand is just a recent top off if new sand i did yesterday...this 180 was a xfer from my 90

Even worse....its harboring nirates too.
Rinse the used sand and the new sand til it all comes out clear.

This tank needs a ripclean....nothing else.

 

[Quietman]

Before removing (major pain), I'd start adding siphoning of sand bed to your weekly/twice a week cleaning (if not already). Add many more narssarius snails. And do a daily sand bed stir (preferrably with bottom powerheads on/top PH off. Adding sand on top of nutrient heavy sand bed will just add sand and not reduce the algae.

If no results I might try going to dark for a day or two or reduce lighting for a few weeks just to let the beefed up CUC and new practice take hold.

 

[Dolphins18]

Ceriths and Conchs for the sand bed. Nassarius will eat leftover food as well.
Certihs and conchs both stay in the sand and rarely will venture to the rocks, whereas your astreas and turbos typically spend more time on the rocks/glass.
This is not the only way to clean up a sand bed, but probably is the easiest.
i'd personally do 4-5 tiger conchs, 30-40 ceriths for a 125.