Tips for keeping sanded clean?

[Dquad18]

Hey all

Ever since I’ve set up my tank in the fall I’ve been dealing with this ugly algae on the sand that won’t seem to go away. I can’t tell if it’s growing on the sand or it’s it’s dead algae that I’ve been scrubbing off the rocks and glass. Any tips on how to keep the sand clean? Every time I try and siphon the sandbed all the sand just comes out. Any help is appreciated!

 

[LIreefguy]

Try higher flow in your tank

also when you siphon put your thumb over the end every few seconds when your over the sand. The dirt goes up and sand drops

 

[fcmatt]

Higher flow often results in pushing the sand around if you already have enough. How old is the tank? After a year or two tanks tend to really stabilize and algae growth slows down BIGTIME when they hit their stride.

BUT.. dont think you are alone with this. All those beautiful tank shots you see with perfect sand often just had a cleaning, fish and critters that constantly mix it up, and etc... everyone deals with it from time to time.

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

For my clean. Sandbed I blame flow. It's high enough it blows the sand in a way that forms divots but doesn't leave bare spots. Also I noticed a cleaner sandbed when skimming heavily and having a cleanup crew regularly turn over the sandbed.

 

[Dquad18]

Try higher flow in your tank

also when you siphon put your thumb over the end every few seconds when your over the sand. The dirt goes up and sand drops

Thanks for the fast replies all, I want to try increasing flow it’s just my mushroom corals are near the bottom and they don’t like the high flow, should I try moving them?

 

[Scrubber_steve]

An old method for sanded cleaning was to attach a plastic drink bottle with the bottom cut off, to the siphon hose, & run the bottle through the sand stirring up detritus. This way the sand wasn't drawn into the hose.