Will my sand ever go white again?

[ReefKing101]

My tank is almost a year old and for the most part the sand was always white and clean, after neglecting the tank a bit and swapping from rodi to tap water my sand has gone pretty crappy. Its not to bad but it just has a brown look to most of it. Siphoning it isn't really an option, I've tried that and it just sucks up all the sand as it is extremely fine and if i rinse in a bucket it doesn't remove the algae/detritus. What are my options? i have lots of sand sifting snails also. Once it goes dirty is it impossible to get white again?

 

[UkiahTheTurtle]

Yeah it can get white again but never completely white

 

[Rmckoy]

Use a python to clean it .
hold your finger over the end to restrict the flow which also slows how far up the sand goes .
You are going to get some but you can limit it with the method I described above .

You can slowly add small amounts of sand to replace what’s lost

 

[Maritimer]

Mine was atrocious ... diatoms, cyano, who-all knows what else.

An orange diamond goby has helped a lot, and my particular one sits right on the sandbed to mull over his mouthfuls, so doesn't cover corals ... so far.

~B.

 

[Darrell Brady]

If your still using tab water it may never. Its probably high in silicate which fuels diatons.

 

[Micro-Reefs Aquarium]

Do you have before and after pics?