Sand

[phillybrock]

I have live sand in my tank which of course will brown after a while. But it use to take time for that to happen. Now if I flip the sand it's brown again the same day! What's going on??????

 

[weaglereefer]

How long has it been in the tank? Sounds like diatoms.

 

[phillybrock]

Like 3 months

 

[weaglereefer]

Yeah, give it time. Caused by silicates and phosphates and the tank finding its ionic balance.

 

[phillybrock]

So don't worry?

 

[weaglereefer]

Well, if you can get a pic, we can be more positive, but if it looks like a brown dusting on the gravel and rocks, it's most likely diatoms. If you can't get a pic, Google "Diatom algae" and look at the pics and see if it's similar.

 

[phillybrock]

Why should I quit flipping the sand? I was told that it was ok. Will it go away? Have you personally had this happen before? Could I be leaving the light on too long? I have a metal light on hqi that is left on for ten hours

 

[weaglereefer]

What do you have in the tank currently coral-wise?

I run my halides for 8 hours. The brown algae will go away when the tank finds its balance, there are a few stages of algae that can take up to a year to fully go through. First you'll have brown, and depending on the cleanliness of your source water (ex, if you don't use RO/DI, expect the brown to hang around a good bit longer as the phosphates in tap water feed it). Then you'll have green, not the long hairy stuff, but similar looking in coverage to the brown, but it may just stay on rocks, and not on the sand. Finally you'll have purple, coraline, the good stuff. I remember I couldn't wait to get some coraline going in my tank. Now it's just another weekly chore, lol.

Patience is a virtue, and a valuable habbit in this hobby.

 

[phillybrock]

Coral: some stars, pink hammer, green tourch, frogs pond, mushrooms, and a rose anem

 

[weaglereefer]

Yeah, you could probably cut the photo period to 7-8 hours just fine.

 

[phillybrock]

Cool