Cleaning Sand

[Bg3489]

Hey I have another quick question. My sand is constantly pretty dirty. Its got a light coat of brown alage and even when i vaccum or shift the sand around it never actually gets a good color to it. How can I keep it clean? Am I best off taking off a layer and just adding new sand? If so how do i add the new sand with all my animals in there? Thanks

[lcstorc]

Welcome to RS! Hope we can be of some assistance.
How long has the tank been set up? Is it like a brown dusting or a red sheet of algae? What are your water paramers and what is your system like?
Finally, if you can, post a pic. If you cannot then look up diatom or cyano. My guess is one of the two depending of the answer to the above questions.

[Woodstock]

It is normal for newly set up tanks to go through algae blooms. The key to keeping the blooms temporary and not a constant problem is by reducing the algae's food. Using ro/di water, phosphate adsorbing media (phosban, rowaphos), aggressive skimming, replace PC bulbs before they shift into a red spectrum, use carbon (first soaked in ro/di water), and a refugium with macro algae will keep the algae starved You can also get a few sand cleaners. Cerith snails and fighting conchs are two that I can think of. Also, remove/siphon as much as the algae out as possible. This will help export nutrients. It is all about exporting/reducing po4 and nitrAtes. Keep those low/zero and your tank will sparkle.

As far as adding sand, you can remove/siphon sand and then replace it with fresh using a cup. I fill the cup up with sand, place it next to the sand bed, then pour out the sand. I have added/replaced sand many times with no ill effects to the inhabitants. The water may be cloudy for a day but it will settle~

[flyline]

i have a fighting conch and couple of hermit crabs they seem to keep the sand in my tank stired up enough to prevent algea from growning..i even sometimes find my snails down there stiring the sand up do you have a clean up crew?

[razz]

first get a tang and all the substrate will be cleaned in 2 days ..i just got a chevron and my sand went from brown to white overnight,..prefferable a kole or chevron as they are constantly sucking up sand to suck of the algea and spitting it back out..

second u can add more sane no problem just dont make it so deep on top the old cant breath..add and inch or 2 to be safe..gl

last a few hermit crads and snails will shift and stir it up but they arnt as good as a tang..

[lcstorc]

What size tank? Chevron tangs get quite large and are not exactly cheap either. Yes they will help get the algae off of the substrate (at least mine does), but I would not recommend one lightly. Don't get me wrong. I love mine and would not trade it for the world, but he is in a 125g tank with plans to upgrade to 200+ in 2yrs or less.
Much easier and cheaper would be some fighting conchs and/or nasarius snails. Both do great in stirring the sand and eating debris. They are certainly not as beautiful but they are much easier to keep and much cheaper.
Just my 2c

[razz]

kole tangs go for $7 over here and yes the chevron a little more at $30..but both can be bought while very very small and there growth rate is pretty slow compared to other fish spiecies..snails and crabs will work dont get me wrong but just not to the extent of either of these fish.. the fish will also polish all your powerheads ect. that are in your tank to keep everything nice and clean..

[MALIBU]

I think BG needs to answer the first persons questions...
by propper feedings, macro, and skimmer you shouldnt have brown sand unless your in an early tank bloom.

[BoomerD]

Definitely need more info to answer the OP's questions.
How big is the tank?
How old is it?
What inhabitants does it currently have?
What kind of filtration?
Skimmer?