Brown Substrate

Damselino · 01-01-2007, 09:11 PM

First off, Happy New Year to you all! Well here is my question...my tank has been up for 1 month and a half and I cant seem to keep my substrate clean. I am constantly wiping the glass carefully so that I get all the diatoms out and syphon my sand as well. If i keep doing this im gonna run out of substrate since i keep syphoning. I began using RO/DI water since the beginning as well as Rowaphos media. Its a 40 gallon tank with two fish, a gold band clown and a six line wrasse. Im feeding every other day. My lights are running for 6 hours a day. Im just kinda stressing not being able to keep my sand clean. Any help? thanks guys

blue_eyes53813 · 01-01-2007, 09:15 PM

Its all normal and will pass in a week or two... I know it can get very ugly looking and frustrating, But the good side is , it is actually a good sign of a tank that is cycling correctly and will have good water quality if you keep up with matenance and water changes.... To keep it to a minimul you can blow it off with a turkey baster and also get( if you dont have one) a clean up crew to keep the top of the soil and glass clean..

Gina · 01-02-2007, 05:47 AM

I agree with Blue eyes it will pass in time and a clean up crew will certainly help. Nassarius snails will also help in turning the sand bed over.

PhilOlsen · 01-02-2007, 07:12 AM

What kind of light do you have? Is it new or did you purchase it used? The reason I ask is if you have older bulbs they loose their ability to produce the correct spectrum and algae growth will occur.

Damselino · 01-02-2007, 12:12 PM

i bought the lights new. It is a 150W halide with 2 96watt power compact actinic bulbs. Ive been running them for about 6 hours a day but that hasnt helped much.

BoomerD · 01-02-2007, 01:11 PM

Diatoms are a very normal stage that all new saltwater aquariums go through. How long it lasts can vary, depending on how much free silica there is for the diatoms to feed on.

lgerold · 01-02-2007, 02:51 PM

Ditto! The only thing I can add is to make sure you have enough water flow. That will help prevent cyano in the future.

PhilOlsen · 01-03-2007, 11:19 PM

Check this out...for what its worth.

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-aquarium.html

01-01-2007, 09:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
Damselino Tubeworm Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 33 View Gallery Karma Komment	Brown Substrate First off, Happy New Year to you all! Well here is my question...my tank has been up for 1 month and a half and I cant seem to keep my substrate clean. I am constantly wiping the glass carefully so that I get all the diatoms out and syphon my sand as well. If i keep doing this im gonna run out of substrate since i keep syphoning. I began using RO/DI water since the beginning as well as Rowaphos media. Its a 40 gallon tank with two fish, a gold band clown and a six line wrasse. Im feeding every other day. My lights are running for 6 hours a day. Im just kinda stressing not being able to keep my sand clean. Any help? thanks guys

01-01-2007, 09:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 6,879 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Brown Substrate Its all normal and will pass in a week or two... I know it can get very ugly looking and frustrating, But the good side is , it is actually a good sign of a tank that is cycling correctly and will have good water quality if you keep up with matenance and water changes.... To keep it to a minimul you can blow it off with a turkey baster and also get( if you dont have one) a clean up crew to keep the top of the soil and glass clean.. __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

01-02-2007, 05:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
Gina Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,832 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Brown Substrate I agree with Blue eyes it will pass in time and a clean up crew will certainly help. Nassarius snails will also help in turning the sand bed over. __________________ Gina and Mark's 75 Visit Our Sponsors Gina's Cube Gina

01-02-2007, 07:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
PhilOlsen Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Glendale Hts. Illinois (Chicago transplant to humor my wife) Posts: 646 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Brown Substrate What kind of light do you have? Is it new or did you purchase it used? The reason I ask is if you have older bulbs they loose their ability to produce the correct spectrum and algae growth will occur.

01-02-2007, 12:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
Damselino Tubeworm Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 33 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Brown Substrate i bought the lights new. It is a 150W halide with 2 96watt power compact actinic bulbs. Ive been running them for about 6 hours a day but that hasnt helped much.

01-02-2007, 01:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,637 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Brown Substrate Diatoms are a very normal stage that all new saltwater aquariums go through. How long it lasts can vary, depending on how much free silica there is for the diatoms to feed on. __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

01-02-2007, 02:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
lgerold Scopas Tang Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Brainerd, Mn Posts: 473 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Brown Substrate Ditto! The only thing I can add is to make sure you have enough water flow. That will help prevent cyano in the future. __________________ Lucy Upgrade from 125 long to 210 on 1/7/07. 66 gallon sump/refugium. 10 hrs of light: 500 watt pc actinic 10 hrs 400 watt pc daylight 6 hrs 500 watt MH 4 hrs 180 lbs branch liverock. 100 lbs + assorted liverock. 3"+ DSB. Fish - Foxface, Yellow Tang, Mimic Tang, 2 Tomato Clowns, pair True Percula Clowns (and their 6 inch pastel green carpet), Mandarin, Scooter Blenny, Bartlett's Anthias, Royal Gramma, Pseudochromis Splendens. Blue/Gold Crocea Clam, Teardrop Squamosa Clam Coral favorites include: 2 Acanastreas, Pink Cynaria, Green Cynaria, Birdsnest, Trumpets, Red and Pink and Green Goniporas (3), Frogspawn (peach favorite), Fox Coral, Diploastrea, Blasto, 3 Fungia (orange, purple, and green) and many others.

01-03-2007, 11:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
PhilOlsen Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Glendale Hts. Illinois (Chicago transplant to humor my wife) Posts: 646 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Brown Substrate Check this out...for what its worth. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-aquarium.html

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