Algae build up middle of sandbed

[gsw0716]

Hello, I'm starting to have some algae build up in the middle of my sandbed against the glass. Its driving me insane but I know not to stir up my sandbed too much. I've gently been scraping a little off here and there with my algae scraper but being very cautious. I have some nassarius snails somewhere in there. Are there any other cuc that would also dig into the sand and eat the algae down there? Maybe a conch? My tank is only 30 gallons though.

 

[Fish Fan]

Sorry you're having some trouble here!

Can you post a pic of your tank, which I think will help other R2R members to better help you?

Stirring the sand bed is one of those things; so do it, some do not. I believe that if you're in the camp of not stirring it, then you shouldn't stir it, ever. If you believe in stirring it, then you should stir it, and often (like with every water change).

I have always syphoned and stirred up my sand beds, which I believe has helped me to keep a sandbed reasonably clean.

And last thought, if this is a newer tank, this could just be part of the growing pains of a new tank, where they will often go through an "ugly stage", but that stage often passes in time all on its own.

Good luck!

 

[gsw0716]

Sorry you're having some trouble here!

Can you post a pic of your tank, which I think will help other R2R members to better help you?

Stirring the sand bed is one of those things; so do it, some do not. I believe that if you're in the camp of not stirring it, then you shouldn't stir it, ever. If you believe in stirring it, then you should stir it, and often (like with every water change).

I have always syphoned and stirred up my sand beds, which I believe has helped me to keep a sandbed reasonably clean.

And last thought, if this is a newer tank, this could just be part of the growing pains of a new tank, where they will often go through an "ugly stage", but that stage often passes in time all on its own.

Good luck!

Thanks. Ill post a pic. Tank is almost a year old, the algae could be worse but it definitely pet peeves me. Lol

 

[gsw0716]

.

 

[Fish Fan]

.

I agree with you, I also do not like that algae, which can grow between the glass and in the sand bed. This, to me, is a good example of when I'd move the sand around

In an effort to not scratch your tank, I would use something like a razor blade scraper to scrape the glass down under the sand bed. I'd be careful with magnet scrapers here, they can pick up small pieces of sand, and then scratch your glass.

If you don't want to see that algae, I'd scrape it away. If you don't want to disturb your sandbed, I'd still scrape that algae a way anyway In my humble opinion, the sand you'd move in an effort to scrape that algae that grows under the sand-line would not cause any significant harm to your system.

I hope that helps!

 

[gsw0716]

I agree with you, I also do not like that algae, which can grow between the glass and in the sand bed. This, to me, is a good example of when I'd move the sand around

In an effort to not scratch your tank, I would use something like a razor blade scraper to scrape the glass down under the sand bed. I'd be careful with magnet scrapers here, they can pick up small pieces of sand, and then scratch your glass.

If you don't want to see that algae, I'd scrape it away. If you don't want to disturb your sandbed, I'd still scrape that algae a way anyway In my humble opinion, the sand you'd move in an effort to scrape that algae that grows under the sand-line would not cause any significant harm to your system.

I hope that helps!

Thank you. Yes, and I'm only doing it a little at a time. Not stirring up like crazy, I'll get to it more tomorrow

 

[Fish Fan]

Thank you. Yes, and I'm only doing it a little at a time. Not stirring up like crazy, I'll get to it more tomorrow

Friend, I'm in the camp of you can safely stir up your sand bed, just don't go crazy all at once