Dark brown sand algae

[cadefowlr]

A few weeks ago my tank started developing brown algae In the sand. It has been progressing to a deep brown color across all the sand. My tank has been running for a little over 10 months now so I figured it was just a new ugly phase and would go away on its own. Before it started I vacuumed the sand weekly but I stopped when I got some snails and was afraid of sucking them up or killing them. At that same time I put evap covers on my Top Lids and the water temperature climbed to 81 degrees. Temp has since been fixed and I am vacuuming small portions of the sand weekly but it’s back in a day or so. I do weekly 20% water changes that I have never missed, but I know phosphate lives in the sand. I have almost zero algae anywhere else in the tank.

Today’s readings are 0.7 Nitrate and 0.12 phosphate. Both checked with Hanna checker. Those reading have been steady for the tanks life after initial cycle. The phosphate is slowly rising and I’m having trouble bringing it down. I read on another post that the big difference between nitrate and phosphate could be an issue? If that’s the case should I skip a week or two of water changes to raise the nitrate? It’s a fowlr tank and my fish in inverts are active and healthy. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Calmwaters]

A few weeks ago my tank started developing brown algae In the sand. It has been progressing to a deep brown color across all the sand. My tank has been running for a little over 10 months now so I figured it was just a new ugly phase and would go away on its own. Before it started I vacuumed the sand weekly but I stopped when I got some snails and was afraid of sucking them up or killing them. At that same time I put evap covers on my Top Lids and the water temperature climbed to 81 degrees. Temp has since been fixed and I am vacuuming small portions of the sand weekly but it’s back in a day or so. I do weekly 20% water changes that I have never missed, but I know phosphate lives in the sand. I have almost zero algae anywhere else in the tank.

Today’s readings are 0.7 Nitrate and 0.12 phosphate. Both checked with Hanna checker. Those reading have been steady for the tanks life after initial cycle. The phosphate is slowly rising and I’m having trouble bringing it down. I read on another post that the big difference between nitrate and phosphate could be an issue? If that’s the case should I skip a week or two of water changes to raise the nitrate? It’s a fowlr tank and my fish in inverts are active and healthy. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Can you post a picture under white lights or very little blue that might help ID it.

 

[cadefowlr]

A few weeks ago my tank started developing brown algae In the sand. It has been progressing to a deep brown color across all the sand. My tank has been running for a little over 10 months now so I figured it was just a new ugly phase and would go away on its own. Before it started I vacuumed the sand weekly but I stopped when I got some snails and was afraid of sucking them up or killing them. At that same time I put evap covers on my Top Lids and the water temperature climbed to 81 degrees. Temp has since been fixed and I am vacuuming small portions of the sand weekly but it’s back in a day or so. I do weekly 20% water changes that I have never missed, but I know phosphate lives in the sand. I have almost zero algae anywhere else in the tank.

Today’s readings are 0.7 Nitrate and 0.12 phosphate. Both checked with Hanna checker. Those reading have been steady for the tanks life after initial cycle. The phosphate is slowly rising and I’m having trouble bringing it down. I read on another post that the big difference between nitrate and phosphate could be an issue? If that’s the case should I skip a week or two of water changes to raise the nitrate? It’s a fowlr tank and my fish in inverts are active and healthy. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Can you post a picture under white lights or very little blue that might help ID it.

 

[Calmwaters]

Looks like cynobacteria. Siphon or what you can and increase flow. Now often do you do water changes? And how much at one time do you do?

 

[cadefowlr]

Looks like cynobacteria. Siphon or what you can and increase flow. Now often do you do water changes? And how much at one time do you do?

I do weekly 20% water changes.

 

[Calmwaters]

I do weekly 20% water changes.

Ok then I would siphon out and increase flow to see if that helps.

 

[cadefowlr]

After researching cynobacteria I think that best matches what it is. I originally thought maybe dinoflagellates. My question now comes back to the low nitrates and high phosphates. Should I skip this weeks water change and see if the nitrates raise? Or try to lower the phosphates to match the nitrates? Maybe add a gfo reactor?

 

[Calmwaters]

After researching cynobacteria I think that best matches what it is. I originally thought maybe dinoflagellates. My question now comes back to the low nitrates and high phosphates. Should I skip this weeks water change and see if the nitrates raise? Or try to lower the phosphates to match the nitrates? Maybe add a gfo reactor?

Personally I like keeping it simple as possible and would try skipping a water change before adding a good reactor.

 

[BryanM]

I would be increasing nitrates if it were my tank. 5-20ppm nitrates would be ideal, and your phosphate is already ideal, I would not run GFO.

 

[jonelder68]

I’d say Diatoms or Dino’s. To confirm put a sample under a microscope. They can visually look very similar so microscope image needed.

 

[cadefowlr]

Thank you all. I ordered some more copepods that are supposed to be sand dwellers. I’m going to skip a water change and see if the nitrates go up. I never thought raising them would be my problem

 

[Dan_P]

I’d say Diatoms or Dino’s. To confirm put a sample under a microscope. They can visually look very similar so microscope image needed.

Agree. At ten months, I would guess dinoflagellates

 

[cadefowlr]

Iv skipped 2 weeks of water changes and turned my skimmer off a couple days ago. Nitrates are slowly raising, was 1.4 today. I’m going to continue this course until nitrates are 5 and then turn the skimmer back on in its lowest setting.

Today I dosed cyano clean along with coral snow. I know cyano clean is daily and will take along time. How often should I do the coral snow with along with it? Daily, weekly? Thanks for any info.

 

[slingfox]

It looks like Dino’s to me. You would take a closer, more zoomed in picture under white light for better identification. Ultimately a microscope is best for ID but a clearer picture with your phone helps identify in the interim.

 

[cadefowlr]

It looks like Dino’s to me. You would take a closer, more zoomed in picture under white light for better identification. Ultimately a microscope is best for ID but a clearer picture with your phone helps identify in the interim.

This is the best pics I can get. The water is cloudy because the coral snow. It’s normally crystal clear.

 

[slingfox]

Hard to make out under such blue lights. Best to set spectrum to all white. Looks like a combo of dinos and maybe cyano. Seems like mostly dinos.

 

[SaltLifeMom]

I know I'm late to the party here but don't start dosing stuff into your tank until you get a solid ID. Your nutrients are out of whack, ration for nitrate to phosphate is 10:1. So, I would tell you to not turn on your skimmer at 5, you'd still be out of whack and then you'll become more out of whack. When you drop your nutrients too low, you're opening the door to things like Dino's setting up shop and then you're in trouble. I would stop the water changes and keep the skimmer off. Do very careful research into dino's as there are various kinds that require specific action. First step, don't dump stuff into your tank. 2. get a cheapy magnifier and post a pic for identification. Some libraries have micrscopes you can use or borrow, but a cheapy amazon one is fine. Trust me. Don't randomly do things without knowing what you're dealing with. I would def add more flow, if something can set up shop on your sand bed, its not getting enough turn over. Nassarius snails are great. If you go to the Reef Cleaners website you can see exactly how much cuc you should have for your size tank. I'd add copepods too.

Hope that helps!