Sand bed maintenance

[jdpeters]

Anyone got tips for cleaning hair algae out of the sand bed? If I try to gravel vac, it generally is too heavy for the siphon to just grab the algae. It tends to just pile up.
I saw the printed reef has a tool for sifting sand. I’m not exactly sure what the best method or tool for the job it. My tank is just starting to mature and stabilize after a year of problems but the sand bed is my last hold out

 

[Gumbies R Us]

For me, during a water change, I would siphon the algae out. Maybe some others can comment on the printed reef tool!

 

[Kuzboi]

Emerald crabs and diamond goby will rake care of it in a matter of days!

 

[Reeferbadness]

I would also recommend just using your siphon during water changes + yes, diamond goby to move the sand around and possibly some other grazers like Fox Face, Tangs etc. Also urchins do an amazing job on algae

 

[jdpeters]

For me, during a water change, I would siphon the algae out. Maybe some others can comment on the printed reef tool!

That’s kinda what I have been doing, the algae is a bit excessive currently but I imagine it’s only temporary. I once siphon out a bunch of it, and thoroughly rinsed a small portion of the sand out then reconstituted it back to the tank.

 

[jdpeters]

I would also recommend just using your siphon during water changes + yes, diamond goby to move the sand around and possibly some other grazers like Fox Face, Tangs etc. Also urchins do an amazing job on algae

I bought 6 turbos a small pin cushion urchin that has doubled in size in a few weeks. Rocks are starting to look BARE, turbos are finally spending time in the sand but not the urchin. It’s a lot of turbos probably for a 40 breeder, I’m hoping I will have to start feeding them or Rehoming some soon.

I would love to add a goby but I’m not certain my dottyback and tang would be receptive to that, I recently took UV off and not sure if I want to disrupt the equilibrium

 

[jdpeters]

Emerald crabs and diamond goby will rake care of it in a matter of days!

I need to whip my emerald crab around lol

 

[Reeferbadness]

I bought 6 turbos a small pin cushion urchin that has doubled in size in a few weeks. Rocks are starting to look BARE, turbos are finally spending time in the sand but not the urchin. It’s a lot of turbos probably for a 40 breeder, I’m hoping I will have to start feeding them or Rehoming some soon.

I would love to add a goby but I’m not certain my dottyback and tang would be receptive to that, I recently took UV off and not sure if I want to disrupt the equilibrium

UV definitely helps with hair algae. I wouldn't worry about dottyback or tang - diamond goby's are really passive and just do their thing in the sand without anyone really bothering them... unless you have a real ******* damselfish or the like. My urchins do an amazing job on the rocks and back wall and the goby keep the sand sifted so that algae doesn't really have a chance to take hold

 

[anablue]

I had to use a scooper one time.

 

[Rob A]

My diamond back goby literally lowered my entire rockscape by 3 inches over a few months. It was cool watching him do it but beware they make a mess and will dig under any rock in the tank

 

[jdpeters]

I had to use a scooper one time.

I contemplated using a cat box scooper to sift lol

 

[jdpeters]

My diamond back goby literally lowered my entire rockscape by 3 inches over a few months. It was cool watching him do it but beware they make a mess and will dig under any rock in the tank

Hilarious lol. I’m not sure if a goby would be the right pick for me currently but if I do decide my rock sits directly on the bottom

 

[ReefMagicMan]

That’s kinda what I have been doing, the algae is a bit excessive currently but I imagine it’s only temporary. I once siphon out a bunch of it, and thoroughly rinsed a small portion of the sand out then reconstituted it back to the tank.

I've had the same problem it just won't pick it up big enough I think the solution is a thinner vacuum pole

 

[Lasse]

UV definitely helps with hair algae.

In which way do it help to eradicate benthic algae that grow in a vegetive way ?

Sincerely Lasse