Sandbed in sps tank

KevinC · Jan 25, 2020

Hi all, I am currently running a 20 gallon tank with acropora. This is the ONLY tank, out of 4 that I have kept so far, that given me an insane algae issue. I have diatoms, Green hair algae all over the rock a little more than a month ago. After treating it with flux rx and taking out my fine sand bed (since its never clean), the condition improved a lot. I was planning to refill the tank with crushed coral, as suggested by the guy at my LFS before, but now, I am wondering if I should just run a bare bottom for easier maintenance and change out the live rock slowly and use the Tonga branch rock if possible. Any advice and suggestions? Thanks

BAUCE · Jan 25, 2020

Bare bottom is always going to be the easier way. I've done crushed coral too but that stuff builds up even more crap after a while. Was this LFS in San Jose by chance?

Kfactor · Jan 25, 2020

Go bb the clean up and maintenance is way better

KevinC · Jan 25, 2020

Sublime Corals said:
Bare bottom is always going to be the easier way. I've done crushed coral too but that stuff builds up even more crap after a while. Was this LFS in San Jose by chance?

Nah, I am on the east coast. This tank gave me such a headache man, the algae issue almost made me give up on the tank, not to mention the 15 snails that I bought which I didn't even know they are alive until I cleared out the sand and moved the rocks.