Tips for getting rid of this brown stuff?

[loweryphil]

that its clean. new.
youll see after a year. youll have spaghetti worms poking out, film algae that built up a permanent layer of gunk. looks kinda gross but it means its healthy.

How do i get these worms? And also prevent this film algae? I have loads of hermits that seem to disturb the sand constantly

 

[loweryphil]

that its clean. new.
youll see after a year. youll have spaghetti worms poking out, film algae that built up a permanent layer of gunk. looks kinda gross but it means its healthy.

And would disturbing the sand bed not get rid of this?

 

[schooncw]

Use Purigen by Seachem

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

How do i get these worms?

there likely in the rock. An I prefer snails over crabs. Crabs cant be trusted.

 

[loweryphil]

there likely in the rock. An I prefer snails over crabs. Crabs cant be trusted.

The snails do a good job of the glass but nothing disturbs and sifts my sand like hermits. Any spec of food they all run to and sometimes fight over left overs which is cool to watch as i know no spec of food will start to rot

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

The snails do a good job of the glass but nothing disturbs and sifts my sand like hermits. Any spec of food they all run to and sometimes fight over left overs which is cool to watch as i know no spec of food will start to rot

Understood. I have them too. Its just another balancing act. The first indicator of underfed crabs is empty snail shells.
Heres my stance on sand. If one wants to keep sand clean and pretty with bugs worms and natural means, go with a dsb. If one wants to keep a shallow sand bed vacuum stir it clean even if the crabs and worms and fish and snails eat it it the poop it out, onto the sand. IMO IME for most folks esp newer reefers more problems come from dirty sand than anything else. food and poop fall down. it then lays there and rots.

Many folks nay say a DSB as its not a good long term solution in a reef tank. I agree, most seem to last less than 20 years. I would say an uncleaned 1in sandbed would last far less than that.

 

[loweryphil]

My sand bed is about 2 inch maybe two and a half..interesting...when i first introduced crabs i was getting empty shells although since i put more shells in there they seem fine. Seemed they were killing the snails for there shells.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

My sand bed is about 2 inch maybe two and a half..interesting...when i first introduced crabs i was getting empty shells although since i put more shells in there they seem fine. Seemed they were killing the snails for there shells.

Both probably. It always hard to tell. And I cant armchair quarterback your tank as I dont live with it. These are just common concerns and complaints.

 

[loweryphil]

Coool

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Coool

yup. If you look up emerald crabs here on r2r, they are one of the larger concerns and complaints, of starving or eating coral. theyre big, and folks put several in a smaller tank.:eek:

 

[loweryphil]

Ill stay away from them. Although i do have a hitch hiker one..i.thought it was cool at first but ill see how it goes

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Although i do have a hitch hiker one..

Now THAT is cool!

 

[Zack K]

that its clean. new.
youll see after a year. youll have spaghetti worms poking out, film algae that built up a permanent layer of gunk. looks kinda gross but it means its healthy.

This is all true. With a sand sifter he keeps the spaghetti worms to a minimum. I picked him up and he just started going to town! I have never seen the sand so white!

 

[loweryphil]

This is all true. With a sand sifter he keeps the spaghetti worms to a minimum. I picked him up and he just started going to town! I have never seen the sand so white!

Such as a white gobi?

 

[cgdcinc]

Patience. Patience. Patience. [emoji4]

 

[ahiggins]

And would disturbing the sand bed not get rid of this?

It will temporarily rid it buy overturning it. It will come back though