beachy Posted June 16, 2006 Report Share Posted June 16, 2006 Hey all, just a question about my sandbed, should i be syphoning the cr*p off the bottom? i dont think i should be :-? but not sure. I have about an inch of sandbed, and havent been syphoning the bottom when i do a water change, but i have this really dark green, almost black stuff growing on the bottom. Il post a pic, not sure if this is normal or what, also most of my coral rock has gone green/black too, is this just how the base rock looks once its matured? :-? http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/8704/sandbed5pq.jpg Pic too wide. img tags removed Bill Mod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted June 16, 2006 Report Share Posted June 16, 2006 No, this isnt normal. Yes, siphon the crap out. You may not have enough current flow or light. How many litres and what type of skimmer? Are you adding any additives, if so what type. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted June 16, 2006 Report Share Posted June 16, 2006 What lights are you running and do you have a sump? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneo Posted June 16, 2006 Report Share Posted June 16, 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachy Posted June 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2006 Tank, Ar620 t about 120 ltrs, no sump. Skimmer, aqua medic biostar flotor, running a surface skimmer. Flow, sieo m820 3200 ltrs hr, have another but needs to run on low, but im not using. lighting, aqua medic ocean 150, 150 watt 14000k m/halide dosing, nothing at the mo i have got ca,kh,mg, but dont have any test kits yet. S.G 1.024 PH 8.3 Ammo 0 Nirite 0 Nitrate 0 So a gravel clean could be the go, all my base rock has the same kind of colour. Hope this pic isnt to big, appologies mods Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted June 17, 2006 Report Share Posted June 17, 2006 is the skimmer getting much crap out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachy Posted June 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2006 Seems to be,i get quite a dark skimmate every three to four days, i mite try it without the surface skimmer attatched. Im using pure dew as topup cause i dont have a RODI, maybe its a bit suspect :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted June 17, 2006 Report Share Posted June 17, 2006 Looks like it is sitting on top of the sand? Looks more like cyno to me. Siphon it out. Why aren't you using the other pump? As long as the water stays in the tank you can't have to much water movement, this will help remove the cyno plus keep the crap in the water so your skimmer can pull it out. If you not sure about the water movement go and hop in the sea and see how much there is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachy Posted June 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2006 Hmmm, might be cyno, there seems to be alot of water movement, i dont use the other pump because that sieo rattles :lol: and has to be turned rite down to stop the rattle, and for the space it takes up in my tank its not worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachy Posted June 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2006 It seem funny that its mainly growing on the side with the most water movement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted June 17, 2006 Report Share Posted June 17, 2006 Ha sit got small air bubbles attached to it, (The black stuff)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted June 17, 2006 Report Share Posted June 17, 2006 has it.....(spelling)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachy Posted June 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2006 Yes it has, not all of it but most of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachy Posted June 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2006 Actually only a little bit has, on the side with less flow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted June 17, 2006 Report Share Posted June 17, 2006 Vodka is the best method. 1 ml per 100 litres for about 8-12 weeks. This will remove nutrients for it to grow. Slow down on feeding a bit too. Not too much, just a bit. DON'T OVERDOSE MORE THAN THIS. Triple disteilled Smirinov works best for my tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted June 17, 2006 Report Share Posted June 17, 2006 time and patience is the best method. Siphon it out, keep up with water changes and skimming, these cyno and algae cycles are normal in a new tank for several months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachy Posted June 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2006 Cool i will syphon it out tommorow, i was dosing vodka a while back and it worked well. So once every thing is back to norm, when i do a water change do i syphon the gravel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted June 17, 2006 Report Share Posted June 17, 2006 Up to you. In a tank that size I would say yes. Larger tanks with more sump volume can get away a bit longer if not at all. But yours, i would do every 4 - 6 weeks with a water change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachy Posted June 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2006 Well, thanks all for you help hopefully all will be good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted June 17, 2006 Report Share Posted June 17, 2006 it is cyano, read the link in the sticky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachy Posted June 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2006 Thanks Chim, ive only cleaned my gravel once since the day i set up, for some reason i thought i didnt need to do it :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasp Posted June 19, 2006 Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 How is Pure Dew filtered? If it is just carbon treated, this will not remove the phosphate content, which will be the primary cause of your problems. Perhaps you could contact them & find out, it may be no better for your tank than tap water. The other options you have are vacuuming the sand at each water change, which IMO you should always do, using vodka or similar or one of the bacterial systems such as zeovit or prodibio, or you could use a phosphate removing resin. However none of those will have a major impact if you are using top off water that contains phosphate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachy Posted June 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 How is Pure Dew filtered? It says on the label, steam distillation, revers osmossis, and ozonation. guaranteed to contain <1mg dissolved solids per litre. How true it is im not sure. The other options you have are vacuuming the sand at each water change, which IMO you should always do. I have done this once when i first setup, for some reason i thought i didnt need to :oops: It almost looks like a buildup of moss kinda stuff, because it hasnt been disturbed for about 4 or more months, and it doesnt seem to grow like cyano I might look into getting some kind of sand sifting fish, just to keep things turning over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misnoma Posted June 19, 2006 Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 Just out of interest, I have been experimenting with Pure Dew on my tank for topoff as opposed to tap water. - I worked out given I'm thinking of going overseas next year that it was cheaper to buy water than a RODI unit Anyway... It tests zero for phosphates (salifert) and I've noticed a huge decrease in diatom algae and other things since using it - have used it for about 1.5 months now and intend to continue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachy Posted June 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 Sweet, thats good to know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.