Changing sand

[RayAllen]

Ok my sand contains silicate which has lead to the obvious diatom outbreak that im trying to keep in check. Im thinking I may just remove the sand and replace it with more saltwater appropriate sand. Any suggestion on how to do this to tank that is up running and stable not to mention stocked. Should I romove the livestock temporarily into the sump, shut off all the pump and remove it by hand or suck it out with a syphon. Still not sure if I will do this considering putting everything through stress and screwing up my parameters. I just introduced a dozen blue leg hermits and some nassarius snails so they may help.

[RayAllen]

Ive had diatom out breaks before in previous tanks that eventually after a couple of weeks or so dissapear so It may go away in this tank to. Im going to wait and see what im dealing with in a couple of weeks and go from there.

[JimD]

Think about this, they use silica sand to make glass, is your tank a glass tank? Silica based sand is not generaly a cause for algae associated with diatoms or any other algae unless its been contaminated or polluted, if this were the case, all glass tanks would have this problem. Just give it time, with proper maintenance it should go away.

[ErikH]

Try running some phosban with your carbon. I am having a small algae issue, but I run my halide for 12 hours.

[LoneStar]

Where did you get the sand from?

If you do decided to take it out, siphon it out over the weekend. Try not to do it all in one batch. Spread it out over a few water changes. You won't get 100% but you will get a good majority. Then you can use the pvc pipe trick for adding the new aragonite.

[RayAllen]

The sand ive had for a couple of years in buckets from back when I was in the cichlid hobby which I got from a store in N SA. Im going to do a small water change and wait and see the outcome.

[captexas]

Think about this, they use silica sand to make glass, is your tank a glass tank? Silica based sand is not generaly a cause for algae associated with diatoms or any other algae unless its been contaminated or polluted, if this were the case, all glass tanks would have this problem. Just give it time, with proper maintenance it should go away.


With the glass, the silica would have been bonded together when the glass was made so I don't think it would leach out the way it could through the sandbed. Or at least not to the same extent. Either way, the silica sand issue is one of those never ending debates.

[SoLiD]

I hate diatom algae. That and cyano has to be one of the most frustrating problems to solve. I hope you get a handle on it Ray.

[RayAllen]

I hate diatom algae. That and cyano has to be one of the most frustrating problems to solve. I hope you get a handle on it Ray.

Me too, I hate looking down into my aquarium and seeing all the awesome corals surrounded by ugly red algae.

[subsailor]

With a small tank couldn't you pick up a kiddie pool, put you stuff in there and then get the sand out and put the new sand in and let it settle a little and then get your stuff bck in the tank, you could use like 50% old water in the tub and 50%new in the tank? Just a thought

[JimD]

"Either way, the silica sand issue is one of those never ending debates."

Agreed, I just dont believe it to be the primary cause of algae blooms in most cases. I've known too many people who have used it successfully, long term with no problems.

[RayAllen]

With a small tank couldn't you pick up a kiddie pool, put you stuff in there and then get the sand out and put the new sand in and let it settle a little and then get your stuff bck in the tank, you could use like 50% old water in the tub and 50%new in the tank? Just a thought

yea, i thought about that. Its pretty much a last resort if it doesnt go away with the help of hermits,snail and the usual water change. Ive used the sand before in other tanks without it this bad but I think running MH- the light intesity and heat have contributed to the problem.

[ErikH]

try knocking back your light cycle an hour and see if it subsides. If it does, maybe you could raise the halide up off the water another inch or so and see if you can go back to a full light cycle.....

[RayAllen]

I only run the MH 7 hours a day and it is about 10" of the water now. Just placed a order for some reef crystal salt that should be here early next week for my water change. Ive been using Instant Ocean but figured id move over to the better stuff.