algae in sand

cattfish · #1 05/29/2006, 08:34 AM

Hi. we have upgraded our fluros for a metal halide about 2 weeks ago. About 1 cm below the sand level there is green algae appearing. What is the best way to remove this? We have a good clean up crew- snails, urchin, starfish and shrimps but none of these do below the sand just the top. Are we doing something wrong or just running the lights too long?
Thanks for any help with this problem.
Jo

Chaotic Reefer4u · #2 05/29/2006, 09:15 AM

my first question is how long you running the lighting for? and add a lawnmower blenny they do a wonderful job at keeping the grass trimmed back...hope this helps, dont over feed and do lots of water changes.

cattfish · #3 05/29/2006, 09:37 AM

lights are being run for about 10 hours a day. Is this too long? Thanks for your advice.

freewilly2 · #4 05/29/2006, 02:22 PM

i have the same problem but mine is on top of the sand and i dont have a clean up crew yet. its a 100 gallon and cant decide how many and wat kind i should get for a clean up crew

Blown 346 · #5 05/29/2006, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cattfish
Hi. we have upgraded our fluros for a metal halide about 2 weeks ago. About 1 cm below the sand level there is green algae appearing. What is the best way to remove this? We have a good clean up crew- snails, urchin, starfish and shrimps but none of these do below the sand just the top. Are we doing something wrong or just running the lights too long?
Thanks for any help with this problem.
Jo

Algae growing in between the sand and such is normal, I would leave it be, you will find you will have alot of it over time.
It is normally calcerous algae that is hard and doesnt hurt anything.

Blown 346 · #6 05/29/2006, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by freewilly2
i have the same problem but mine is on top of the sand and i dont have a clean up crew yet. its a 100 gallon and cant decide how many and wat kind i should get for a clean up crew

Depending on what type of algae you have on your sand bed will decide on how big the problem is. If it is just brown diatoms they wil subside on the reown after time, a cleanup crew would help. If you have hair or cyano algae then Phosphates, nitrate etc will have to be looked at as well as what type of water you are using.

I would start off with some Astrea snails,cerith, nassarious,nerite snails to start the cleaning.