Brown Stuff In Sand, What is it??

[Alex1524]

Hey guys, I'm not new to the hobby but I've been battling this problem for a while and never really addressed the issue. Everybody's tank that I see their sand is nice and white. But mine I have these brown little rod like things sticking out and they never go away. Its VERY annoying that I cant keep my sand white and have those random things in it. Does anyone know what they are and how to get rid of them? Im also battling some cyano on my sand bed but thats a whole different issue probably with phosphates, flow, and lighting. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b363/Playerz57/IMG_2847_zps06837e74.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b363/Playerz57/IMG_2843_zpsf1530479.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b363/Playerz57/IMG_2845_zpsb84e74d1.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b363/Playerz57/ww_zpsb7987465.jpg

Water Parameters are...

Ammonia- 0ppm
Nitrate- 0ppm
Nitrate- 0ppm
Phosphates -0ppm (But probably inaccurate since cyano is eating it all)

[Misled]

Looks like cyano (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2095174&).

[traymitch1]

+1 on cyano

[Alex1524]

I know the red/brown stuff on TOP of the sand is cyano but what are the brown rod like structures IN the sand sticking up horizantally?

[mrabolli]

That sand bed is full of nutrients. You may see all kinds of algae come from it. Have you been actively vacuuming the sand bed? your rock and sand are probably full of PO4 and nitrates are high I imagine.

you could try a sand sifting star but really you may be battling algae for the life of the tank if the sand bed and rock are full already.

[Alex1524]

Yeah i always do 2-3 week water changes and stir up the sand and vacuum the stuff out but its not completely clean and it comes back :-( i cant get a lot of it either since when i syphon a lot of sand comes out as well. I dont know what to do :-(

[mrabolli]

Yeah i always do 2-3 week water changes and stir up the sand and vacuum the stuff out but its not completely clean and it comes back :-( i cant get a lot of it either since when i syphon a lot of sand comes out as well. I dont know what to do :-(

Honestly if there are high nutrients in the tank and the sand bed (which is a sink) is full and the rock has locked up a ton of PO4 and is leaching it because of the PH then you might always have this issue.

Some will tell you to battle and battle. No light for days, better clean up crew, less feeding, shorter photo period, new test kits, more frequent water changes, use of chemicals, better skimmer or add one if not present, etc. etc.

while all is good advice if the rocks and sand are full of PO4 and biomass or nutrients your kinda at the tanks limit. I dont know the history of your rock though. I cook mine in acid and "melt" away the top layers to hopefully or theoretically remove much of the phosphate bound to the surface of the rocks. I run a sand bed in my nano which is really asking for trouble since its a trap for detritus and nano are notorious for nitrate issues.

My 200gal will be B.B. when running.

The PO4 kits test only phosphate loose in the water column and not whats bound in the rock and leaching so its not much comfort to get 0 on a test kit when your eyes tell a different story.

How old is the tank?

You may want to seriously consider going B.B. on that tank and adding cheato to a fuge area. you can get good advice here http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=650985

I figure with my nano I can replace a thin layer for asthetics when I want and just keep vacuuming the crap out of it. The wife and kids always like the look of sand.

[Alex1524]

Thanks man. I agree with everything you said. Its just going to be a mission to take everything out, paint the bottom of my tank black, etc. Ahh gives me a headache thanking about it lol

[mrabolli]

Thanks man. I agree with everything you said. Its just going to be a mission to take everything out, paint the bottom of my tank black, etc. Ahh gives me a headache thanking about it lol

why paint? Its just going to be covered in coralline anyway.

remember if you do go B.B. you must have a good large skimmer and alot of water movement.