"stuff" on sand bed

[noisyreefer]

Hello,
Now I'm sure this question has been asked and answered but...here it goes...
I have a 55g RT with a 30g sump etc. all my levels are good...havnt checked for phosphates...but ammonia nitrate nitrite are all optimal....

Outside temp is about 75 degrees, have 2 MH 250w over my tank...tank has been running for almost 4 months now and has 2 tester damsels and various corals. I am suddenly getting a reddish color algae covering parts of my sand bottom and my sand cleaning snails etc. arent interested in it...along with that each day i scrape off green algea from the front of the tank, along with little dots that seem to have hairs comming off of them...any advice? I have been running a phosphate sylicate (spelling?) media in the direction of waterflow but have had no real improvement....I really appreciate any response, ty for the help! - NoisyReefer

 

[Anonymous]

It's probably cyanobacteria, red slime algae.

Siphon it out when you do a water change and make sure you are not feeding your fish too much.

It has a harder time growing when it has higher water flow directed at it. Also, what kind of water are you using to make up saltwater? Or buying it from the fish store?

 

[noisyreefer]

I have been buying my water from the fish store...is it possible its a diatom bloom? I think I'm going to go ahead and suck it all up...just wanted to ask b4 i did anything too drastic (= ty

 

[KensReef]

Sounds more like cyano than diatoms do you have a picture? Your going to have to limit the input of nutrients into the tank, wether it be through feeding, topup water or whatever. If you test the water now everything may look fine, but the nutrients get used very quickly and give a false impression. You also need to try to remove as much as you can.

 

[SnowManSnow]

Diotoms will NORMALLY be brown and will subside with time. Like the others have suggested try to up the water flow over the area and maybe do more frequent water changes for a few weeks.

B.