green and pink algae(?) in sandbed

[tripleup05]

The front of my tank is almost covered in neon green and pinkish/purple between the sand and glass, and it goes down about 3/4 of an inch. I'm assuming this is some sort of algae, and it looks the color of slime algae but its only in the front of the tank, and its not on top and its not spreading downwards any. Only outwards. And its not like the colors blend into the sand gradually...there is a sharp line where it stops. I'll try to obtain a digital camera and get a picture so you can see. does anybody know what i'm talking about, and if you do, is it normal/harmful/etc?

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like cyanobacteria (slime algae) to me, it comes in all colors. Here's a link to an article that has a picture about 3/4 of the way down the page, and links to other good articles as well.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bluegralgae.htm

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

You're talking about algae between the glass and the sandbed right? Not on top of the sand, but against the glass?

Normal.

 

[tripleup05]

yup you got it. between the glass and sand, not on top

 

[romunov]

Interesetingly enough, I almost have none of that. My sand is very very fine (flour like), though.

 

[Anonymous]

If it is under the sand surface, it is just the sandbed maturing. How old is the SB? Every DSB I have had developed this same thing.

 

[Reefer_man]

I have the same thing. My tank is only 2.5 months old. Should I clean it? Or is that too dangerous (releasing gases from the dsb?).