Keeping algae off of white decorative sand

Blown 346 · 01-28-2009, 12:19 AM

With a new tank it will go thru a diatom alge fase.(brown dusting of algae) Thsi is normal. Just stir the sand up gently with your hand. The diatoms will go away after a few weeks once the bacteria level builds up.

medicineman · 01-31-2009, 11:25 AM

What I usually did for sand gravel :

Siphon out the top layer. Vacuum if necessary (usually debris may accumulate)
Place new clean sand over (if I have any unused stock) up to normal level or clean the siphoned sand in bleach (usually for several hours), wash well, rinse and put it back on top.

01-31-2009, 11:25 AM	#17
medicineman Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Jakarta - Indonesia Posts: 1,459	What I usually did for sand gravel : Siphon out the top layer. Vacuum if necessary (usually debris may accumulate) Place new clean sand over (if I have any unused stock) up to normal level or clean the siphoned sand in bleach (usually for several hours), wash well, rinse and put it back on top. __________________ www.wonderindo.com

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01-28-2009, 12:19 AM	#16
Blown 346 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Rockford Il Posts: 345	With a new tank it will go thru a diatom alge fase.(brown dusting of algae) Thsi is normal. Just stir the sand up gently with your hand. The diatoms will go away after a few weeks once the bacteria level builds up.