Sand Bed Question!

mambokings · 03-28-2006, 07:58 AM

Good morning to everyone! Why does my sand gets so dirty? Please look at the pic! it gets like that twice a month, is this normal? to much calcium? mini cycle? I have two sand stars and two horse shoe crabs but don't think its enough. Please I need your comments.
Thanks

Little Luey · 03-28-2006, 08:42 AM

how much water flow do you have in the tank? My guess is that all the extra food and fish waste is settleling on the sand where there is not enough flow, this is fueling the algie. I would try to increase the flow and feed less. Do you skim? this will also help.

Geoff · 03-28-2006, 08:46 AM

it looks like you are not clearing the detritus fast enough from those areas. not enough flow. i actually think that the sand star may be hurting in your situation. it is eating all of the sand bed critters that clear the really small detritus.

G~

mambokings · 03-28-2006, 08:47 AM

My tank is a 55 gal. my pump is 1017 GPH - around 750 GPH @ 4' - 5' head. I do have a skimmer but I think I'm giving the fish to much food.
thanks

Petunia · 03-28-2006, 10:03 AM

I agree on the over feeding. Do you 'turkey baste' the bed and lr? I do this every other day, I have been doing wc's two times a week, and I added more flow to my tank. It's helping... I just need patience. My parameters are getting better and better all the time.

mambokings · 03-28-2006, 10:28 AM

I also realize my glass gets greener when this stuff on my sand happens