Removing Algae From Sand...

[Kev_A]

Does anyone have any advice for removing algae from sand? I have a plec, yamato shrimp, etc etc. and they do a fantastic job of keeping the leaves and decorations clean but I now how algae forming on the sand at the bottom of the tank, I've got some really good algae killer but don't really want to be adding chemicals to the water unnecessarily + I don't wan to take away the main food source of my plec and shrimp, any advice?

 

[VespertineStar]

How bad is it? I get a very very thin green algae on my sand but giving it a little run through with my fingers floats it all off into the filter.

 

[saz326]

If you regularly turn the sand over, the algae will be reduced. If the sand is nolonger under the light then the algae wont grow and will die off. So get some sand moving.

Think some people use malaysian trumpet snails to do this job for them. They eat leftovers too.

 

[Honeythorn]

I had this problem a while back. I got my net and ran it under the surface, under the algae covered sand and scooped the aglae'd areas out. I just kept doing it ad nauseum until the problem stopped of it's own accord.

 

[Kev_A]

Cheers for the replies

This is the 1st time in 3 months it has happend and I just realised why, I'd previoulsy been disturbing the sand at least once a week, re-arranging plants etc. but I went to Glasgow last week to work, a bit of a break in the routine, when I came back I didn't touch the tank, so it's only really taken a couple of weeks to take hold, as said in the shaded areas there isn't a problem, I've just turned over all the sand, caught a couple of bits as it clumped up and started floating around so all is well, I'll just have to remember to keep doing it

 

[TylerFerretLord]

Get trumpet snails. They'll turn the sand over(not that you need to anyway) and will eat the algae as well as detritus and leftovers from the fish.

 

[Truck]

or cories, they will keep the sand fresh

 

[locker]

Think some people use malaysian trumpet snails to do this job for them. They eat leftovers too.

They are amazing, get occasional algae on the glass but never on the gravel