Sand and substrates

[Paul Robbins]

Hi,

After some advice please. I've a 160L salt water tank with about 20 kilos of live rocks. A Fluval 404 external filter and jsu added the free Flucal 104 internal filter to help out. I've a UV filter inbetween the 404 and the tank and I've changed my gravel base for a white sand one about two weeks ago.

Tank is stocked with:
1 x Yellow Tang
1 x Common Clown
1 x Emperor Cardinal
1 x Red Scooter Blenny
1 x Purple Blenny
3 x Green Chromis
1 x Regal Tang
5 x snails
1 x Hermit crab

The sand (like the gravel before) is no getting thick with a algae brown and purple matting which I find incredible hard to clean and seperate from the sand as it seems to bond it together.

Any ideas how I can stop this unsightly situtation from occuring and the best method for cleaning the san when the existing method using the pipe and gravel tube affair results in too much water and sand loss.

Also, I'm on the verge of getting a protein skimmer but don't wish to just because the shop think it won't hurt. With this set-up, should I?

Any help very much appreciated

Paul, UK

 

[fraservet]

I have a fairly similar setup, and don't use a protein skimmer. I had one on for a while but the noise was too much, and I haven't had any problems without it.

As for your algae problem, there are several possible solutions

1 Use a phosphate remover (e.g. rowaphos). This removes one of the main food sources for the algae - warning, if your tank has been running without this for a while, phosphates will have built up in the rock/substrate and it may take a long time to equilibriate.

2 You are probably overfeeding, this will cause a build up of algae from the excess and will also make your tangs/blennies less likely to graze on the algae. Try reducing what you feed and don't feed once or twice a week.

3 Have your lights on for a shorter period. Also, does the tank get a lot of direct sunlight?

Vacuuming sand requires a gentler hand than gravel, but it should be possible without losing much.
You can buy a vacuum that filters dirt and returns the water to the tank.