algae under sand

[shawnyboy66]

I don't have much of an algae problem on the glass or on top of the sand, but i have it very bad under the sand. I can see it where the sand builds up against the glass. Any suggestions for CUC to take care of this? Its a 30 gallon tank and i already have around 10 Nassarius snails.

[brandon429]

They're contributing via waste pellets they deposit into the sand and I find that burrowing cuc members either go after a target or not...and that can change in time as well, it's about the wait. to me those are the variances by choosing to leave it in but forced removal rids it.

 

I think options are to clean out the sandbed with a full blast rinse, that's how I maintain my ultra old dsb, or just leave it and keep trying various natural options. A full rip cleaning cannot be beaten for its effect on the tank afterwards, mega clean system, high orp, room to renew good tank feeding etc. we just do it in a skip cycle order. The full outcome of a complete tank cleaning is a brand new looking reef with no detritus, anywhere.

[ndrobey]

_{I hate the ugly-algae-against-the-glass look, too. I put a retaining wall of rock pieces a couple of inches from the glass. In front of the retaining wall, there is just enough sand to look good and natural, around 1/2 inch. Behind the retaining wall is the deep sand.}

[Polarcollision]

I don't have much of an algae problem on the glass or on top of the sand, but i have it very bad under the sand. I can see it where the sand builds up against the glass. Any suggestions for CUC to take care of this? Its a 30 gallon tank and i already have around 10 Nassarius snails.

 

Do you mean the film of color between the glass and sand? I think that's normal and a sign of a healthy tank, well as long as it's not a problem elsewhere. Pretty sure most people scrape the glass under the sand before pics to give that pristine sand look.

 

Right NR? Who cleans the scunge between the sand and glass before pics. Or crops it out of images?

[ReefWeeds]

Do you mean the film of color between the glass and sand? I think that's normal and a sign of a healthy tank, well as long as it's not a problem elsewhere. Pretty sure most people scrape the glass under the sand before pics to give that pristine sand look.

 

Right NR? Who cleans the scunge between the sand and glass before pics. Or crops it out of images?

I agree! I actually don't scrape it before pics - probably should at least crop it out.

 

OP - it is a film on the glass most likely because light can get at that area. I figure it's just part of the living sand bed and all the life and bacteria in it.