Diatoms?
 

Hey guys,

I have had my JBJ Nanocube HQI running for 4 months now, and about two months ago the top layer of my sand started to get a fuzzy yellowish brown substance all over it. I am assuming these are diatoms, but from what I read they are a normal part of initial cycle and should not last long. I have had these for over 2 months, and they are showing no sign of slowing down at all.

Are these indeed diatoms? Is there anything I can do to get rid of it?

I tried pointing a powerhead at the sand, but that didn't help much at all. I tried sifting the sand and burrying the top layer under new sand, but the next day it would appear again. Arg, my tank used to look so beautiful, but this brown sand bed ruins everything.

I can take a few months to get rid of them. Are you using RO water, and skimming right now? Not sure of your fish/coral load, or any of your specs, but you might also be leading in cyno.

Using 0 TDS RO/DI water for water changes and top ups. In my 30g tank, I have 1 randalls goby and 1 clown fish with bubble tip anemone. I also have various corals and a DIY refugium with chaeto in the back.

Likwid...what sort of clean up crew do you have in the tank?

I have 2 turbo snails, 2 left handed hermit crabs, 5 blue leg hermits, 2 sand sifting snails and a cleaner shrimp.

well, the cleanup crew is in order...what's your maintenance schedule like? Diatoms do take quite a while to get rid of, infact I have one tank that always has a small number of them....

15% water change once a week. Here is a pic of it taken from my cell phone, hopefully the quality if good enough for you guys to make it out.

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/5746/photoso4.jpg
http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/p...jpg/1/w800.png

use an orange spot sand sifting goby and kiss your worries away.....

http://www.fishlore.com/Pictures/Pro...amond-goby.jpg

I actually had one a month ago, he would just sit on the sand and rarely ever put it in its mouth. It died after a week of having it.

hmm odd my freind had the same thing as you in a 55g fowler I suggested the same to him and after 2 weeks no more diatoms and he has alot of sand to cover, the reason why I suggested this fish is for 2 reasons 1 to keep the sand be stirred releasing particles into the water so it can be skimmed out and also to feed the corals, second there is pieces of food that don't get eaten and land on the sand bed this fish will eat it and keep the sand nice and clean. Maybe you got a lazy or cyanide caught fish anyhow if you try another one make sure it's sifting sand and eating to increase your luck.