sandbed/algae/nano issues - take your pick.

[rsisvixen]

Like I said the crusty stuff is probably diatoms but I couldn't say for sure, perhaps some photos?

I would imagine the zoas are closed perhaps from low ammonia or high nitrate/phosphate, have you tested the water?

[GoFish]

I started a 10 gallon all-in-one tank last year sometime, i added about 1/2" of course white sand. Several months later it wasn't so white anymore and if I stirred it up at all out came a cloud of junk (detritus). So out with the sand and went bare bottom, well I forgot to paint the bottom of the tank black so it looked kinda crappy, not long after that I put in 1/2" of black sand, looked great for months but same thing, trapped fish poop and clouded the water if it was stirred up. Several months later I replaced the tank with a duplicate, this time blacked out the bottom using a vinyl decal. Couldn't be happier
I love the look of sand at first but more downsides to it than bare bottom in my experience.. My vote, take it out. At least you won't have anything growing on your sand anymore. Just make sure you have adequate flow to keep the bottom tidy

[christyf5]

Originally Posted by Vancity

I started a 10 gallon all-in-one tank last year sometime, i added about 1/2" of course white sand. Several months later it wasn't so white anymore and if I stirred it up at all out came a cloud of junk (detritus). So out with the sand and went bare bottom, well I forgot to paint the bottom of the tank black so it looked kinda crappy, not long after that I put in 1/2" of black sand, looked great for months but same thing, trapped fish poop and clouded the water if it was stirred up. Several months later I replaced the tank with a duplicate, this time blacked out the bottom using a vinyl decal. Couldn't be happier
I love the look of sand at first but more downsides to it than bare bottom in my experience.. My vote, take it out. At least you won't have anything growing on your sand anymore. Just make sure you have adequate flow to keep the bottom tidy

true. I don't even have any fish in there, just corals and there is buildup on the sand. I guess I'm just not sandbed friendly

[christyf5]

Originally Posted by rsisvixen

Like I said the crusty stuff is probably diatoms but I couldn't say for sure, perhaps some photos?

I would imagine the zoas are closed perhaps from low ammonia or high nitrate/phosphate, have you tested the water?

no I know what diatoms are, this wasn't it. Diatoms come off in a thin film or maybe with a bit of sand attached. This is an entire layer of sand, thick, chunky and has to be physically broken up with, well this was with my plastic tipped siphon. Its almost like I had an alkalinity event or something with the sand being so chunky. Guess its coming out next waterchange...*sigh*