Brown Algae on Sandbed

Dsc is right. Starfish belong in the ocean.
Once the food source gets depleted they die and create more issues in the tank.

I volunteered in a store- the amount of starfish that died weekly was sad...the mess they make is nasty!

It looks like diatoms or possibly a brown cyano you have. I had it in my tank for the first 5 mnths on and off.

I implemented the following:

1. Added an additional powerhead to get more flow to the lower level of tank
2. Clean out filter, intakes, pumps, ph monthly or more
3. Replace filter floss 1-2x a week
4. Rinse carbon bag at every water change and replace completely every month(unless its a product that lasts longer like chemipure)
5. Added more nassarius snails
6. Fed less
7. Vacuum sand bed lightly at waterchange day, use turkey baster on rocks.

It worked.

 

Yes piano my husband is right. But he did not say that all starfish belong in the ocean. We both have had experience with this starfish. We advise people not to get them unless they have a very large tank with a few inches of sand. The tank also must be well established. It's ok to own a starfish if you are providing what it needs. We have a blue linckia star and it has done great for years.

 

Ok definitely going to stay clear from the star fish. I am going to buy some more snarius snails. I have 3 now how many do I need for a 24 gallon tank?

 

I will also try to clean out the carbon bag

 

I'd stay at 3 for now. How old is your tank?

 

My tank is 3 years old. I never used to pay attention to the levels being a beginner. This was a huge mistake. Ive now been testing my water and my nitrates and phosphates have droped emensley. Nitrates whent from 40 to 0 and phosphates from 10 to .25 range. I still want to get the phosphates to zero. What is the deal with my carbon bag? Can i just throw it out? Do I need to replace it? Could it be something else causing this? Thanks so much for the help I really appreciate it

 

I replace the carbon in the reef once a month and I use a little extra since I have a large bioload. Even with zero phosphate on a test kit you'll still get some brown on the sand bed. Since you tank is 3 years old you can throw in a few more nassarius snails. Normally after a few months of good maintenance the brown algae will dissappear. Don't disturb your sand bed to much with a water change, that can release some nasty stuff into the water column. I don't keep crabs in the reef tank, I keep a couple turbos, astria and nassarius snail and the tank stays relatively clean. I've accepted it's not going to spotless all the time.