Will removing sand bed reduce algae growth?

[edmund36]

I have been having problems with algae formations in two tanks, one 125 gallons, and one 60 gallons in size. I have green hairy algae in the 125 gallon and red, probably diatom, in the 60 gallon tank.

I have tried extensive RODI water changes, phosphate media bags, re-cleaning sand bottom, with no long term luck. The growth will just continue within two weeks after a thorough cleaning.

Someone told me from the LFS that if I remove my sand bed, in total, it will prevent the phosphates, silicates, other impurities from building up in the tanks. He claims this is the better way to keep up a salt water tank, that is, no sand bed.

Just wanted to get thoughts from others on this. As I never heard this concept, and don

[Grue]

For me I would say no. I personally have gone to buy alot of different bugs snails Pods etc to keep my sandbed healthy. As I understand the whole water chemistry thingy the sand bed is 1 part of my filtration process. IF your water is good No amm no nitrate no nitrate low to no phos I would reduce my time that the main light is on. After all most of the alge your speaking needs food and light to survive. I would also turn up the volume on the proten skimmer. Yes I would have to dose more with trace elements and clean the skimmer more but at least I would know that there is no build up of any organics in the system. I would Also lower my water temp to min levels (76) And I would also look at my sea slug may sleeper golby and my watchman and tell them they will be replaced if they dont get to work =) I would also check to ensure I havent lost too many of my clean up crew. Are their enould snails? Are there enoulf hermits? Did all the emerald crabs die? My 2 Cents
Grue

[AuntKaren]

Grue made some good points - look at how long your lights are on. Algae loves light. Cut back your lighting to 4 hours a day see if the algae backs off, then add like 1/2 hour a week until you are up to say 6 hours per day. Another thing you might look at is your water flow. You might need to increase water flow in areas of your tank.

Do you have the proper amount of clean up crews for your tanks? They truly do make a difference in keeping algae at bay. Most of the larger SWF sites have clean up crew packages to match tank size, see if your numbers of critters match with what the sites suggest.

How many algae eating fish do you have? How old is your tank? Before you do something drastic like removing all your sand try changing lighting, flow and enlarging your clean up crew.

Good luck!