brown live sand, assuming it's algae

Hey everybody. I've got Carribean live sand, about 1.75 inches of it. Moved to a 40G and put the tank in my newly remodeled room a week or so ago. Levels are fine, I'm running T5 Coralife lunar Aqualights. 60 lbs of live rock, lps, a watchman goby, scooter blenny, pajama cardinal, clown and a baby tang- I do not know the species. He's light grey with some blue and has the 'my little pony' face like a scopas. Not overfeeding, no new changes. However, this week, my sand has just been incessantly brown on the surface. I vacuumed it yesterday and this morning the brown has returned. Assuming it's algae. The problem is only on the sand and only on the surface. Any ideas, without posting a pic? If a pic is needed, I'll add one later. Thanks!!

 

Just Diatom algae. It will clear on its own in about 2-3 weeks. You can add a bag of Seachem phosphate/silicate remover to speed up the process, but only leave it in for about 3-4 days because once it absorbs the silicates, it will leach them back out when saturated. This is totally normal...just be patient. I believe the name of it is Phosban.

 

Welcome back Coaster! Haven't seen you on here lately! What tank did you have before the 40?

 

Thanks!! I've been so busy with school that I finally tapered out on the spendage for the tank, now I'm just letting things grow, and grow they are! The babies my mushrooms are having and the little star polyps popping up everywhere is just amazing. Trying to fill the spaces with soft corals is great but then I had to remind myself to chill, cuz everything will multiply then I'll be way stocked.
I had a 30 before the 40 but on one of the corners inside the tank, a big chunk of silicone was peeling and I panicked. My fish guy came out with a pump, set up the 40 breeder and transferred my water while I scooped all the sand. It was super easy, had it all done in like 30 minutes. Then remodeled the house and had to move the tank. Perhaps the algae in the sand is just as a result of scooping it all out into bins then putting it back in.
In any regard, the tank is great and so am I. Nice to talk to all of you again!

 

Def diatom