How do I attack this problem

wait so the dsb is in the display tank? and that is the one you have been stiring?

 

yes,..I am sorry did i describe my problem incorrectly?

 

no im just making sure, because it is alot more dangerous to stir a dsb then a ssb.

how long has this tank been set up?

 

Not yet Tyslin

do you have a DSB in the main tank or in the fuge?
how deep is the sand bed in the main tank?

also - can you decribe your water flow as cyno loves tranquility

Steve

 

I've only stirred my tank 2 twice in the last 2 weeks, and my tank has been up for about 10 months, the only times I've done it. when I stir I use my hands and lightly move the sand a bit on the surface. I dont go to deep with the stirring. I've heard that its ok as long as you dont go to deep with it

 

DSB in main tank, 4 inch DSB. I have 2 koralia 850 gph on the left side of the tank and a mag 1800 as a return into the main tank from my overflow. One of the koralia is positioned toward the middle/back to blow behind the back wall of the tank. The other is at the right also but to the front area of the tank. Overall my flow is med to high. I just recently increased the flow cause I thought that might of been the problem.

 

yes i would not recommend going deep. they have a problem with the build of posioness wastes, you can usually tell by the sand being black in areas.another problem with deep sand beds is they fill up with waste and eventually start to leech it back out like a septic tank. that is why most people no longer have them in there display tank anymore so its is more easy to replace them. but your tank is kinda young to be having these issues yet, but its something to think about for the future.

since these fish are recent, and the problem has been here longer then that, what happened in the tanks past(im assuming it hasnt been empty for 9 months ).

 

What herbivores do you have in your tank? I have used a sleeper goby to keep the surface of the substrate turned over which has kept the cyano away in my DSB. I have read you can use a queen conch to get rid of cyano which it feeds on.

 

The only thing in the tank was some corals, a clam and a few mushrooms, along with a clean up crew.

 

well good news you dont have a true deep sand bed, as a working dsb needs atleast 6 inches with sand(except the very fine powdered kind) to create anerobic zone, and form posioness chemicals. as of right now its just acting like a nutrient sink.

i would say your flow is a little low overall(but im sure its high in some places), most reefs go with a 40-50x turnover rate, so a 90gx50=4500gph in total of all powerheads and pumps.