[Umbles]

So i have cleaned my tank roughly every 2 weeks, and i noticed that recently i've been getting mold stuck to the individual grains of sand. they don't come off with a normal tank clean, I was just wondering if there was some other method i could try to get this sand completely clean.

Here's a picture!

thanks!

 

[willow]

i've called for help :-D

 

[Boredomb]

What kind of sand is that? Is the "mold" slimy?
Have you tried to siphon the sand out and see if it comes back?
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[Umbles]

It is the normal Petco Aquarium sand.

Ive used the normal cleaning siphoner when i change the water. It just sinks back down with the rest of the sand

It doesnt feel slimy, still feels like sand. It used to be all white

 

[Boredomb]

Is it just on the sand? How long is the setup been running? What else do you have in the tank?

 

[Umbles]

There is some light brown bold on the heater that easily comes off, but thats it

 

[Umbles]

*mold, i have a 40 gallon freshwater tank with two molly's, just sand, a rock and a plant in the tank. The whole setup has been running about 2 months now.

 

[Boredomb]

Does the brown algae on the heater look the same as what's on the sand? Sorry for all the questions!

 

[Umbles]

It looks to be about the same color. and i think i just noticed some bright green algae growing on my pump.. which if its the same stuff as in saltwater, i remember its gonna be a pain to get rid of -_-. But ya, the stuff on the sand seems like it sticks to it much harder than the heater. Not sure if thats just cause of the surface or if it really is different

 

[Boredomb]

I am betting its the same and it just sticks better to the sand. Also betting its Diatoms. Its not uncommon to get them in the first couple of months after setting up a freshwater tank. I had them in my first tank I setup. They will go away pretty soon unless there is another under laying problem such as silicate in your tab water.

Until then I would wipe what you can get off the filter and as for the sand you can (if you have a plain gravel vacuum) siphon it out by starting the siphon and pulling off the big tube at the end. You should have water just going through the hose. Stick the hose just above the sand it will come out into the bucket. If you are using a python well I suppose you could do the same but then you get sand in your sink.

 

[Umbles]

I hope it is just the normal stuff!, I appriciate all the help! And i till definitely try the hose without the tube at the end! Thanks again!

 

[willow]

:-D