The Puffer Forum

Ive noticed lately that in the center back of my tank the sand is turning brown, like it has crap sitting on it. The rest of the sand is white as normal. Im assuming this is happening due to lack of water movement in that area. Im thinking of getting a koralia powerhead but not sure where to put it to get movement in that area.

Right now I have my wet/dry return as a spray bar across the back and my marineland 220 is about 1inch away from the right side and is aimed at the glass.

Here is a pic of the tank so yall can help me out with where the best place to put the koralia would be

Probably diatoms. Are you stirring the sand weekly?

hmm... you need a background lookin good though. I don't see what you are talkin about... Have you tried vac'n it up? Maybe some airline tubing just to sweep over the area? does it come up? I have a small deadspot in my tank, kind of nice - all the crap collects together and I just vac it up.... right out in the open so that it's easy to get to

Nice lookin tank Xray!
Center rear of a big tank like that=hardest place to reach often enough with gravel vac, I know it is in my 120.
Maybe U can crank the marineland to the left instead of facing the glass to help sweep the debris towards the intake on the left. If I'm understanding the placement U have correctly?
If U do end up needing a koralia, U could try and place it behind what looks like a rock, and a plant or two U have on the right side? Gotta love Koralias for the magnetic footing!

ya I can vacuum it up. I may try to redirect the 220

PP I dont stir it up every time I do a water change, more like once a month. Mainly cause I forget to do it.

Here's a good reason to remember.

i thought diatoms were only salt water

sao870 wrote:i thought diatoms were only salt water

Why don't you tell that to my freshwater tanks?

+1 to JRC3's comment above.

I also agree w/PP comments - I'd place my first bet on diatoms. I'd stir any unplanted sand weekly. I would also increase the plant mass in the center - if you have enough light to grow any plants, that is the area that needs them the most.

I think I have enough light, its a 50/50 bulb

A 50/50 is a SW tube, wasted in FW IMHO. Most FW plants do not have the appropriate pigments.