layer of stuff on sand????

[rygoodm6]

i was doing a water change last night and when i went to suck some stuff off my sand i saw that my sand had this layer of stuff on top of it...its thick and like a blanket on top of the sand...its had to explain but it comes up in chunks and the sand is normal under neath it any idea what this could be...any help would be great...please let me know thx

 

[bigarn]

How old is the tank and what color is this stuff?

 

[rygoodm6]

3 months old...some is red some is green but its like leather on top of the sand

 

[bigarn]

The red color sounds like cyanobacteria .... do you have good water flow throughout the tank with no dead spots? Do you use tapwater or RO?

 

[rygoodm6]

ro/di water...4 power heads 2 to airiate serface and 2 for current

 

[darknes]

Definitely sounds like cyano.
What are your phosphates and nitrates at?

 

[bigarn]

Sounds good ..... if you have good filtration and aren't overfeeding continue with the normal water changes ... it should clear up. Your tank is still maturing.