Are these diatoms?

[msavoy]

So these started around 3 weeks into my cycle and now I’m at about week 5. They first showed up on the glass as little brown patches and then it started in the sand. I turned the sand over a bit yesterday and they came right back. When I clean the glass they start to come back the next day as well. If they are diatoms, about how long before they go away? Is there something I can do to speed up the process? And if they’re not diatoms what could they be and also how can I fix it? Thanks for your help.

 

[MarshallB]

Diatoms are a result of silicates in the water. Make sure you don't have any in your RODI or saltmix water and they will die off on their own. How long should it take? No idea on that. My tank is about 6 months old now and its hard to just sit back and let a tank do its thing.

 

[msavoy]

Yeah I use RODI water and even have TDS meter to check and it reads zero. I don’t mind waiting for the diatoms to go away but I just wanted to bake sure that’s what this is and not something else. So you still have some diatoms at 6 months?

 

[Saltyreef]

Diatoms love unrinsed sand in new tanks.
As said above, consuming silicate.

 

[MarshallB]

Yeah I use RODI water and even have TDS meter to check and it reads zero. I don’t mind waiting for the diatoms to go away but I just wanted to bake sure that’s what this is and not something else. So you still have some diatoms at 6 months?

From the picture it looks like diatoms. that's pretty much what mine looked like.

I have something, but its not diatoms. Diatoms will seem 'dusty' it should come off the substrate fairly easily. I was worried about trying to always clean them up, but they will go away once they use up the silicate in the water so I just let them ride. It only took about 2-3 weeks for those to clear up. Im assuming there must have been some silicate in the dry rock or dry substrate I used.

A lot of weird things pop up during the ugly phase. As long as its not a giant outbreak of hair algae or bubble algae, I'm not too worried about it.

 

[msavoy]

From the picture it looks like diatoms. that's pretty much what mine looked like.

I have something, but its not diatoms. Diatoms will seem 'dusty' it should come off the substrate fairly easily. I was worried about trying to always clean them up, but they will go away once they use up the silicate in the water so I just let them ride. It only took about 2-3 weeks for those to clear up. Im assuming there must have been some silicate in the dry rock or dry substrate I used.

A lot of weird things pop up during the ugly phase. As long as its not a giant outbreak of hair algae or bubble algae, I'm not too worried about it.

Ok great, good to know thanks. So I’ll stop turning the sand over then because that seems to be making things worse. I’ll let it play itself out then and if I see any hair or bubble algae forming I’ll take action. Thanks

 

[MarshallB]

Ok great, good to know thanks. So I’ll stop turning the sand over then because that seems to be making things worse. I’ll let it play itself out then and if I see any hair or bubble algae forming I’ll take action. Thanks

When they start to die off the color will fade from it. That's your sign to either add some CUC or clean it out.

 

[msavoy]

Diatoms love unrinsed sand in new tanks.
As said above, consuming silicate.

Thanks, I’ll definitely stop hiding the diatoms on top under the clean sand ‍

 

[Flippers4pups]

Could be diatoms or dinoflagellates. A microscope ID is needed.