Are these diatoms?

[msavoy]

My tank is a year and a half old and since the past 3 months or so almost everyday after I clean the glass and sand this brownish, reddish color develops again on the glass and sand. When I clean it off the glass it almost makes like a brown dust in the water. Any idea what this annoying, unsightly stuff is? And if so, how can I remedy it? My nitrates are around 15 and my phosphates are around 0.03. Thanks for any help!

 

[blaxsun]

Is it brownish red or purple?

 

[msavoy]

I’d say more brownish for sure

 

[Tankkeepers]

Sounds like Diatom a UV light will help but without a daylight pic hard to say

Might be comming from trapped organics in your sand when you clean it it's not just the top layer that needs to be clean you gotta go to the bottom otherwise this happens enless it's deep enoff to establish a DSB

 

[Tankkeepers]

Going bare bottom is the only way I ever got completely rid of it

 

[Lavey29]

Have you had your RODI water checked for silicates? Mine shows high silicate and after water changes I get mild diatoms occasionally but not so much now.

 

[vetteguy53081]

My tank is a year and a half old and since the past 3 months or so almost everyday after I clean the glass and sand this brownish, reddish color develops again on the glass and sand. When I clean it off the glass it almost makes like a brown dust in the water. Any idea what this annoying, unsightly stuff is? And if so, how can I remedy it? My nitrates are around 15 and my phosphates are around 0.03. Thanks for any help!

Please post pics under white lighting for accurate assessment. There 3-4 instances where it is brown- noy just diatoms

 

[Tankkeepers]

Have you had your RODI water checked for silicates? Mine shows high silicate and after water changes I get mild diatoms occasionally but not so much now.

Absolutely right they love silicates