Are these diatoms?

[lqdpoop]

Hi all, I’ve got this stuff floating on top of my water for a couple of month that I can’t get rid of. I think it’s diatoms but I don’t really see it in the glass, rocks, sand bed, etc. so I’m not too sure. I’ve tried everything from scooping it out, paper towel soak, filter floss, output agitating the water, water changes but it keeps coming back. Even my protein skimmer and filter roller aren’t catching it. Hands/arms gets crusted in it when I have to put it in. Is this a result of over feeding? Appreciate the advice!

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

What salt are you usind...blue bucket by chance?

 

[Idech]

Or Red Sea and you mix it for more than 2 hours ?

 

[lqdpoop]

What salt are you usind...blue bucket by chance?

Red Sea pro

 

[lqdpoop]

Or Red Sea and you mix it for more than 2 hours ?

Yes, Red Sea pro and yes I have it spinning around over night. Not good I’m assuming lol?

 

[Idech]

Yes, Red Sea pro and yes I have it spinning around over night. Not good I’m assuming lol?

There is your answer ! It says on the bucket not to mix more than 2 hours max. I always did it that way, except once when I was making 25 gallons, I left it overnight.

It precipitated a lot and the water was all brown, just like yours. I threw it out and made a new batch.

With Red Sea the best it to mix less than 2 hours than use it immediately.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Pictures very wavy but the pink suggests cyano.
Could use better pics to confirm.

 

[lqdpoop]

There is your answer ! It says on the bucket not to mix more than 2 hours max. I always did it that way, except once when I was making 25 gallons, I left it overnight.

It precipitated a lot and the water was all brown, just like yours. I threw it out and made a new batch.

With Red Sea the best it to mix less than 2 hours than use it immediately.

Appreciate it. I’ll do a water change this weekend and add the salt in the morning.

 

[lqdpoop]

Pictures very wavy but the pink suggests cyano.
Could use better pics to confirm.

Are these any more helpful? Sorry, trying to get better pics, appreciate the help.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Are these any more helpful? Sorry, trying to get better pics, appreciate the help.

Looks like either diatoms or surface diatom algae
Should wipe away easily

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Are these any more helpful? Sorry, trying to get better pics, appreciate the help.

Its still hard to tell, it kinda looks like the brown I've seen with blue bucket lately, but thats almost excessive, can you take a clean white paper towel and dip it into the surface does it look brown on the paper? The brown I've seen does not come from over mixing I've had it mixing for days plenty of times. But its a very sticky brown I've dipped probes and utensils into the water and the brown will stick to it, if you dip the paper towel into it will it transfer?

 

[lqdpoop]

Its still hard to tell, it kinda looks like the brown I've seen with blue bucket lately, but thats almost excessive, can you take a clean white paper towel and dip it into the surface does it look brown on the paper? The brown I've seen does not come from over mixing I've had it mixing for days plenty of times. But its a very sticky brown I've dipped probes and utensils into the water and the brown will stick to it, if you dip the paper towel into it will it transfer?

Yes! Sticks to everything!

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Yes! Sticks to everything!

I've had that with the past few blue buckets, I have been running the brs 10" canister with a 1 micron sediment filter on the mixing tank its a pain to do but clears it right up I make the pump intake close to the surface and break the water line with the return. I mix 40gallons at a time and the sediment filter will be completely brown in 24hrs, and the water will be ultra clear like there's no water, If thats what it is.

 

[lqdpoop]

I've had that with the past few blue buckets, I have been running the brs 10" canister with a 1 micron sediment filter on the mixing tank its a pain to do but clears it right up I make the pump intake close to the surface and break the water line with the return. I mix 40gallons at a time and the sediment filter will be completely brown in 24hrs, and the water will be ultra clear like there's no water, If thats what it is.

So you do this when making your water? Using rodi water as well? Or you’re doing this at the display tank? Thanks in advance!

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

So you do this when making your water? Using rodi water as well? Or you’re doing this at the display tank? Thanks in advance!

I've only done it for the brown surface scum in a mixing tank wich happens to be a 40gallon breeder, but I also run a sediment on my display tank after GAC in series, occasionally. It scrubs the water clean in the display

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I use 2 sediment filters when making rodi 5micron in the first stage and a 1micron right before r.o membrane.

 

[lqdpoop]

I've only done it for the brown surface scum in a mixing tank wich happens to be a 40gallon breeder, but I also run a sediment on my display tank after GAC in series, occasionally. It scrubs the water clean in the display

Good stuff, I’ll try this. Thanks for the help!