Are these parameters OK?

[ramasezz]

Hi all...

200 gallon DT + 70 gallon sump..mixed reef but lps and softies dominated.. been running for about 7 months now..

Just tested the params after a month.. was confident it should be more or less OK... so the main stuff I checked are as... these are all with JBL Marin test lab kit...
KH 9
PH 8.2
NH4 <0.05
PO4 0.4
SiO2 <0.1
CA 440
MG 1120

CHECKED NO2 = 0 and NO3 = 5 on the API reef master..

Wanted a second opinion if all's well coz I seem to be battling a diatoms invasion on my substrate..

I have LED lights totalling 300 W and they are a mix of whites and blues with 12000K capacity. They run at 50-50 for 10 hours with 2 hours in between at100% (can't reduce this) and the last 4 hours with only blues... total for 16 hours..

Have 2 power heads with a total capacity of 6000 litres per hour and 2 wavvemakers from sunsun with a capacity of another 6000 litres per hour..

So if my Params are pretty satisfactory, what else can I do for the diatoms..

BTW.. I have a linkia star, 2 shorty spined urchins and about 30 Nerite snails as CuC... and 3 tangs and a pair of Foxface rabbit fish who are also algae eaters..

Have been mulling over vodka dosing or spraying the substrate with H2O2 but not able to muster up the courage for fear of damaging the corals..

Many thanks in advance...

 

[ramasezz]

I think I just saw another thread on the same topic so I'll go through that too....

 

[Shaddow_wolf169]

Mag needs to be a little higher (1350) diatoms come when setting up new tank it's in the sand silicates which they feed on. It's in tap water. Phosguard will help with silicates. Lighting should be cut back to 8 hours and nutrients should be cut back. I keep my Cal around 480. Is this your second bloom of diatoms?

 

[ramasezz]

Yes actually. I am not dosing bcoz what's good for the corals will also feed the unwanted algae. And I'm also trying to balance by keeping a little bit of nutrients in the system for the LPS... have already started the light period reduction. 30 minutes a week is what I'm aiming.. hope this will help and not stress the livestock..