Brown Diatoms on Sand

[ejl2529]

My tank finished cycling months ago, and I still get Brown diatoms on the sand bed. This only happens during the daytime when the lights are on. If I brush the sand around, they usually disappear only to reappear hours later. I don’t think its a water quality issue because I’m well within the parameters on everything Including phosphate which is .01. Im also running Rowaphos in a media reactor. So I’m curious why I still get a layer of diatoms on the sand.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Without a microscope confirmation, it could be dinoflagellates.

What's your N03 at?

 

[Reeffraff]

Given the low PO4 and use of phosphate binding media I will hazard a guess that these are dinos. As mentioned, you'll need a microscope to ID the genus/species which determines how to treat them. One general approach with dinos is to try and raise your nutrient levels. If it were me, I would start by removing the Rowaphos, feed a little more and see how the algae responds.

 

[Ultra Aquatics]

Either it’s Dino’s or you still have excess silicate in your sand, which is what causes diatoms. A photo would help ID.