Brown diatoms.

[Matt56]

In the past 2-3 days I upped the intensity on my lights and now my rocks and sand bed are starting to turn a little brown. I believe it’s from the lights however if anyone else can give me info on why this may be happening I would appreciate it. Using aquatic life rodi buddy 50 gallons/day. Also redsea coral pro salt. Also I only have 2 blue legged hermit crabs and two snails, emerald crab just died but looks like it’s been dead for a couple of days because there was a white film around it’s body maybe that boosted something?

 

[road_runner]

In the past 2-3 days I upped the intensity on my lights and now my rocks and sand bed are starting to turn a little brown. I believe it’s from the lights however if anyone else can give me info on why this may be happening I would appreciate it. Using aquatic life rodi buddy 50 gallons/day. Also redsea coral pro salt. Also I only have 2 blue legged hermit crabs and two snails, emerald crab just died but looks like it’s been dead for a couple of days because there was a white film around it’s body maybe that boosted something?

What's your system details?
Parameters
Age
Filtiration
Dosing
?

 

[Matt56]

What's your system details?
Parameters
Age
Filtiration
Dosing
?

Tank is redsea reefer 425xl
Parameters are:
Ammonia/nitrite-0
Nitrate 10
Ph-8.2
Alk-7
Ca-420
Currently at 2-3 months old however this is the first ever sight of algae and I went through the whole ammonia spike nitrite spike etc.
Filtration: 2 filter socks and a redsea RSK 300.
Not dosing anything atm.

 

[road_runner]

Tank is redsea reefer 425xl
Parameters are:
Ammonia/nitrite-0
Nitrate 10
Ph-8.2
Alk-7
Ca-420
Currently at 2-3 months old however this is the first ever sight of algae and I went through the whole ammonia spike nitrite spike etc.
Filtration: 2 filter socks and a redsea RSK 300.
Not dosing anything atm.

What's your po4? Am guessing bit high right?
Am assuming your have live rocks right?
What animals in the system?

 

[Matt56]

What's your po4? Am guessing bit high right?
Am assuming your have live rocks right?
What animals in the system?

Actually can’t check my po4 because I ran out
I have 50lbs of dry rock that’s been in there since the start with maybe 5lbs of love rock from my old system
4 clowns 1 damsel and a blue tang however haven’t seen it all day oddly.

 

[Idoc]

2 months old... more than likely the diatom bloom. I'd monitor and see how it progresses... they're usually self limiting after they use up the silicates in the system.

 

[road_runner]

You need to check your po4 at least once a month.But it is safe to assume it bit high.
My advice is to
- start using high quality activated carbon..in a reactor is better.
- Use good quality gfo..I like using rowaphos but this is very effective gfo you should not use it without testing po4 often otherwise it can bring your po4 to zero while your no3 is not..this is something you do not want. If you will use rowaphos I advice use it passively in a bag at least at first. Otherwise use a reactor with good fgo.
- Skim wet
- keep up with weekly water change at least for 2 months.
- test no3 and po4 at least once a month.
-keep up with good husbandry like feeding habits, cleaning sand when you do water change..etc

Eventually the diatom will go away for sure, just be patient, your system still building its biological support system.

Avoid chemical treatments or drastic treatments this diatom will go away eventually once your po4 and no3 comes down, and your system mature more...

 

[Matt56]

2 months old... more than likely the diatom bloom. I'd monitor and see how it progresses... they're usually self limiting after they use up the silicates in the system.

Anyway to limit the silicates in my tank?

 

[road_runner]

Anyway to limit the silicates in my tank?

Rowaphos do remove silica and Al.but you need to first know where is silica coming from in your system.
How do you know your have silica? Did you do icp test?

 

[Matt56]

You need to check your po4 at least once a month.But it is safe to assume it bit high.
My advice is to
- start using high quality activated carbon..in a reactor is better.
- Use good quality gfo..I like using rowaphos but this is very effective gfo you should not use it without testing po4 often otherwise it can bring your po4 to zero while your no3 is not..this is something you do not want. If you will use rowaphos I advice use it passively in a bag at least at first. Otherwise use a reactor with good fgo.
- Skim wet
- keep up with weekly water change at least for 2 months.
- test no3 and po4 at least once a month.
-keep up with good husbandry like feeding habits, cleaning sand when you do water change..etc

Eventually the diatom will go away for sure, just be patient, your system still building its biological support system.

Avoid chemical treatments or drastic treatments this diatom will go away eventually once your po4 and no3 comes down, and your system mature more...

Thank you for the help really appreciate it.

 

[Matt56]

Deleted.

 

[Matt56]

Rowaphos do remove silica and Al.but you need to first know where is silica coming from in your system.
How do you know your have silica? Did you do icp test?

No idoc said they are self limiting after using up the silicate so I’m assuming there is some then.

 

[road_runner]

No idoc said they are self limiting after using up the silicate so I’m assuming there is some then.

Well, silica can fuel diatom but not every diatom is caused by silica.
In your system at this early phases diatom is very normal and part if the phases new systems go through. Its actually a good sign meaning your system is cycling.
After the diatom you will have green algae phase then it will also go away.

Add urchins and snails, these clean up crew are effective against algae which is coming your way soon

 

[Matt56]

Well, silica can fuel diatom but not every diatom is caused by silica.
In your system at this early phases diatom is very normal and part if the phases new systems go through. Its actually a good sign meaning your system is cycling.
After the diatom you will have green algae phase then it will also go away.

Add urchins and snails, these clean up crew are effective against algae which is coming your way soon

I assumed the cycle was finished because I got the normal ammonia spike then droop nitrite spike then drop etc and it’s been 3 weeks atleast since that all finished.

 

[Matt56]

Well, silica can fuel diatom but not every diatom is caused by silica.
In your system at this early phases diatom is very normal and part if the phases new systems go through. Its actually a good sign meaning your system is cycling.
After the diatom you will have green algae phase then it will also go away.

Add urchins and snails, these clean up crew are effective against algae which is coming your way soon

Baught a blue tuxedo Urchin however died in the first couple of days some kind of pest was eating it from the inside looked like a leech and there were multiple.

 

[road_runner]

I assumed the cycle was finished because I got the normal ammonia spike then droop nitrite spike then drop etc and it’s been 3 weeks atleast since that all finished.

Well maybe the word cycle was not the right word here. I am referring to your system biological build up. After the cycle you are referring to, a phase of diatom. Followed by a phase of green algae are very common and expected. Just be patient and follow the steps I described it will pass for sure.

 

[road_runner]

...

 

[Matt56]

Well maybe the word cycle was not the right word here. I am referring to your system biological build up. After the cycle you are referring to, a phase of diatom. Followed by a phase of green algae are very common and expected. Just be patient and follow the steps I described it will pass for sure.

Thank you very much will most likely go with the bagged gfo seeing I need more flow in the tank so I’ll spend the extra $$ on that instead of a reactor.

 

[Matt56]

Hmm...
Btw you are sure what you have is distom not something like dino..right?
Do you have pictures?
Does the algae come during the day and disappear during the night?
Does it look slimy?

I have really only noticed it today honestly. It is not slimy or anything just like dust move the sand and it turns white. Sandbed was moved around so it might look a little different.

 

[road_runner]

Thank you very much will most likely go with the bagged gfo seeing I need more flow in the tank so I’ll spend the extra $$ on that instead of a reactor.

Just make sure you follow the instructions on the gfo that you will use. Especially if you go with rowaphos..this thing is so effective it can harm if you overdosed it.