BRStv 12 tank study, invincible diatoms?

[beesnreefs]

One measurement they used that I didn't quite understand was the "balance". Im sure they explained it somewhere and I just missed it but it sounded like it is a comparison between the DNA analysis of each tank compared to an average tank but how do they determine that it's best to have a tank that's close to the average? How did they determine that a tank with an altogether different DNA analysis wouldn't be beneficial in some way or to certain organisms?
What do you guys think?

Balance is a score from @AquaBiomics. Having tested the biome of hundreds of tanks, AquaBiomics has been able to basically map out what the microbiome tends to look like in “typical, healthy” reef tanks.

What they have found is that while healthy tanks have a variety of bacteria and archaea, five species tend to consistently show up in large numbers.

The Balance Score is a numerical indication of how a particular sample compares to the biome in a “typical, healthy” reef tank. A score of 1 indicates a “perfect” match. A score of 0 indicates no match at all.

If you knew nothing about someone’s tank but you knew they had a high Balance score, you’d be pretty safe in assuming their tank is healthy, happy, and stable. Not a perfect predictor, but a strong one.

An interesting finding from AquaBiomics’ work is that Diversity isn’t necessarily a good thing. They consistently find that tanks with high Diversity scores but low Balance scores aren’t doing well. Whereas tanks with low Diversity scores but high Balance scores do tend to be healthy.

And yes, I’m a total nerd about this stuff. Haha.

 

[Garf]

Its hard to not add any silicates to a tank. Even in 0 tds water there can be some. Plus, silica shouldn't "run out." If they die, the silica is still in the system. However, many people run media that may remove silicates because they are trying to control phosphates in a new tank. This is one of those things where you have to be careful as its not "accepted" (unless you meant expected?) that they run out of silica. that diatoms simply run out of silica in a tank other than by what is popular to say around here.

I think the silicates are bound up in there casings, whatever they are called, so are not readily dissolvable. However, I think making a slurry out of potentially toxic Dino’s and the chemical interactions between algae’s is just not realistic. Poor old clowns, who knows how this affects fish?

 

[beesnreefs]

On another note, I had been planning my new 225g build when these videos came out. I didn’t change a ton based on the BRS findings but I did adjust some.

Started my system with a dry Marco rock HNSA scape, 120 lb of OceanDirect sand, tested live sand from AquaBiomics, and live sand/mud from IPSF.

Lights were off for the first month, even after my first fish were added. I added 6 jars of copepods along with the first fish.

Lights came on at LPS levels (150 PAR up top, 70-90 PAR on the sand bed, verified with my Apogee PAR meter) at week 6. Also added a ReefCleaners clean up crew.

A week into lighted being up I have zero algae, zero diatom bloom, zero dinos. Im sure it’s only a matter of time for some uglies but it is interesting how clean its remaining so far.

 

[Garf]

16 jars per tank is a lot, does @AlgaeBarn filter the pods or does the water contain silicates, high levels of N & P? It’s known that silicates are added to culture water, that’s what I do.

 

[Lavey29]

I have endless light coat of diatoms in my tank. My 4 stage RODI does not filter out all the silicate as confirmed via ICP. I have considered using specterpure silicate buster but I know tanks need some silicate and if there is light patches of diatoms on my sand I never have to worry about dinos. Plus it feeds the microfauna. So I would like pure white sand but think I can live with a little diatoms to keep the biome running good.

 

[paintman]

Running without a CUC just gives us useless data though. Nobody is running their system like that. It reminds me of the new F150 Lightning that bragged about having a 200+ mile range then drivers hooked up a trailer with half of its max payload and the range dropped below 80 miles. Things need to be measured in real world application to get value out of the data.

Terrible analogy! CUC'c are the biggest waste of money, and just goes to show how lazy we as hobbyists have become. We can do far more by spending 20 minutes a week in our tank with a turkey baster. We should all be ashamed of how many of these creatures we have killed because of our lazyiness!

 

[Garf]

Terrible analogy! CUC'c are the biggest waste of money, and just goes to show how lazy we as hobbyists have become. We can do far more by spending 20 minutes a week in our tank with a turkey baster. We should all be ashamed of how many of these creatures we have killed because of our lazyiness!

You are wrong and right in the same post, congrats

 

[Lenett]

Okay, guys, I'm hearing all the arguments and I watched the BRS series as well. Not sure what all you are talking about all the time or what CUCs are but I still have diatoms!

My tank is 175 gal Oceanic, established for years.

RODI system producing 0 on meter.

Testing at local fish stores says great water parameters.

Lighting is Photon 50-V2+ - ReefBreeders rec by BRS due to financial constraints.

I Jumped through hoops to treat hair algae (for 4 months), doing what everyone was suggesting. I finally found something on Bryopsis after killing all my crabs and snails using Algafix and the algae returning in a few days.

Bryopsis is gone because of correct treatment but diatoms have been around for over 6 weeks now. I have done all that was suggested. Lighting is Photon 50-V2+ - ReefBreeders rec by BRS due to financial constraints.

Everyone keeps saying It's due to poor maintenance or new tank syndrome! It's neither!

I Siphon sand, clean glass and filters, do water changes with RODI and my biological system is strong with lots of live rock. I have an old-fashioned sump with 2 overflows and returns and run a protein skimmer.

I have zoas, an encrusting brain, birds-nest and green star polip growing like crazy!

I also have a 13.5 Fluval that gets the same water and has no diatoms.

I Just dumped in 4 jars of pods and Phytoplankton because BRS says they will eat Diatoms. So far no change, but hopeful!

I must be missing something, but forums aren't helping. Just giving the same old newbie causes and recommendations!

Calling all you professional reefers, please help if you can!

 

[piranhaman00]

They are just pushing algae barn products

 

[Lenett]

I test silicate quite often using a Hanna LR checker and found the opposite to be true. Silicate depletes rather quickly in an aquarium unless dosed. When added, I see a strong response in diatoms (which is why I do it).

Why do you want Diatoms?