Can silicates level boost GHA if nitrates and phos are low?

[KonradTO]

Hi,
As title says:
I have found my RODI contains quite high levels of silicon (from ATI test 399.2 µg/l but only 74.14 µg/l in my DT).
My LFS told me that my GHA problems could be caused by silicates and I should use a silicate remover.
Do you think that despite low nutrients (0.03 phos, 2ppm nitrates) the reason behind GHA growth is actually silicate being consumed by GHA everytime my ATO pours water?
This would make things much easier. I tried many ways to kill them but they still grow (despite they grow much slower now).

 

[Spare time]

Gha doesn't use silica as far as I'm aware. Diatoms do, as well as sponges, and other organisms.

 

[Spare time]

You simply need more things to eat it

 

[Garf]

Hi,
As title says:
I have found my RODI contains quite high levels of silicon (from ATI test 399.2 µg/l but only 74.14 µg/l in my DT).
My LFS told me that my GHA problems could be caused by silicates and I should use a silicate remover.
Do you think that despite low nutrients (0.03 phos, 2ppm nitrates) the reason behind GHA growth is actually silicate being consumed by GHA everytime my ATO pours water?
This would make things much easier. I tried many ways to kill them but they still grow (despite they grow much slower now).

Go on YouTube, search for “Reefbeef” an episode called “Herbivores are the answer”, about 40 minutes in to that lies the truth.

 

[SlugSnorter]

Hi,
As title says:
I have found my RODI contains quite high levels of silicon (from ATI test 399.2 µg/l but only 74.14 µg/l in my DT).
My LFS told me that my GHA problems could be caused by silicates and I should use a silicate remover.
Do you think that despite low nutrients (0.03 phos, 2ppm nitrates) the reason behind GHA growth is actually silicate being consumed by GHA everytime my ATO pours water?
This would make things much easier. I tried many ways to kill them but they still grow (despite they grow much slower now).

GHA doesn't use silicates. could lead to diatom issues though.

 

[Spare time]

GHA doesn't use silicates. could lead to diatom issues though.

Or a sponge bloom

 

[SlugSnorter]

Or a sponge bloom

would be fun (at least for me). (most) Sponges are cool and helpful.

 

[KonradTO]

Or a sponge bloom

I definitely have many tiny pineapple sponges around but something must be eating that Si somehow. Good to know that my LFS wanted to sell me some useless expensive media, at least now I will always doublecheck before buying.

 

[SlugSnorter]

I definitely have many tiny pineapple sponges around but something must be eating that Si somehow. Good to know that my LFS wanted to sell me some useless expensive media, at least now I will always doublecheck before buying.

cool! their likely eating the silicates and cleaning your water a bit.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Adding silicate can reduce green algae as diatoms compete better.

That happened in my tank every time I dosed silicate.

Silica In Reef Aquariums

Why would I recommend dosing silica? Largely because creatures in our tanks use it, the concentrations in our tanks (at least in mine) are below natural levels, and the sponges, mollusks, and diatoms may not be getting enough to thrive.

reefs.com

Figure 3. A view of the inside of the front glass of my reef tank 5 days after scraping the glass.

Figure 6. A view of the inside of the front glass of my reef tank 5 days after scraping the glass and adding the silica supplement.

 

[KonradTO]

Adding silicate can reduce green algae as diatoms compete better.

That happened in my tank every time I dosed silicate.

Silica In Reef Aquariums

Why would I recommend dosing silica? Largely because creatures in our tanks use it, the concentrations in our tanks (at least in mine) are below natural levels, and the sponges, mollusks, and diatoms may not be getting enough to thrive.

reefs.com

Figure 3. A view of the inside of the front glass of my reef tank 5 days after scraping the glass.

Figure 6. A view of the inside of the front glass of my reef tank 5 days after scraping the glass and adding the silica supplement.

Then stopping the dosing does actually get rid of the diatoms as well? Or you have to "choose one"?

 

[sixty_reefer]

Adding silicate can reduce green algae as diatoms compete better.

That happened in my tank every time I dosed silicate.

Silica In Reef Aquariums

Why would I recommend dosing silica? Largely because creatures in our tanks use it, the concentrations in our tanks (at least in mine) are below natural levels, and the sponges, mollusks, and diatoms may not be getting enough to thrive.

reefs.com

Figure 3. A view of the inside of the front glass of my reef tank 5 days after scraping the glass.

Figure 6. A view of the inside of the front glass of my reef tank 5 days after scraping the glass and adding the silica supplement.

I recognise this pictures. Did you wrote the article on silica and sponges? This is one of my favourite readings of all time.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Then stopping the dosing does actually get rid of the diatoms as well? Or you have to "choose one"?

In most tanks, diatoms and other creatures rapidly deplete added silicate, and gor diatoms, that prevents their growth.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I recognise this pictures. Did you wrote the article on silica and sponges? This is one of my favourite readings of all time.

I’m not sure which article you are referring to, but I wrote the one linked above.

 

[sixty_reefer]

I’m not sure which article you are referring to, but I wrote the one linked above.

That’s the one, wend I read it a few years back had a different name on the website.

still got my bottle going to re start using it on my new build