Can you help me identifying this brownish stuff?

[ameerun]

Dear fellow reefers,

Please see the picture. I just can't see to get rid of this. In the morning it's 'okay', but gets worse during the day. Next day same thing, but each day slightly more until I clean the sand and then it starts all over again.

What is it and how to get rid of it?

Thanks!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Diatoms. It is associated with new tanks called new tank uglies and will slow down as silicates in sand break down
For now, you can siphon it up, increase water flow towards bottom, not at it and add clean up crew, consisting of snails:
Turbo
Astrea
Nassarius
Trochus
And a few blue leg hermit crabs

 

[ameerun]

Diatoms. It is associated with new tanks called new tank uglies and will slow down...

Thanks for your answer, much appreciated! I also thought diatoms, but the tanks is not new, the sand about 4 years old and I have those snails (except the blu-legged hearts)... So why does it keep popping up?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks for your answer, much appreciated! I also thought diatoms, but the tanks is not new, the sand about 4 years old and I have those snails (except the blu-legged hearts)... So why does it keep popping up?

As we know, Diatoms feed mainly off of silicates but also consume dissolved organic compounds, phosphate and nitrates. Unfiltered tap water can contain silicates and is a good way to jump start a bloom if you use it to mix salt or to replace water that evaporated from the tank. The best way to prevent this from happening is to filter water through a RO unit

, although you can still get a diatom bloom when using RODI if the cartridge that removes silicates expires.
Silicates can also make their way into a tank via additives, salt mixes and even sand not meant for aquarium use. The key here is to find the source and eliminate them. If you don’t the diatoms will continue to reappear. You do want to be sure you have silicates so I highly recommend doing an ICP test to verify they are present.
To fight the battle, add a dozen Astrea Turbo snails to help mow down what remained and Trochus snails are good as well. You can also turn off the lights out in tank for three days and it will fall apart.
GFO will also work but use sparingly as this ferris oxide is strong.

 

[ameerun]

As we know, Diatoms feed mainly off of silicates but also consume dissolved...

Thanks again for replying! I used RO/DI water from the start, 6 years ago, so that won't be the issue. Will first test my phosphate and nitrate now and post it here later today. I have about 8 snails in the tank (130 liter) of which one is a big turbo, the rest trochus and astrea.

Lights off is difficult now since I just introduced the first SPS coral in the tank...

 

[ameerun]

As we know, Diatoms feed mainly off of silicates but also consume dissolved organic compounds, phosphate and nitrates.

Tested Phosphate (0.04 ppm) and nitrate (2 ppm). These slipped and are too high. Will start re-dosing NOPOX again on a daily basis and see if that affects their growth.

I used NOPOX until a month ago and then stopped. At that time no real diatom issues, not compared to what it is now...

Thanks for the tips.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Tested Phosphate (0.04 ppm) and nitrate (2 ppm). These slipped and are too high. Will start re-dosing NOPOX again on a daily basis and see if that affects their growth.

I used NOPOX until a month ago and then stopped. At that time no real diatom issues, not compared to what it is now...

Thanks for the tips.

A warning that NoPox can lead to dinos as it is is fuel/food for Dino