Bustyraker
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Started dosing nualgi a few days ago and now I have a clear stringy film Everywhere! I assumed it was just a bacterial bloom whenever I saw it in my sump but now it's everywhere. Is this normal?
Clear stringy film everywhere after dosing nualgi
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Bustyraker
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They say an outbreak is normal. But this stuff is stringy and everywhere. It's clogging my filter socks and reactors
Randy Holmes-Farley
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Nualgi should promote diatom growth.
Stringy is not the usual form of diatoms, but it may be an unusual type.
You probably just have to wait it out.
Stringy is not the usual form of diatoms, but it may be an unusual type.
You probably just have to wait it out.
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Bustyraker
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jt17
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They say the nualgi can free up nutrients that were bound in the substrate or LR. Could the added nutrients increase bacteria growth? Are you carbon dosing also? I've seen that type of bacteria growth in tanks just starting carbon dosing.
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Bustyraker
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Not carbon dosing, I was thinking that it was a type of cyano from nutrients in the rock. I'm gonna try to suck most of it out today
Randy Holmes-Farley
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I don't see how that happens, unless they simply mean that as phosphate declines, the equilibrium amount bound to calcium carbonate surfaces is reduced, and as it is reduced, it shows up back in the water.
That same effect is true for any phosphate lowering mechanism, such as GFO, and there is no similar mechanism for nitrate.
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Bustyraker
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Everything turned out fine. I sucked out as much as I could and the next day it all came back with vengeance. But within the next 24 hours everything cleared up. I contacted Nualgi and they had great customer service. They emailed me back instantly on a Sunday evening. I am still dosing nualgi and am very impressed with their service.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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What did they say that convinced you to keep using a product that seemed to cause a problem?
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Bustyraker
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They didn't tell me to keep dosing, I kinda made that call myself. I sent them pics and they said it looked like the corals were causing the slime, which I don't think is actually what happened but regardless the tank looks great now. I'm fairly certain is was just a huge bacterial bloom. I haven't seen a drop in nitrates yet but all of my nuisance algae is gone. The problem actually cleared up on its own before they could give me a definitive answer on what was happening or what actions to take next. Either way I am extremely impressed with the service that I received.
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OK, glad you are happy.
In general, if you want to promote diatoms with silica, you can dose cheap sodium silicate solution. You don't need (or want, IMO) anything else that is in their product.
FWIW, the use some of my work with diatoms and silicate to promote their product on their web site, but of course, I wasn't using their product.
In general, if you want to promote diatoms with silica, you can dose cheap sodium silicate solution. You don't need (or want, IMO) anything else that is in their product.
FWIW, the use some of my work with diatoms and silicate to promote their product on their web site, but of course, I wasn't using their product.
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OK, glad you are happy.
In general, if you want to promote diatoms with silica, you can dose cheap sodium silicate solution. You don't need (or want, IMO) anything else that is in their product.
FWIW, the use some of my work with diatoms and silicate to promote their product on their web site, but of course, I wasn't using their product.
Funny but not
Randy Holmes-Farley
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Funny but not
Yes, that was my thought.
Randy, obviously there is much in the way of marketing speak on their site, but have you found dosing silica to have the same essential benefits they claim? Namely, increased polyp extension (due, presumably, to more phyto that is feeding on diatoms), and decreased nuisance algae?
I read your articles on advancedaquarist and some forum posts on RC, but my take away from you was more "it hasn't hurt anything, and dosing is more in line with nature's levels, but the results are minimal". Is that accurate or would you recommend dosing?
I read your articles on advancedaquarist and some forum posts on RC, but my take away from you was more "it hasn't hurt anything, and dosing is more in line with nature's levels, but the results are minimal". Is that accurate or would you recommend dosing?
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I dose it primarily to provide a needed nutrient to sponges. It does seem to encourage diatoms on the glass relative to green algae in the glass, but I have no idea if it helps prevent problem algae or not, since I have a foxface that eats any type of algae.
Ok, so perhaps I should be more direct.
I don't necessarily have a reason to dose, but I'm a big fan of keeping my tank in line with nature's levels as much as possible. Is there any potential danger to dosing or reason why i shouldn't experiment?
I don't necessarily have a reason to dose, but I'm a big fan of keeping my tank in line with nature's levels as much as possible. Is there any potential danger to dosing or reason why i shouldn't experiment?
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I wouldn't dose nualgi (too many trace elements that you may not need, and I'm not a fan of the type of silica they use), but I don't think there is any risk to dosing sodium silicate solution. If you have problematic diatoms, you can always stop. I found that silicate is depleted from NSW to undetectable in a few days, so stopping is easy.
IMO, I think sponges benefit in my tank, as they also do from carbon dosing (vinegar) and the bacteria foods it produces. I have a yellow ball sponge (no long ball shape from growth) and I do not specifically feed it at all.
IMO, I think sponges benefit in my tank, as they also do from carbon dosing (vinegar) and the bacteria foods it produces. I have a yellow ball sponge (no long ball shape from growth) and I do not specifically feed it at all.
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Sounds good.
Good luck and let us know what you observe, if anything.
Good luck and let us know what you observe, if anything.
