Darn dirty sand

[acromike]

hello
I have been battling diatoms in sand for longest time
Can't seem to shake them
My phosphate and nitrates are 0.02 and 2 respectively
Tried vacuum but they come back almost next day
I have increased my clean up crew
Nothing seems to work

I must disclose that I did not vacuum sand bed for first two years so I assume diatoms are deep rooted

Don't know if I will ever have nice sand again

 

[Downbeach]

hello
I have been battling diatoms in sand for longest time
Can't seem to shake them
My phosphate and nitrates are 0.02 and 2 respectively
Tried vacuum but they come back almost next day
I have increased my clean up crew
Nothing seems to work

I must disclose that I did not vacuum sand bed for first two years so I assume diatoms are deep rooted

Don't know if I will ever have nice sand again

Are you using RO/DI water, if so what is the condition of your RO/DI unit? If it's diatoms they need some silica along with the N's and P's to grow.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, the easiest way to stop diatoms (assuming you have ID'd it correctly) is to cut off their supply of silicate.