Diatom bloom - Anything to do besides wait it out?

[Quietman]

Want to know if there's anything else I hadn't thought of to do with my diatom problem.

First reef tank, started it up June 9th. I know that diatoms are common first 6 months. Algae is reddish brown dusting - no doubt it's diatoms. Comes back within days after cleaning.

Tank parameters: 37 gallons (RSR 170 but I go by actual water volume).
Alk - 8.5 (steady for 2 months)
NO3 - <1 ppm (would like a bit higher but not worried about that now)
PO4 - ND steady for 2 months - (would like about .05 ppm but need a Hanna for that)
pH - 7.8 - house CO2 level - if open windows 8.1
Temp - 24.9 C night - 26.3 C day (see build thread for details)
Lighting - 50% Radion XR15G4 pro - would darken but have corals in there now plus didn't see any difference at 35%
Salinity 35-36 ppm

Silicate - 0ppm - checked municipal and post RO/DI and storage

RODI - 7 stage includes 3 stage DI

Feeding - 1-2 cubes (1/4" cube ice tray with diy blend of HPD/Mysis/Vitamins/Garlic/Hikari Pellets/Nori)
Salt - HW Marine
Sand - Caribsea Special Grade - Arag Alive

Fish - 7 small added over time - no losses - all fit and happy
CUC - Was careful not too add too much too soon. 2 blue leg hermit and various snails (dwarf ceriths for bed, astreas (10 for rock - added 5 at a time), 5 nerite, 5 nessarius

Water changes - 30%/week
Cleaning - during change and one per week into low micron filter sock/floss in sump. Brush off rocks.
Running sponges in filter - change 2-3x per week (doing a good job).
Running a little GAC (doesn't effect silicate anyway)

Interesting point is that I change the water on my 10 gallon QT (there's a few corals and an extra goby in there) with old display water and no issues there. Only difference is I have sand in my display so yeah...diatoms. Actually, my QT went through GHA and Cyano in a week or two and is fine now...even has Coralline - maybe should've gone bare bottom in display (uh...no - I really do not like the look of bb - so if diatoms are my penance, so be it).

Strongly suspect sand adding bio available silicates and just need to wait until that's removed or at least no longer in bio available form.

Been about 2 months now since the bloom started. Not overly concerned until I hit the 6 month point in December but wanted to know if there's anything I haven't checked or am not doing? Any other CUC I should get that won't starve soon as diatoms are gone? Phosphate media - hesitant because everything else is fine in tank?

Thanks - Qm

 

[Snowxcross]

Want to know if there's anything else I hadn't thought of to do with my diatom problem.

First reef tank, started it up June 9th. I know that diatoms are common first 6 months. Algae is reddish brown dusting - no doubt it's diatoms. Comes back within days after cleaning.

Tank parameters: 37 gallons (RSR 170 but I go by actual water volume).
Alk - 8.5 (steady for 2 months)
NO3 - <1 ppm (would like a bit higher but not worried about that now)
PO4 - ND steady for 2 months - (would like about .05 ppm but need a Hanna for that)
pH - 7.8 - house CO2 level - if open windows 8.1
Temp - 24.9 C night - 26.3 C day (see build thread for details)
Lighting - 50% Radion XR15G4 pro - would darken but have corals in there now plus didn't see any difference at 35%
Salinity 35-36 ppm

Silicate - 0ppm - checked municipal and post RO/DI and storage

RODI - 7 stage includes 3 stage DI

Feeding - 1-2 cubes (1/4" cube ice tray with diy blend of HPD/Mysis/Vitamins/Garlic/Hikari Pellets/Nori)
Salt - HW Marine
Sand - Caribsea Special Grade - Arag Alive

Fish - 7 small added over time - no losses - all fit and happy
CUC - Was careful not too add too much too soon. 2 blue leg hermit and various snails (dwarf ceriths for bed, astreas (10 for rock - added 5 at a time), 5 nerite, 5 nessarius

Water changes - 30%/week
Cleaning - during change and one per week into low micron filter sock/floss in sump. Brush off rocks.
Running sponges in filter - change 2-3x per week (doing a good job).
Running a little GAC (doesn't effect silicate anyway)

Interesting point is that I change the water on my 10 gallon QT (there's a few corals and an extra goby in there) with old display water and no issues there. Only difference is I have sand in my display so yeah...diatoms. Actually, my QT went through GHA and Cyano in a week or two and is fine now...even has Coralline - maybe should've gone bare bottom in display (uh...no - I really do not like the look of bb - so if diatoms are my penance, so be it).

Strongly suspect sand adding bio available silicates and just need to wait until that's removed or at least no longer in bio available form.

Been about 2 months now since the bloom started. Not overly concerned until I hit the 6 month point in December but wanted to know if there's anything I haven't checked or am not doing? Any other CUC I should get that won't starve soon as diatoms are gone? Phosphate media - hesitant because everything else is fine in tank?

Thanks - Qm

Hi Quiet -

So your Nitrates and Phosphates are less than 1 to undetectable. This would indicate a low nutrient system (which is cool), yet Dino's and Algae would still grow. In the long run you might want a fuge with macro algae. Short term, you can kill it off with a 3 day or so blackout. After, you can replenish the healthy bacteria with following Dr. Tim's (refresh and Waste-away) method. Do you run a skimmer? If you do and it's 24/7, try knocking it down to 18/6. This would allow bacteria to pass through back into the column. Additionally, how is your flow? Sometimes Dino's appear where there is low to no flow, maybe move your pumps around or turn them up a bit to try. You could also siphon and clean your sand while doing your water changes - sorry if you do and i missed it.