Diatom Bloom

[Gordon42]

Please help! I don’t know why this is happening. I have had the tank running for close to two years. I use RODI water and run a 55 watt UV sterilizer and carbon reactor. I of course use a protein skimmer as well.
I tested the water and have zero Nitrite, Nitrates and Ammonia. I also tested zero for silicates.
Don’t know what else to do. I also tried going dark for the weekend and that didn’t help either. Its a 150 gallon reef tank with a Trigger Systems 39 sump.

 

[Nigel35]

Is your CUC doing the job or they won't touch them? Simple answer would be to syphon them out.

 

[chris124]

You might want to check out this thread by Brandon429. I had the exact same problem for about a year. Anyway last weekend I replaced my sand with new sand rinsed with plain tap water until it ran clear. I also rinsed the rocks with old tank water. You can reuse the old sand you just have to make sure you rinse all that mess out. The goal is to remove all detritus from the tank which prevents the tank from having another cycle. After doing this my fish are very happy.

Official Sand Rinse and Tank Transfer thread

Not only do I love that job, I did it in my vase :) so it’s been modeled already/ done your job is just bigger. I’m going to link a thread where nobody listens regarding aiptasia removal, apply this to your mushroom tank. the sand cleaning is already covered here / ridding newly cleaned rocks...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Gordon42]

Maybe I can start by scooping all if the sand that is in the front and rinse that out really good? With all the rock and coral I have it might be too much to remove m, rinse and put back. Before every water change I blow off all the rock surfaces with a turkey baster.

 

[DeniableArc]

G’day if you have 0 nitrates and phosphate it could very well be the start of dinoflagellates. There is a really good thread on identifying and managing Dino’s here.

 

[SifuMemphis]

Do you have a full tank shot?

Exactly what the post above said. If you truly have 0 nitrate and 0 phosphate, it can trigger dino. You never really want to have zero of both in the tank. Optimal is 5-10ppm Nitrate and 0.03-0.08 phosphate.

 

[Gordon42]

Ok great. Thank you. I never heard of that but I guess it could make sense. I will post a full pic of the tank today once the light comes on.

 

[Gordon42]

What I did was remove as much if the sand as I could and rinsed it clean. Only put half of what I took out. Lets see what happens.

 

[salty150]

If it is diatoms - dose 1/8 teaspoon (per 200 gallons total water volume) of Fleischmann's Rapid Rise Instant Yeast every other day.

Within 5 – 7 days rocks/sand, etc. should be clear.

 

[Nigel35]

Great tip! does it have to be Fleischmann's or can it be another type of yeast?

 

[salty150]

Great tip! does it have to be Fleischmann's or can it be another type of yeast?

Not sure - never used anything but the Fleischmann's.

I think it has to be the - Rapid Rise Instant Yeast, also.

 

[Gordon42]

Thats great info. Thank you.