Diatom Problem

[W.Glint]

Hello every one! ive been having a big problem with Brown Algae (diatoms) for the last 6 months. MY tank is about a year old my tanks specs are:
20 gall system, 10 gallon display - 10gallon sump.
1 small perc clown, 2 blue damsels, 1 cleaner shrimp.
5-10 nertile snails, about 7 vibrex snails, and a dozen cerith snails

Penguin 350 filter ( no biowheels )
aqua remora C HOB protein skimmer
roughly 10 lbs of fiji live rock

i do large water changes about every 2 weeks, usual 12-13 gallons a change.

i recently found out my water i was using for the year of tank operation was plagued with high nitrates, i have recently changed to distilled water and drooped my nitrates down to undetectable levels, but no matter how often i clean the glass / surface of the sand of the brown algae, they come right back in a day or two... its very frustrating. i realize the problems could be phosphates or silicates, but im not sure how to go about removing them.

All help and comments is/are appreciated 1smile11smile11smile11smile1

 

[redemer123]

what are parameters, I would suggest cutting down those water changes, im a STRONG believer in large water changes like that actually doing more harm than good..especially in a small system like that. I wouldnt do anymore than a 10 percent change every week or biweekly. im sure you'll find that a 10 percent change is much better than a 65 percent water change..heck maybe the extra stability will solve your problems.

 

[W.Glint]

Thanks for the input! i was going to cut them down now that i fixed my nitrate problem, as for my parameters: sal - 1.020, temp - 79 - 80, nitrites -0ppm, nitrates 0-5ppm, ammonia-0ppm.

 

[Rockadile]

I also didnt see anything about what you are using for flow. a small power head like a korellia 2 may help if you are not already using something.

 

[harlequinreefer]

It might be time to change your light bulbs. Also, do you use an RO/DI for topoff and makeup water?

 

[W.Glint]

oh sorry, i do have a 100 gph power-head for current. and i use distillied waer for changes and top off. i would use RO/DI but i don't have reliable sources, so i just use distilled.

 

[Reed639]

i would get your own rodi unit so you can be sure you are putting the best possible water into your system.
Also i think 12-13 gallon water changes are way to much i reccomend 4-5 gallon water changes each wee instead of 12-13 gallons.
Also buy some gfo and throw it in the back of your penquin biowheel that will bring your phosphates to 0.
Also if you have a fuge I reccomend you put a BUNCH of cheato in there.

 

[Reed639]

WOW thats all the flow you have thats ur problem you need at least 450 gph of flow in that tank.
Add a another power head or two.

 

[W.Glint]

thanks for the input! i think i will get a ro/di unit at some point because i do plan to upgrade to a larger tank in a year or so. just for clarification, what is GFO? and its only a 10 gallon display, u think i should really have 450 gph flow in there?

 

[Reed639]

Gfo is like carbon except it removes phosphates from the water and I have 800 gph in a 25 so I would do at least 425 turnover

 

[W.Glint]

alright! i got some Kents Phosphate Sponge ( GFO ) when you say throw it in the back, do you literally think i should just dump it in one of the penguin filter spots?

 

[Rockadile]

not dump it, lol, you should have some blank cartridges for media, put some floss pads on each side and the media between,