Diatom problem

[texas Brit]

I have several fresh water acrylic tanks that have been long established! The three larger ones (20, 30 & 40 gallon have no algae issues at all. All 5 of my5 gallon male betta tanks (planted) have brown algae on the tank walls that simply will not go away! I scrub on small spot till my wrist is about to fall off and it STILL won't budge! The snails you mention will not touch it! The bettas get fed pellets once a day; there is virtually no fish waste; no decaying plants; Filter media is changed every 2-3 weeks; Have to have a slow current or the bettas get exhausted form fighting the higher flow rate; what can I do? I am using city water (RO water is so prohibitively expensive and it takes ages with one of those small "spouts" connected to the RO source under the sink, it would take HOURS to do a water change on those tanks. I don't think it can be the water source as there is no problem with the larger tanks.

I am at a total loss here!

 

[GoVols]

I have several fresh water acrylic tanks that have been long established! The three larger ones (20, 30 & 40 gallon have no algae issues at all. All 5 of my5 gallon male betta tanks (planted) have brown algae on the tank walls that simply will not go away! I scrub on small spot till my wrist is about to fall off and it STILL won't budge! The snails you mention will not touch it! The bettas get fed pellets once a day; there is virtually no fish waste; no decaying plants; Filter media is changed every 2-3 weeks; Have to have a slow current or the bettas get exhausted form fighting the higher flow rate; what can I do? I am using city water (RO water is so prohibitively expensive and it takes ages with one of those small "spouts" connected to the RO source under the sink, it would take HOURS to do a water change on those tanks. I don't think it can be the water source as there is no problem with the larger tanks.

I am at a total loss here!

Yeah,
Without a 4 stage RO/DI unit, silicates are most likely coming in from your tap water. Silicates fuel diatioms.

MultiTest - Silicate

MultiTest Silicate test measures silicates to less than 0.5 mg/L. Silicate is often overlooked, but excess silicate can contribute to certain chronic issues in reef tanks. If you are suffering from chronic issues with diatom algae or dinoflagellates, it's often worth taking a look at silicate as...

www.marinedepot.com

Look into the RO/DI buddy to hook into a sink.

Smart Buddie RO/DI Booster Pump - For 50-100 GPD Systems

Increase the effectiveness of your RO system, and Reduce waste water by up to 65%! Reverse osmosis booster pumps can easily increase the pressure going into your RO or RO/DI system if your starting pressure is low. Reverse osmosis is a pressure-driven process. Small residential RO units will...

www.marinedepot.com

Rodi Resin - Bulk Reef Supply

Find Rodi Resin at Bulk Reef Supply to keep your saltwater aquarium looking its best.

www.marinedepot.com

Rodi Resin - Bulk Reef Supply

Find Rodi Resin at Bulk Reef Supply to keep your saltwater aquarium looking its best.

www.marinedepot.com

DI Resin

Deionization Resin (DI) is the last stage of the RO/DI system and is necessary to reduce Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) to zero. Bulk Reef Supply carries our own BRS brand of DI resin in regular and color changing. Our color changes resin is extremely easy to see as it changes from blue to gold...

www.marinedepot.com

 

[texas Brit]

Yeah,
Without a 4 stage RO/DI unit, silicates are most likely coming in from your tap water. Silicates fuel diatioms.

MultiTest - Silicate

MultiTest Silicate test measures silicates to less than 0.5 mg/L. Silicate is often overlooked, but excess silicate can contribute to certain chronic issues in reef tanks. If you are suffering from chronic issues with diatom algae or dinoflagellates, it's often worth taking a look at silicate as...

www.marinedepot.com

Look into the RO/DI buddy to hook into a sink.

Smart Buddie RO/DI Booster Pump - For 50-100 GPD Systems

Increase the effectiveness of your RO system, and Reduce waste water by up to 65%! Reverse osmosis booster pumps can easily increase the pressure going into your RO or RO/DI system if your starting pressure is low. Reverse osmosis is a pressure-driven process. Small residential RO units will...

www.marinedepot.com

Rodi Resin - Bulk Reef Supply

Find Rodi Resin at Bulk Reef Supply to keep your saltwater aquarium looking its best.

www.marinedepot.com

Rodi Resin - Bulk Reef Supply

Find Rodi Resin at Bulk Reef Supply to keep your saltwater aquarium looking its best.

www.marinedepot.com

DI Resin

Deionization Resin (DI) is the last stage of the RO/DI system and is necessary to reduce Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) to zero. Bulk Reef Supply carries our own BRS brand of DI resin in regular and color changing. Our color changes resin is extremely easy to see as it changes from blue to gold...

www.marinedepot.com

Does this need to be "plumbed into" the waterline?

 

[GoVols]

Does this need to be "plumbed into" the waterline?

It says it comes with a faucet screw-on adapter.

• Faucet Adapter makes it easy to connect to standard male garden hose thread

Might want this kit to make the final connection.