Diatoms 101
- Thread starter cowpony18
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DIATOMS:
Diatoms are just a natural things that happens in a new aquarium and will normally will subside with in a few weeks to a couple months.
ID: This Algae normally forms on the sand, glass and rock work of a new tank. It has a variety of colors from a dark reddish color to tan, brown and green. On a lot of occasions there will be oxygen bubble's trapped in the algae from photosynthesis.
HOW TO CONTROL IT:
Medium to strong flow across the sand bed and rock, and watch the amounts of Silicate being added to the system ( top off water and water change purity is the main cause for silicate being introduced to the system )
NATURAL HERBIVORES:
Astrea snail, Turbo snail, Tangs, Trochus snail, Almost all blennies.
Diatoms are just a natural things that happens in a new aquarium and will normally will subside with in a few weeks to a couple months.
ID: This Algae normally forms on the sand, glass and rock work of a new tank. It has a variety of colors from a dark reddish color to tan, brown and green. On a lot of occasions there will be oxygen bubble's trapped in the algae from photosynthesis.
HOW TO CONTROL IT:
Medium to strong flow across the sand bed and rock, and watch the amounts of Silicate being added to the system ( top off water and water change purity is the main cause for silicate being introduced to the system )
NATURAL HERBIVORES:
Astrea snail, Turbo snail, Tangs, Trochus snail, Almost all blennies.
burtbollinger
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i had diatom problems in a new Reefer 170 that was 6 months old...ongoing. Circulation is a pair of MP10s running at 30% and a Sicce Syncra 2.0. Alk at 8.8, Cal at 450, Phosphates at 0.00? on a Hanna Checker. 22LBS of Walt Smith 2.1 rock, 1 8 x 8 x 1 Marinepure plate....Curve 5 skimmer...passively run rox 0.8 carbon. 0 TDS water from a new BRS RO/DI. Weekly water change of 7.5 gallons with Fritz RPM salt mixed to 1.025, 1.026...Temp. 78.2 on a Reefkeeper Lite. Light bioload of 2 clowns and a royal gramma, 4 snails, 8 hermits...tank fed lightly....and dosed Reef Energy once a week (which wasnt helping the diatoms IMO)
I finally fixed the issue by
Within 3 days...night and day difference.
Not sure which of the 3 fixed, but as of now, diatoms have almost completely subsided. My gut says it was silicates, which the GFO is helping clean up.
I finally fixed the issue by
- slightly reducing my overall lighting time of the whites by 2 hrs.
- passively running Purigen.
- passively running GFO.
Within 3 days...night and day difference.
Not sure which of the 3 fixed, but as of now, diatoms have almost completely subsided. My gut says it was silicates, which the GFO is helping clean up.
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