Diatoms have finally struck!!!

Ilikefishies · Feb 15, 2019

Hey Guys,

after having a mild panic attack thinking i had the beginning stages of DINO's (As i just learned about them) my LFS has told me over the phone that its just diatoms. My question is this. What is a good amount of clean up crew to add to my tank? Right now, its a 120 gallon with 100 lbs of live rock, 2 tangs, a GSP, couple of zoa frags, couple of monti frag and an anemone. I have a skimmer, culerpa, and Im running the triton method. I have my lights off and im feeding the fish 1/2 a frozen shrimp cube 2x a day. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Best,
John

tripdad · Feb 15, 2019

You could easily add a dozen turbo snails, maybe 2 dozen astrea snails. There is really no "overdoing it" unless you just get crazy numbers in there

reacclimating 2 the hobby · Feb 15, 2019

Kind of have the cart before the horse on this with corals, fish and everything in there already and just getting diatoms. No lights with frags?

I always start small with CUC. Check out reefcleaners packages. I used one of there recommended packages made for half my tank size and was fine.

Ilikefishies · Feb 15, 2019

reacclimating 2 the hobby said:
Kind of have the cart before the horse on this with corals, fish and everything in there already and just getting diatoms. No lights with frags?

I always start small with CUC. Check out reefcleaners packages. I used one of there recommended packages made for half my tank size and was fine.

Honestly, I didnt even know about diatoms. Like I said, Im new. I went on the advice of my LFS. He said my water was fine after he tested it, so we started small with 2 fish and a couple of frags and poof 2 weeks later diatoms.

Ilikefishies · Feb 15, 2019

tripdad said:
You could easily add a dozen turbo snails, maybe 2 dozen astrea snails. There is really no "overdoing it" unless you just get crazy numbers in there

Thanks, wasnt sure how much or what types I should add. Appreciate the feedback.

reacclimating 2 the hobby · Feb 15, 2019

I understand, but typically you want to wait out your cycle before adding fish and especially corals. Hopefully they make it through. Diatoms are a normal part of the process. Just important to remember that nothing good happens fast in this hobby. I'd question the LFS on pointing you in this direction, but really don't know enough about your tank or them to comment.

Ilikefishies · Feb 15, 2019

Any other surprises, I don't know about looming in the future of this cycle? or will it be ok after I get through this part?

tripdad · Feb 15, 2019

It's going to have different "uglies" as you go, don't freak out. It is just part of it. Keep checking your parameters, keep them headed in the right direction and have patience.

Ilikefishies · Feb 15, 2019

tripdad said:
It's going to have different "uglies" as you go, don't freak out. It is just part of it. Keep checking your parameters, keep them headed in the right direction and have patience.

Thats what I have been doing. I was just wondering if there any more insightful pearls of wisdom. All my parameters are in check which is why I thought it was safe to add corals and fish. The tank is 2 months into the cycle process, is there any other "diatom" type events to expect, crazy algae blooms etc lol?