Diatoms - help

Oceanwave45 · Aug 4, 2017

has anyone ever used API algaefix for diatoms???

cmcoker · Aug 4, 2017

How old is the tank?
Newer tanks get diatoms, they feed on silicates which are released from the new sand usually. Part of the uglies and best just to wait. As everyone says, nothing good happens fast in a reef tank.

While my tank was going through that I just vacuumed the sand bed with every water change to pick up the fines and try to export as much diatoms as I could.

ReeferMaddness843 · Aug 4, 2017

^This
The best cure for diatoms for me has been time. If it's an already established tank and haven't changed an rodi filter in a while, I'd start there. Although a 0tds reading may show up, silicates are on conductive and won't be able to be read. At that point, a silicate test would be in order on a batch of fresh rodi.

Oceanwave45 · Aug 4, 2017

cmcoker said:
How old is the tank?
Newer tanks get diatoms, they feed on silicates which are released from the new sand usually. Part of the uglies and best just to wait. As everyone says, nothing good happens fast in a reef tank.

While my tank was going through that I just vacuumed the sand bed with every water change to pick up the fines and try to export as much diatoms as I could.

It's 6 months old and I have already cleaned it with a toothbrush several times abs it keeps coming back

Oceanwave45 · Aug 4, 2017

ReeferMaddness843 said:
^This
The best cure for diatoms for me has been time. If it's an already established tank and haven't changed an rodi filter in a while, I'd start there. Although a 0tds reading may show up, silicates are on conductive and won't be able to be read. At that point, a silicate test would be in order on a batch of fresh rodi.

I have done several water changes and they are still here it's been like a month

ReeferMaddness843 · Aug 4, 2017

What size tank? How much sand? Rodi water? (That's about right) I did a tank swap and used all old rock (direct transfer), new sand, about 60# in an 80gal and I'm a little over 2 months in and just totally clear of diatoms on the sandbed.

OrlandoReefer · Aug 4, 2017

the choice of rock could be a contributing factor lots of rocks leach because of the material they are made of

Oceanwave45 · Aug 4, 2017

Omg if I have to do that then I'm getting rid of the whole tank

Oceanwave45 · Aug 4, 2017

OrlandoReefer said:
the choice of rock could be a contributing factor lots of rocks leach because of the material they are made of

It was dry rock

OrlandoReefer · Aug 4, 2017

i would try everything else before looking at what rock you got i always buy artificially made rock so i know what I'm getting in regards to the material inside of the rock have you considered it can be lack of flow diatoms thrive in areas with low flow cyanobacteria as well thrives in ares with minimal flow, Ive seen tanks with huge amounts of diatoms that bounced back just from adding flow its a thought

cmcoker · Aug 4, 2017

Oceanwave45 said:
I have done several water changes and they are still here it's been like a month

Yep, patience. Did you vacuum the sandbed when you did water changes, or siphon them off the rocks? The tank is going to look ugly to start, dry rock especially takes time.
It's part of the process, don't stress about it. Keep up with husbandry, make sure you have adequate flow and it will go away. If not, check the silicates in the water as mentioned above.
Also, be sure it's diatoms not dinoflagellates. You have a brown, rusty dusting or think snotty with bubbles?

If you haven't already add some pods, dry rock doesnt bring them in and IMO they help with the algae films you get as the tank matures.

GoVols · Aug 4, 2017

I have diatoms and they got their fuel, from me not checking the tds meter on my RODI unit.
I've replaced the ro pre-filters / di resin and the diatoms will fade away when they burn off the fuel, that I fed them.