Diatoms or Dinoflagellates? Pls help

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

Hi All,

Due to my lack of experience in the hobby, I cant tell which one it is, diatoms or dinoflagellates.

Tank timeline as follows:
- 6 weeks fishless cycle
- 2 months snails only
- 6 weeks to date of 2 clowns for 5 weeks and half a week with bicolour blenny.

Once I noticed growth, I barely keep the lights on. I switch on randomly for an hour or 2 at a time and that has slowed growth progress.

Any ideas or recommendations would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

[Nigel35]

Tank is still pretty young and it looks to be diatoms. If you felt like taking the extra step I would check it under a microscope.

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

Tank is still pretty young and it looks to be diatoms. If you felt like taking the extra step I would check it under a microscope.

Thanks for that...

Other than keeping lighting to a minimum, reducing food quantities and adding a refugium and skimmer in the next week or so, is there anything else I can do, or dont do?

I'm guessing the ugly stage has begun, and i shouldn't add any corals as yet to avoid the need for lights?

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

Bump...

Sorry guys, my last replies had some more questions

 

[Nigel35]

diatoms is a result of low nutrients. So I don't think that you need to cut skimming, or feedings. I would just get a sand sifter to move the sand around every now and then and the diatoms won't be a problem.

 

[Blitz7737]

diatoms is a result of low nutrients. So I don't think that you need to cut skimming, or feedings. I would just get a sand sifter to move the sand around every now and then and the diatoms won't be a problem.

Don't diatoms develop due to silica and wouldn't sand sifting promote that in a way? Also going through an ickies bloom and fingers crossed it isn't dinos... if more sifting would help, might look into getting a Nassarius snail or Trochus snail. Both of which can right themselves and feed off all the ickies in sand (I believe, right??).

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

My nitrates and phosphates r a bit high, (25 and .25 respectively) which I thought was also fueling the growth. Hence the intention to add chaeto and skimmer.

I feel like I'm back to square one, might have to research what triggers diatoms and diano

 

[DeniableArc]

My nitrates and phosphates r a bit high, (25 and .25 respectively) which I thought was also fueling the growth. Hence the intention to add chaeto and skimmer.

I feel like I'm back to square one, might have to research what triggers diatoms and diano

Diatoms generally burn them selfs out if you are using rodi water to top up and once excess silicates in the sand/rock are used up. IMO Dino’s come when you bottom out one or both nitrate and phosphates Which i don’t think has happened given your nutrient levels.

 

[nkdnko]

Hijack a little because I have the same question. Thoughts?

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

Diatoms generally burn them selfs out if you are using rodi water to top up and once excess silicates in the sand/rock are used up. IMO Dino’s come when you bottom out one or both nitrate and phosphates Which i don’t think has happened given your nutrient levels.

Ok thanks for that, which explains why diatoms typically occur during the ugly stage.

What can be done to overcome it?

 

[Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef]

Hijack a little because I have the same question. Thoughts?

They seem to flourish when I put the lights. Very notable growth the following day.
I only started noticing them once I added the fish and started feeding resulting in increased levels of nitrates and phosphates.