Diatoms problem.

Roberto CRC · Sep 1, 2016

I have a lot of time and have problems with the diatom in the sand on my tank and do not know why this happens and not know how to control it.

As understood it is annoying to see the brown sand by the diatom that exite in the tank.

My tank is 59 "x 23" x 19 ".

The parameters measured the last week are: No3 = 2ppm, Po4 = 0.16ppm.

The light is for 10 hours a day, use 1 vortech mp40qd, Jebao WP20.

I have used diamond goby, but the 2 have jumped from the tank and die. Besides keeping clean sand sections and only when they begin to clean another area which was clean refilled diatom.

What do I recommend?

reeferfoxx · Sep 1, 2016

Roberto CRC said:
I have a lot of time and have problems with the diatom in the sand on my tank and do not know why this happens and not know how to control it.

As understood it is annoying to see the brown sand by the diatom that exite in the tank.

My tank is 59 "x 23" x 19 ".

The parameters measured the last week are: No3 = 2ppm, Po4 = 0.16ppm.

The light is for 10 hours a day, use 1 vortech mp40qd, Jebao WP20.

I have used diamond goby, but the 2 have jumped from the tank and die. Besides keeping clean sand sections and only when they begin to clean another area which was clean refilled diatom.

What do I recommend?

How old is the tank? Is this dry rock like Marco or BRS reef saver? Or did you use live rock?

Do you have a picture?

Roberto CRC · Sep 1, 2016

reeferfoxx said:
How old is the tank? Is this dry rock like Marco or BRS reef saver? Or did you use live rock?

Do you have a picture?

Sorry, I forgot to record data.

My tank has 1 year and 9 months to be working.

I use Nopox to control No3, BRS GFO to control Po4, and I chaeto algae shelter.

Right now I don´t have pics of the tank where you see the diatom, but only in the sand where it is made.

reeferfoxx · Sep 1, 2016

Roberto CRC said:
Sorry, I forgot to record data.

My tank has 1 year and 9 months to be working.

I use Nopox to control No3, BRS GFO to control Po4, and I chaeto algae shelter.

Right now I don´t have pics of the tank where you see the diatom, but only in the sand where it is made.

It's not unusual to have diatom blooms. However, it is unusual to have GFO and po4 of 0.16ppm. Your GFO may be exhausted.
With PO4 that high, I am wondering if it isn't Cyanobacteria trying to grow and not diatom?

ptreef · Sep 1, 2016

My tank is going on 6 yrs and I have battled this (cyano more than likely..the red slime) the entire time. It comes and goes for no known reason. Usually only on sand bed. But at times on rock. Run a shallow sand bed too.
PO4 is usually right just a tad above (7 on the phosphate test), nitrate is 0.
It seems to flare up usually most after WC (I use IO). or when i am/was dosing vinegar.
I don't use any gfo or bio pellets.

DO you need gfo? tank is pretty new still? DO you have huge fish load??

Roberto CRC · Sep 1, 2016

reeferfoxx said:
It's not unusual to have diatom blooms. However, it is unusual to have GFO and po4 of 0.16ppm. Your GFO may be exhausted.
With PO4 that high, I am wondering if it isn't Cyanobacteria trying to grow and not diatom?

I understand, the GFO change it 15 days ago and has not lowered PO4 remains at 0.16ppm

They are diatoms, is not cyano, at least so far.

Roberto CRC · Sep 1, 2016

ptreef said:
My tank is going on 6 yrs and I have battled this (cyano more than likely..the red slime) the entire time. It comes and goes for no known reason. Usually only on sand bed. But at times on rock. Run a shallow sand bed too.
PO4 is usually right just a tad above (7 on the phosphate test), nitrate is 0.
It seems to flare up usually most after WC (I use IO). or when i am/was dosing vinegar.
I don't use any gfo or bio pellets.

DO you need gfo? tank is pretty new still? DO you have huge fish load??

I have:

1 blue tang
1 yellow tang
1 purple tang
1 foxface
2 black ocellaris
2 ocellaris
1 bangay
1 wrasse cleanner

daily food 1 time pellets, 2 times nori, 1 time flakes

reeferfoxx · Sep 1, 2016

Roberto CRC said:
I have:

1 blue tang
1 yellow tang
1 purple tang
1 foxface
2 black ocellaris
2 ocellaris
1 bangay
1 wrasse cleanner

daily food 1 time pellets, 2 times nori, 1 time flakes

Diatoms don't usually find a place to bloom in hard to reach areas. Hard to reach areas are areas that have a lot of detritus. Detritus, if left alone will begin to leech PO4. Also if alkalinity and calcium are low, it restricts calcium phosphate precipitation. Meaning, the phosphates in your live rock or sand will begin to leech PO4 into the water column.

Is your GFO ran with a reactor or in a bag located somewhere in a sump?
Also, get another test result from another phosphate test kit. Your test results might be off. If they are off, then maybe it is diatoms.

I'm gonna call in @Kungpaoshizi because he advocates nopox and @twilliard because he has experience with diatoms and cyano.

Roberto CRC · Sep 1, 2016

Using a test to measure Red Sea: Ca 450, Kh 9.8, Mg PO4 and 1480. The measure also No3 Red Sea and all tests are less than 6 months of use.

The GFO are in BRS single reactor.

Nopox i use 3ml per day.

120reefkeeper · Sep 1, 2016

Check your topoff water and the water you use for mixing fresh saltwater. Diatoms love silicates.[emoji6]

Roberto CRC · Sep 1, 2016

120reefkeeper said:
Check your topoff water and the water you use for mixing fresh saltwater. Diatoms love silicates.[emoji6]

I have almost 2 months of using RODI water, the black stored in a container and kept in the shade, the Topoff recipiento is inside the house, is made of glass and covered with a drawer that keeps you in the dark.

TDS in: 16, TDS out: 0

Silicates are measured with a particular test?

reeferfoxx · Sep 1, 2016

Roberto CRC said:
I have almost 2 months of using RODI water, the black stored in a container and kept in the shade, the Topoff recipiento is inside the house, is made of glass and covered with a drawer that keeps you in the dark.

TDS in: 16, TDS out: 0

Silicates are measured with a particular test?

Yes, they make specific silicate tests.

To bad you can't get a picture. Kind of strange that you can see it but not with a camera.

Roberto CRC · Sep 1, 2016

reeferfoxx said:
Yes, they make specific silicate tests.

To bad you can't get a picture. Kind of strange that you can see it but not with a camera.

Tonight I will take pictures to share, but I'm sure it's because I've seen diatom tanks cyano and friends is not the same as I have.

brandon429 · Sep 1, 2016

its not possible to have a diatom problem once this is done:

http://reef2reef.com/threads/the-of...ead-aka-one-against-many.230281/#post-2681445

you then check the blue/white light balance the white favors them bigtime. nothing else is needed to beat them, but many other options exist.

Roberto CRC · Sep 1, 2016

brandon429 said:
its not possible to have a diatom problem once this is done:

http://reef2reef.com/threads/the-of...ead-aka-one-against-many.230281/#post-2681445

you then check the blue/white light balance the white favors them bigtime. nothing else is needed to beat them, but many other options exist.

I was reading a little bit the topic, but I was not really clear that I do in my case.

The lights go down a little white.

Roberto CRC · Sep 1, 2016

Roberto CRC · Sep 1, 2016

This is many pics of my tanks, the sand is brown because the problema whit diatoms.

Clarksski · Sep 2, 2016

Your sand may be brown but your tank and corals look really pretty good!
I don't have any advice for you except that maybe just a temporary bloom? What if you cut out the chemical filtration.. Just skim and do rodi water change every couple weeks and watch your parameters.

Burcu · Sep 2, 2016

I have the same problem, I will fallow the page. My Nitrate is 2, Phospate and silicate not visible with Salifert. TDS 2 in RO water. This is definitely not cyano or Dino. It only appears on the sand. I also have some green hair algea so I think there should be an excess element in the water that feeds both of them. And this is not going with WC. I will use Chemipure blue and fauna marine ultralife this week. I will share my experience.

Roberto CRC · Sep 2, 2016

Clarksski said:
Your sand may be brown but your tank and corals look really pretty good!
I don't have any advice for you except that maybe just a temporary bloom? What if you cut out the chemical filtration.. Just skim and do rodi water change every couple weeks and watch your parameters.

Thank you, if my corals are good and the diatom at least for now does not affect me nothing but sand.

If happens is that since about 5 months ago and no achievement is that desaparesca all, down a little but reappears day.