Diatoms question

[Cooper 2020]

I’m high dosing Sponge Excell silica to help a diatom bloom in the battle against Amph Dinoflagellates.
I’ve now got a nice brown dust on my glass and wave makers.
Under the microscope diatoms are confirmed in masses on these surfaces but when I sample the sand or rock, I just see Dinoflagellates and no diatoms.

Is this to be expected or should diatoms be every where?

Thanks

Diatom pictures

 

[andrewey]

How long ago did you start dosing? It took about a week or two before I noticed a proliferation of diatoms in my sandbed.

 

[Cooper 2020]

How long ago did you start dosing? It took about a week or two before I noticed a proliferation of diatoms in my sandbed.

Started 2 weeks ago but built up to 660 drops a day this has only been 3 days at the really high dosage . At this rate I’ll be using 1 bottle a week

 

[Cwentz758]

I’m at about 10 days of doing the same thing I’m up to 45 drops. I may up it a lot more seeing you’re at 660 lol I know I was reading getting silica to 2 ppm and holding it until diatoms out perform the amp Dino’s.

I’m literally fighting the same issue. I’ll be following this. Also don’t forget to fix what caused the Dino’s in the first place, I bottomed out nitrates so I’ve been getting those up as I dose silicates. We shall see how the battle goes, as my sand looks the darkest brown it’s ever been.