Diatoms taking over established reef

[MysticBlue]

Hey guys I have a 75 gallon which has been running for about two years and recently about 6 months ago I’ve had a huge outbreak in diatoms. My parameters are
Salinity 1.025
Temp 78
Calcium 425
Alkalinity 8.1
Magnesium 1,400
Phosphate.1
Nitrates 10ppm
Ammonia 0
It really started when I added a new light and it hasn’t gone away since I added a viparspectra light which led me to believe it was cyano. So I tried chemi clean and it was a total failure. I do water changes two times a week of about 20%. Some people said you need to get more sand sifters so I got lots of sand sifting fish, snails, and other cuc and it didn’t change a bit. Then some said check your rodi for silicates so I did and it had an untraceable amount. I’m really confused and worried that it’s taking over my tank!!!!!!

 

[SlugSnorter]

Maybe your RODI filters are running out, or you dont have enough sand turnover.

If you need sand cleaning CUC, a fighting conch, with team of ceriths and nas could help

 

[Stang67]

Do they go away when light are out or do you still see "stuff" on the sand bed.

 

[epidemos82]

Are you sure they are diatoms? A good microscope will let you tell the difference between diatoms and dinos. Nitrates and phosphates aren't bottomed out; so maybe they are not dinos. Diatoms are usually from too much silicates in the water... so check RO or your water source.

 

[MysticBlue]

Maybe your RODI filters are running out, or you dont have enough sand turnover.

If you need sand cleaning CUC, a fighting conch, with team of ceriths and nas could help

Like I said I already bought a sandsifting crew. The sand has plenty of turnover and it’s not the rodi because I use the same rodi on other aquariums which are not effected and I also tested the fresh rodi and there’s nothing out of the ordinary.

 

[MysticBlue]

Do they go away when light are out or do you still see "stuff" on the sand bed.

It’s always their light on or off. It creates almost a carpet.

 

[MysticBlue]

Are you sure they are diatoms? A good microscope will let you tell the difference between diatoms and dinos. Nitrates and phosphates aren't bottomed out; so maybe they are not dinos. Diatoms are usually from too much silicates in the water... so check RO or your water source.

I’m not sure if they’re Dino’s or diatoms. The only reason I say diatoms is because I was told that’s what they were. I don’t know how silicates would be in my aquarium as they are not in my rodi.

 

[Uncle99]

That’s a lot of water change weekly.
Can you suck that out to start?
How stable are those parameters you post?
Not all Dino’s leave the sand.
You treated for Cyano and that did nothing, so that mostly rules out Cyano.
You recently add a Visparspectra (I have three) this is a very powerful light and the whites if run high can contribute to that.

 

[Stang67]

Grab a scope to confirm but my money is on dinos. Lca, sca or prorocentrums. Good luck.

 

[MysticBlue]

That’s a lot of water change weekly.
Can you suck that out to start?
How stable are those parameters you post?

Stable parameters. I only do so much water changes because I suck out out the algae but it keeps coming back!!!

 

[Uncle99]

Stable parameters. I only do so much water changes because I suck out out the algae but it keeps coming back!!!

Counterproductive in my mind. Your over cleaning the waters and 20% is high IMM and can change water chemistry.
Suck it out through a filter sock daily, but put the same water back.
I daily small bacteria dose, and phyto dose to encourage the cleaner population we don’t see.
About a month you should see it go away.