Diatoms

Breakthecycle2 · Oct 6, 2016

Probably a dumb question, but about 7 weeks ago, I had to take all my fish out because of velvet. In the process, I needed to take all the rock and coral out. I'm pretty sure I stirred all the sand around as well. I do not have a deep sand bed, it's really not even an inch in most spots. About two weeks ago, I noticed I am getting diatoms. Do you think I caused a mini cycle? Coincidentally, I also had to buy a new garbage can for mixing water, which I stupidly forgot to clean. It's a grey Brute 32 gallon. A combination of both maybe?

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 6, 2016

Breakthecycle2 said:
Probably a dumb question, but about 7 weeks ago, I had to take all my fish out because of velvet. In the process, I needed to take all the rock and coral out. I'm pretty sure I stirred all the sand around as well. I do not have a deep sand bed, it's really not even an inch in most spots. About two weeks ago, I noticed I am getting diatoms. Do you think I caused a mini cycle? Coincidentally, I also had to buy a new garbage can for mixing water, which I stupidly forgot to clean. It's a grey Brute 32 gallon. A combination of both maybe?

yes, possibly a bit of both. I dont prefer the term mini cycle, its just stirring up junk. If the tank is empty it might be a good time to use a gravel vac. Im getting ready to buy one to put on my canister filter actually.
a bit of prime a vaccume and maybe some gfo and new carbon. you might have to ride out the algae bloom.

reeferfoxx · Oct 6, 2016

I know CUC can be debatable but maybe up'ing diatom eating clean up crew would help things also?

Breakthecycle2 · Oct 6, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
yes, possibly a bit of both. I dont prefer the term mini cycle, its just stirring up junk. If the tank is empty it might be a good time to use a gravel vac. Im getting ready to buy one to put on my canister filter actually.
a bit of prime a vaccume and maybe some gfo and new carbon. you might have to ride out the algae bloom.

I've been vacuuming out the sand once a week or every two weeks. I added fresh Chemipure Eite and added new ROWAPHOS about a week ago.

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 6, 2016

Breakthecycle2 said:
I've been vacuuming out the sand once a week or every two weeks. I added fresh Chemipure Eite and added new ROWAPHOS about a week ago.

yup, probably going to have to ride this one out. Like Reeferfoxx said maybe some cuc too. I like to add some floss and just keep scrubbing.

Ive been in the sump and scaping the last couple days. Boy am I in for it next week.

Breakthecycle2 · Oct 6, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
yup, probably going to have to ride this one out. Like Reeferfoxx said maybe some cuc too. I like to add some floss and just keep scrubbing.

Ive been in the sump and scaping the last couple days. Boy am I in for it next week.

I dont mind riding it out, I was just wondering if there is anything else I should be looking for. My TDS is zero.

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 6, 2016

Breakthecycle2 said:
I dont mind riding it out, I was just wondering if there is anything else I should be looking for. My TDS is zero.

no i dont think so. detergent in the can youll smell. tds you checked, chemical filtration, and your cleaning. keep an eye in things.

cromag27 · Oct 7, 2016

Diatoms arent a sign of a cycle. cuc might stir the sand but won't get rid of them. diatoms feed off silicates in the water. once the states are depleted, they'll go away on their own.

reeferfoxx · Oct 7, 2016

cromag08 said:
Diatoms arent a sign of a cycle. cuc might stir the sand but won't get rid of them. diatoms feed off silicates in the water. once the states are depleted, they'll go away on their own.

Snails don't eat diatoms?

cromag27 · Oct 7, 2016

Ceriths and nerites *might*, but it would have no effect on the cause - silicates.

reeferfoxx · Oct 7, 2016

cromag08 said:
Ceriths and nerites *might*, but it would have no effect on the cause - silicates.

I never had luck with ceriths except for maybe detritus control. Never tried nerites either. Astrea and trochus always got the job done. I know...astreas cant right themselves

reeferfoxx · Oct 7, 2016

Fwiw it doesnt take long to remove silicates. Diatoms will linger.

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 7, 2016

Im betting its not diatoms.

Breakthecycle2 · Oct 12, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
Im betting its not diatoms.

It is. 100%. I've has everything but dino's, this is. Its like golden brown sugar sprinkled all over the sand bed.

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 12, 2016

As long as it doesn't have a source they should dissipate.

Breakthecycle2 · Oct 13, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
As long as it doesn't have a source they should dissipate.

I can't 100% figure out where it's coming from. I'm guessing when I stirred everything up it causes a "mini cycle". Even if that was the case, why would that cause diatoms?

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 13, 2016

Breakthecycle2 said:
I can't 100% figure out where it's coming from. I'm guessing when I stirred everything up it causes a "mini cycle". Even if that was the case, why would that cause diatoms?

I'm not an expert in silicates. But I would suppose they could remain dissolved or partially dissolved lower in a sand bed.
There are silicate removers that would speed the process of removal.

Breakthecycle2 · Oct 13, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
I'm not an expert in silicates. But I would suppose they could remain dissolved or partially dissolved lower in a sand bed.
There are silicate removers that would speed the process of removal.

Im running ROWAPHOS that claims to also absorb silicates, but it hasn't seemed to slow it down at all. Right now, it appears only on the sandbed and sometimes starts creeping up the bottom edges of the glass.