Diatoms??

[Carpathian]

Hey everyone, just got my first fish in after just over a month in QT. It appears like diatoms have popped up but I figure I'd ask the experts to verify.
Parameters
Temp 77.4
SG 1.25
PH 8.1
Nh3 - 0
No2 - 0
No3 - 10( a little high)
Phos - unknown as I am just testing and the kit is super confusing. Have to give the manual another read to confirm results
Cal - Same as Phos (will provide results as soon as I read and watch a vid on proper testing)
Mg - Same as Phos (will provide results as soon as I read and watch a vid on proper testing)

Current stocking
2 ocellaris 1.5"
3 hermit crab .5"
2 turbo snail
2 margarita snail
1 emerald crab 1.5"
1 yellow cucumber 1"

1 montipora 1.5"
1 gsp 1""
1 pulsing xenia .5"
6 .5" green hairy mushroom
1 frag plug covered with unknown zoanthid (10 polyps)

Tank specs
jbj 30 rimless
40lbs of live rock
1.5" sand bed aragonite
2 im minimax, 1 GFO 1 Carbon
tunze 9001
tunze osmolator
ecotech mp10 set in NTM mode around mid flow
IM spin stream nozzle
running polyfil to polish, plenty of biological media(black filter and live rubble stuffed in baskets) and a pantyhose filled with purigen for some chemical. The two reactors are covering my rox carbon and brs GFO

Lighting
A360 12" above tank set for an 11 hour cycle and moonlights for an additional 2.5 hours before lights on and 2.5 hours after lights off. 8 hours complete darkness.
The light is currently set to acclimate via controller and intensity doesn't peak more than 60 for a few hours. Unsure how the controller is ramping my 14 day acclimation but I'm at day 7 and I've noticed the outbreak start taking hold a few days ago

If there are any additional parameters you require please let me know and I'll be happy to provide them. Thanks for reading this far. I figure I'll leave the stocking as is for now and hope its just some diatoms. If it's something else than please suggest a plan to keep this from overwhelming my tank. It seems the cucumber and turbos can keep the lower rock fairly clean but never demolish it entirely. The top level is most likely receiving too much light and the critters can't keep up. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sorry for the crappy pics, I don't have a filter for my camera yet

 

[mjlash22]

Yup, looks like a normal diatom cycle. Just keep up on your water changes and water parameters and you should be fine, it will go away.

Just some advice in reagards to some of your testing equipment/supplies. Not sure what you are using, but the Hanna checkers are super easy and provide near accurate results. I would highly recommend the Alk (dkh) and Phosphate checker. For calcium, Red Sea or Salifert test kits seems to be most effective. Not a fan of the Hanna calcium checker.

 

[Carpathian]

So I'm using the app master kit for nh3,no2,no3 and pH. I have a Hanna phep hi98127 and a hm pH meter that I use for comparison. I have the red Sea kit to test Ca, KH, Mg, NO3 and Po4. I really want the Hanna checkers but I guess I'll look else where for the calcium checker.

 

[mjlash22]

So I'm using the app master kit for nh3,no2,no3 and pH. I have a Hanna phep hi98127 and a hm pH meter that I use for comparison. I have the red Sea kit to test Ca, KH, Mg, NO3 and Po4. I really want the Hanna checkers but I guess I'll look else where for the calcium checker.

I’m not trying to persuade you otherwise, just me personally, I’ve read too many mixed reviews on the calcium checker specifically, so I opted to stick with the Red Sea test kit for calcium. I love the alkalinity and phosphate checker from Hanna.

 

[Carpathian]

I’m not trying to persuade you otherwise, just me personally, I’ve read too many mixed reviews on the calcium checker specifically, so I opted to stick with the Red Sea test kit for calcium. I love the alkalinity and phosphate checker from Hanna.

That's what these forums are all about. We tell other people how to spend their money best. If you share a bad experience with a product, that is information I wouldn't have received from the manufacturer. As always there are bad products made by the best companies. I will definitely be looking at the Hanna checkers and practice testing calcium till I get the test down. Any other accessories needed to compliment the aforementioned checkers that you use?

 

[mjlash22]

That's what these forums are all about. We tell other people how to spend their money best. If you share a bad experience with a product, that is information I wouldn't have received from the manufacturer. As always there are bad products made by the best companies. I will definitely be looking at the Hanna checkers and practice testing calcium till I get the test down. Any other accessories needed to compliment the aforementioned checkers that you use?

I use the Hanna checkers for Alk and Phosphate, Red Sea for Calc, Mag, Ammonia and Nitrate/Nitrite. Salifert kits are another good brand to look into.

 

[Carpathian]

I use the Hanna checkers for Alk and Phosphate, Red Sea for Calc, Mag, Ammonia and Nitrate/Nitrite. Salifert kits are another good brand to look into.

Thanks I'll keep testing with what I have (red Sea) and gain some confidence while I wait for some promo on the checkers. Back on topic. I took a pipette and blew the diatoms clean off the rock.