Diatoms

[Baby21pilots]

When will the diatoms disappear and alot of ppl say wait til I see any green hair algae. I have diatoms for going on a month and a half and I see no changes. I'm just want to know is everything on tract and all that

 

[EmdeReef]

It can take a while to get rid of them. Are you using RODI? Maybe adding a silicates filter to it will help.

Diatoms are harmless and just one of many ugly stages of new tanks. I wouldn’t worry too much just let it run its course and try to minimize adding more silicates.m

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

^^^yup. You can test or just wait it out.
Silicate is in different amounts in different rock. So all tanks are unique.

You might not get gha. It’s generally added by US on frags and such.

Back in the day most everyone used live rock. So it was a package deal. Rock algae and hitchhikers.

 

[Crazeh]

I think GFO can help remove silicates, but really it's best to just let the diatoms run their course.

Some people clean them away or kerb their growth until they stop coming back, but I think that just prolongs them - so stop if this is something you do. We want the diatoms growing, the sooner they consume the silicates the sooner they'll be gone. This is assuming we're not adding more through our water changes.

It's usually the first of many stages you have to look forward to, I'm about 10 months in and only just coming out the other side!

 

[Baby21pilots]

Thanks ya'll I was just wondering if things are were they need to be and I'm not in a rush to add fish or anything. Crazeh my tank been up and running for 9 month 20 days and 8 hours and 53 minutes.

 

[Crazeh]

Not sure if I've missed something but diatoms in a 9 month old tank seems a bit off to me. Normally it comes and goes easily within the first two months unless you're adding silicates somehow.

Tank looks very young, I'd have guessed it was a matter of weeks old.

 

[Baby21pilots]

Not sure if I've missed something but diatoms in a 9 month old tank seems a bit off to me. Normally it comes and goes easily within the first two months unless you're adding silicates somehow.

Tank looks very young, I'd have guessed it was a matter of weeks old.

No I mean in total that's how long it's been running but the diatoms started a month ago. I just like to keep track of how long and all that. And I'm using all dry live rock...well kinda alive now since the diatoms shown up

 

[lapin]

No I mean in total that's how long it's been running ( 9 months) but the diatoms started a month ago. I just like to keep track of how long and all that. And I'm using all dry live rock...well kinda alive now since the diatoms shown up

Have you added any bacteria source to start your cycle?

 

[Crazeh]

No I mean in total that's how long it's been running but the diatoms started a month ago. I just like to keep track of how long and all that. And I'm using all dry live rock...well kinda alive now since the diatoms shown up

Sorry, misunderstanding. I mean that for a tank to not start showing diatoms until after about 8-9 months of being set up is quite strange. They normally appear within the first few months of a tank being started.

 

[Baby21pilots]

Sorry, misunderstanding. I mean that for a tank to not start showing diatoms until after about 8-9 months of being set up is quite strange. They normally appear within the first few months of a tank being started.

I was thinking the same thing... but I'm new at saltwater I own a freshwater tank for quit awhile...that's why I'm up here to get help cause somethings I dont know and somethings I do know

 

[Baby21pilots]

Have you added any bacteria source to start your cycle?

Yes

 

[Crazeh]

How did you cycle the tank, and do you have any livestock? Have you been doing water changes during the 9 months?