Diatoms?

[toadstool_paradise]

So last month I decided to run some carbon in my system and that was a horrible mistake. Pretty sure the carbon I got was leaking silicates into my tank and now I’ve got what I think is a diatom takeover!

Ever since adding the carbon a brown dusty film has covered the glass and sand and ALL my toadstool corals and gorgonian. I scrape it EVERY morning off the glass and by the time I return home from work it has come back. My toadstools have shed dozens of times trying to get the algae off of them.

I have removed the carbon and done multiple 50% water changes and added biospira for 2 weeks now and still no change. Increased flow, have done less feedings and turned down white lighting.
2 year old tank fully cycled
20 gallon peninsula w/current orbit light
Salinity-1.025
Temp-77
Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-maybe a bit (0-5)there hard to tell.

My one LPS coral, a fungia plate has been LOVING life and has had no issues. Disco soma shrooms are also enjoying life. Will attach crappy pics to see if anyone can help or recommend something for me to try.

Does this look like diatoms? It’s brown for sure and dusty when I scrape it off the glass. Does not blow off the toadstools easily and only comes off if I scrape it or they shed.

pic 1-algae on toadstool
Pic 2-algae on gorgonian
Pic 3-algae on glass

Thank you!

 

[Macbalacano]

Looks like diatoms to me. They should go away with time. How are your phosphates?

 

[toadstool_paradise]

Looks like diatoms to me. They should go away with time. How are your phosphates?

Just checked my phosphates it’s .25ppm

 

[Macbalacano]

Just checked my phosphates it’s .25ppm

Quite high if your nitrates are 0-5ppm. I would try to bring that down a little and that might help!

 

[toadstool_paradise]

Quite high if your nitrates are 0-5ppm. I would try to bring that down a little and that might help!

Phosphates I never once tested before! I’m using API test kit so hard to tell the difference between 0 and .25 lol

how would I lower phosphates? I’ve been doing 50% water changes twice a week.

 

[Macbalacano]

Phosphates I never once tested before! I’m using API test kit so hard to tell the difference between 0 and .25 lol

how would I lower phosphates? I’ve been doing 50% water changes twice a week.

Lots of different ways to lower phosphates but first i'd try to get a more accurate reading.

Do you have a nearby LFS or friend who has a different test kit to try first/for now? The best imho is Hanna ULR.

If it, in fact, is closer to 0.25, you can try using a little bit of GFO or set-up a refugium (hang on or in the sump). Although the issue you'll have is that your nitrates will also go even lower, so you'd have to go slow and see if you can balance things out long term.

 

[toadstool_paradise]

Lots of different ways to lower phosphates but first i'd try to get a more accurate reading.

Do you have a nearby LFS or friend who has a different test kit to try first/for now? The best imho is Hanna ULR.

If it, in fact, is closer to 0.25, you can try using a little bit of GFO or set-up a refugium (hang on or in the sump). Although the issue you'll have is that your nitrates will also go even lower, so you'd have to go slow and see if you can balance things out long term.

I might be able to get to a fish store sadly none are close to me. I’ll keep up the water changes until I can get a better result. Funny because I ran this nano on no refugium/skimmer or any filtering except filter floss for 2 years until I messed it all up by trying out some poor quality carbon.

 

[toadstool_paradise]

I just got some live phyto and added a dose to the tank as well as a fresh pot of pods. Did another water change and ordered some polyfilter to come soon. I hope these are just diatoms nothing worse!