Diatoms

[JUSKIDN]

here is a few pics of my 60.2 waterbox aquarium that was cycled in early June. I now have 6 fish with 2 shrimp and 2 stars. Several hermits and snails also. I think this is Diatoms that appeared a month ago and are still present. I tried 2 separate black outs. One for 3 days and that seemed to eradicate them but a week later they are back. So I did a 4 day blackout last week and then this is what it looks like this week. I wouldn't think they would last this long. Last water test was last week and parameters are below.

salinity 1.022
NO3 10 ppm
PO4 0.25 ppm

m

 

[Miami Reef]

There’s 2 possibilities for diatoms.

1. Your tank is new and going through a temporary diatom bloom.

2. (Most likely) check the TDS on your RODI unit. If it’s not 0, then you are adding silicates which are diatom’s food source. Keep your TDS at 0. Diatoms will consume all remaining silicates and die off.

I never encourage 3 day black outs. They are temporary bandage solutions to a solvable problem.

 

[JUSKIDN]

There’s 2 possibilities for diatoms.

1. Your tank is new and going through a temporary diatom bloom.

2. (Most likely) check the TDS on your RODI unit. If it’s not 0, then you are adding silicates which are diatom’s food source. Keep your TDS at 0. Diatoms will consume all remaining silicates and die off.

I never encourage 3 day black outs. They are temporary bandage solutions to a solvable problem.

RO/DI system in brand new

 

[ReefRusty]

Po4 is in the higher range try aim for more around the 0.05-0.1 range it will also help with future issues. Definitely looks like diatoms though.

 

[JUSKIDN]

Po4 is in the higher range try aim for more around the 0.05-0.1 range it will also help with future issues. Definitely looks like diatoms though.

thank you. I have a reactor that I was going to set up this weekend to run some GFO. Should that get me down some?

 

[ReefRusty]

Yes but do it slowly down want to shock your system. I would suggest that getting it from 0.25 to 0.1 or there abouts over 10 days or 2 weeks. Don't rush it. Just test every day for the first 5 days then every 3rd day to see how much it is dropping per day. Everyone goes through the ugly stages. Current battling cyano.

 

[JUSKIDN]

Yes but do it slowly down want to shock your system. I would suggest that getting it from 0.25 to 0.1 or there abouts over 10 days or 2 weeks. Don't rush it. Just test every day for the first 5 days then every 3rd day to see how much it is dropping per day. Everyone goes through the ugly stages. Current battling cyano.

Im looking at BRS recommendations for my 60 gallon with the standard GFO as 0.94 cup and carbon ROX 0.38 cup both mixed together in one reactor. Ive never used a reactor but what I see with others that seems like a lot of GFO. What do you think? I was wanting to find the right amount of both mixed together and run them 24/7.