DanielJameS
Active Member
So I’ve done a ton of research on this before posting, and thanks to the excellent article by Mr Randy Holmes Farley I have a better understanding the role of silica in a reef environment.
However I’m trying to figure out in this case if it’s the cause for my excess sponge growth. My tank runs fairly manageable nutrients (anywhere from around 10-20 NO3 and somewhere around .05 PO4.) At one point I was running them closer to undetectable but my LPS and softies seem to fluff up nice in the range I have it currently. I have no visible problematic algae anymore (only coraline) and the occasional green film on the glass. No cyano or anything like that but sponge EVERYWHERE! Including bases of some of my corals:
Now I know they typically grow in low light areas but these pictures are only 1/10 of what I got going on.
I recently discovered my RO/DI unit was “slowing down” so I’ve replaced all my cartridges AND membrane in the last week, but is it possible to have so much silica come through the unit that my levels in the tank are sky high from the water changes? I don’t have a way to test, and I don’t recall seeing mention of silicates/silica in my City water breakdown. I’ve also been experiencing some diatoms on the sandbed and certain tank plumbing that’s clear for a little while. Tank has been up for almost 1.5 years now. My theory is it has to be an over abundance of silica?
Is it flow? (Unfortunately) I have a HOB overflow, and my powerheads though moving a lot of water are more towards the top, so I’m a little unhappy with the fact that water may not be being pulled from the bottom/middle as much as the top, trying to figure out how to rectify that.
Any thoughts? I know some people Dose silica to promote sponge growth but is it possible for that much to be in my water? I suppose my water could have a very high concentration in which case I should probably think about adding a silica buster cartridge or just an extra DI cartridge altogether.
Thanks y’all!
However I’m trying to figure out in this case if it’s the cause for my excess sponge growth. My tank runs fairly manageable nutrients (anywhere from around 10-20 NO3 and somewhere around .05 PO4.) At one point I was running them closer to undetectable but my LPS and softies seem to fluff up nice in the range I have it currently. I have no visible problematic algae anymore (only coraline) and the occasional green film on the glass. No cyano or anything like that but sponge EVERYWHERE! Including bases of some of my corals:
Now I know they typically grow in low light areas but these pictures are only 1/10 of what I got going on.
I recently discovered my RO/DI unit was “slowing down” so I’ve replaced all my cartridges AND membrane in the last week, but is it possible to have so much silica come through the unit that my levels in the tank are sky high from the water changes? I don’t have a way to test, and I don’t recall seeing mention of silicates/silica in my City water breakdown. I’ve also been experiencing some diatoms on the sandbed and certain tank plumbing that’s clear for a little while. Tank has been up for almost 1.5 years now. My theory is it has to be an over abundance of silica?
Is it flow? (Unfortunately) I have a HOB overflow, and my powerheads though moving a lot of water are more towards the top, so I’m a little unhappy with the fact that water may not be being pulled from the bottom/middle as much as the top, trying to figure out how to rectify that.
Any thoughts? I know some people Dose silica to promote sponge growth but is it possible for that much to be in my water? I suppose my water could have a very high concentration in which case I should probably think about adding a silica buster cartridge or just an extra DI cartridge altogether.
Thanks y’all!
