How long does it take to get rid of silicates?

saltyhog · Jul 31, 2020

I dosed silicates (Sponge Excel) fairly heavily about a year ago in a battle with dinos. I still have a large amount of diatoms a year after stopping dosing. I'm sending off an ICP test of my RO/DI water tomorrow and I guess that will tell me if that 's the source. If it's not, has anyone had diatoms last this long? My new tank diatoms lasted only a few weeks 10 years ago.

Arlen nemeth · Jul 31, 2020

saltyhog said:
I dosed silicates (Sponge Excel) fairly heavily about a year ago in a battle with dinos. I still have a large amount of diatoms a year after stopping dosing. I'm sending off an ICP test of my RO/DI water tomorrow and I guess that will tell me if that 's the source. If it's not, has anyone had diatoms last this long? My new tank diatoms lasted only a few weeks 10 years ago.

*****?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 3, 2020

Seems highly unlikely what you dosed a year ago is still the source. The diatoms will rapidly deplete it.

Dan_P · Aug 3, 2020

saltyhog said:
I dosed silicates (Sponge Excel) fairly heavily about a year ago in a battle with dinos. I still have a large amount of diatoms a year after stopping dosing. I'm sending off an ICP test of my RO/DI water tomorrow and I guess that will tell me if that 's the source. If it's not, has anyone had diatoms last this long? My new tank diatoms lasted only a few weeks 10 years ago.

How did you identify the undesirable organisms as diatoms?

I have a persistent patch of diatoms that disappear into the sand at night and reappear when the lights come on. I identified them with the aid of a microscope and I also removed a piece of the patch and watched the disappearing act in a petri dish under a microscope. They are not pretty to look at but I am leaving them do their thing until I have time to study these organisms and the sand bed a little more closely. I have a fish only system.