Looking for a reliable Silicate Test kit,, any suggestion

aquablizz · Dec 7, 2017

Can only assume excessive Silicates but would like to test for them. I want something reliable though.
Struggling with Diatoms in my Fish only Display tank ever since installing a new LED light.. Phos are 15ppb and nitrates undetectable. Fish are healthy, anemones doing fine. Established tank with a sump & refugium. Thinks are looking ugly right now..

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Blizz

Jason mack · Dec 7, 2017

I use saliferts ..
how’s your flow in your tank ??

aquablizz · Dec 7, 2017

Hi Jason,,, flow is not great,,, just a huge pulsating powerhead but that has never been a problem in the past. Same system been up and running for years.. Only thing different is the light which I upgraded to introduce some corals soon. I appreciate your response..

Guess my bigger problem is what to do about the silicates once I verify they are present.

Already use RODI and very light feedings.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 7, 2017

I havent used it for a long time, and haven't recently compared it to others, but i have used and like the Hach, Model SI-7. It's not cheap.

aquablizz · Dec 7, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I havent used it for a long time, and haven't recently compared it to others, but i have used and like the Hach, Model SI-7. It's not cheap.

That's an understatement LOL

Jason mack · Dec 7, 2017

aquablizz said:
Hi Jason,,, flow is not great,,, just a huge pulsating powerhead but that has never been a problem in the past. Same system been up and running for years.. Only thing different is the light which I upgraded to introduce some corals soon. I appreciate your response..

Guess my bigger problem is what to do about the silicates once I verify they are present.

Already use RODI and very light feedings.

There are products out there too remove silicates.. can’t name any of the top of my head as I’ve never used them ..

aquablizz · Dec 7, 2017

Thanks Jason,,, hope somebody following this thread will chime in with the name of this product... Almost sounds too easy... I just want to get to the bottom of what caused the outbreak in the first place.

Blizz

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 7, 2017

aquablizz said:
Thanks Jason,,, hope somebody following this thread will chime in with the name of this product... Almost sounds too easy... I just want to get to the bottom of what caused the outbreak in the first place.

Blizz

Both types of mineral phosphate binders (GFO and aluminum oxide) reduce silicate.

aquablizz · Dec 7, 2017

Thanks, I'm running GFO but maybe I should add another reactor and step it up.

Jason mack · Dec 7, 2017

I would also try aiming more flow over your sand if possible

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 7, 2017

aquablizz said:
Thanks, I'm running GFO but maybe I should add another reactor and step it up.

Maybe it isn't diatoms.

aquablizz · Dec 7, 2017

the stuff is like dust,, I can brush it off all the rock and also the substrate if I stir it up.

BlueCursor · Dec 7, 2017

I think blaming diatoms on silicate is over rated. Mine has always tested zero even when I have had bad diatom outbreaks. If silicate is the limiting factor in diatoms, then a dead snail must release a ton of silicate. One of those die in my tank and diatoms go crazy.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 7, 2017

BlueCursor said:
I think blaming diatoms on silicate is over rated. Mine has always tested zero even when I have had bad diatom outbreaks. If silicate is the limiting factor in diatoms, then a dead snail must release a ton of silicate. One of those die in my tank and diatoms go crazy.

One cannot "blame" diatoms on silicate, but diatoms are the only pest in our tanks that MUST have silicate, and so reducing silicate is often a useful way to beat them.

But like all pests, they MUST ALSO have an adequate source of N, P, trace elements, space to grow, freedom from herbivores, adequate light, etc.

FWIW, I dosed silicate regularly for sponges and other organisms, and I'd get a small temporary shift from green algae on the glass to brown diatoms on the glass until the silicate was sued up, and green algae would take over again.

Feature Article: Silica In Reef Aquariums ? Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog
http://advancedaquarist.com/issues/jan2003/feature.htm

Figure 3. A view of the inside of the front glass of my reef tank 5 days after scraping the glass.

Figure 6. A view of the inside of the front glass of my reef tank 5 days after scraping the glass and adding the silica supplement.

aquablizz · Dec 7, 2017

Strange,, I rarely have any green algae on my glass, and in the past month been getting the brown. Usually scraping coralline once every 2 weeks though..

Dana Riddle · Dec 7, 2017

The Hanna Checker for silicates uses the same chemistry as Hach, and I assume the results would be comparable. The Checkers have always generated results very close to those reported by a $4,000 Hach spectrometer. I've compared results for phosphorus and iron, and alkalinity and calcium using Hach's digital titrator.

aquablizz · Dec 7, 2017

here is a pic of my display tank,,, notice the brown is only on the substrate and rock because I recently cleaned the glass..

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 8, 2017

aquablizz said:
here is a pic of my display tank,,, notice the brown is only on the substrate and rock because I recently cleaned the glass..

It's sometimes hard to distinguish diatoms from other brown pests (cyano, dinos) without microscopic examination.

radiata · Dec 8, 2017

Randy...

I'm the happy owner of a LaMotte SMART2 colorimeter. If I wanted to test for silicates, is their "SILICA–LOW RANGE HETEROPOLY BLUE METHOD" appropriate? It is suitable for saline waters and is usable in a range of 0.0–4.0 ppm silica.

Thanks,
Bob

Tjm23slo · Jan 6, 2019

How much silicate are shooting for? I’m not a number chaser but 0 of everything gifted me Dino’s and bleached out corals. They are coming back with feeding, N and P dosing for stability. I am at 0 for silicates so I have bright wells spingeexcel on the way. Was going to shoot for 2 ppm then dial in from there.

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
One cannot "blame" diatoms on silicate, but diatoms are the only pest in our tanks that MUST have silicate, and so reducing silicate is often a useful way to beat them.

But like all pests, they MUST ALSO have an adequate source of N, P, trace elements, space to grow, freedom from herbivores, adequate light, etc.

FWIW, I dosed silicate regularly for sponges and other organisms, and I'd get a small temporary shift from green algae on the glass to brown diatoms on the glass until the silicate was sued up, and green algae would take over again.

Feature Article: Silica In Reef Aquariums ? Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog
http://advancedaquarist.com/issues/jan2003/feature.htm

Figure 3. A view of the inside of the front glass of my reef tank 5 days after scraping the glass.

Figure 6. A view of the inside of the front glass of my reef tank 5 days after scraping the glass and adding the silica supplement.