More Diatom Help

[Thor2j]

Nothing looks better than a banging white white sandbed. However it does take work to maintain .


If you don't want to deal with the obstacles , go bare bottom

I don't mind the obstacles but there doesn't seem to be much to do but remove as necessary and wait for silicate to one year dissipate.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

I would look into your water source. are you making your own water?

So in a new tank what's the time frame? Most people said weeks, it's over 3 months. Guess I'll get another silicate test kit. Never had hair algae, algae on tank glass isn't bad, run magnet 2-3 days.

 

[Mark75]

Does your sand bed "cloud" the water when stirred? You may need to clean your sand bed.

Here is how I did mine;

Anytime I had some extra time to devote to the tank I would take a small section of sand, around a 6"x6" square, and would stir it until no cloud or detritus floated up. I would also install a 10o micron filter sock to catch the "cloud" and clean it out as soon as I was done. This was done over a week or so time frame. I actually had to go back over some of the areas a couple of times but now I can now stir any part of my substrate and never cloud the water. Stir your sand and see what you get!

 

[Thor2j]

I would look into your water source. are you making your own water?

I make it myself. 0 TDS always.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

When was the last time you calibrated your tds meter?

I make it myself. 0 TDS always.

 

[Thor2j]

Does your sand bed "cloud" the water when stirred? You may need to clean your sand bed.

Here is how I did mine;

Anytime I had some extra time to devote to the tank I would take a small section of sand, around a 6"x6" square, and would stir it until no cloud or detritus floated up. I would also install a 10o micron filter sock to catch the "cloud" and clean it out as soon as I was done. This was done over a week or so time frame. I actually had to go back over some of the areas a couple of times but now I can now stir any part of my substrate and never cloud the water. Stir your sand and see what you get!

No, can stir sand bed and within a very short time water is perfect. Water never gets cloudy. Let me say also I have a handful of sps corals along with lots of other stuff. All is doing well. Some of my pink setosa is out of control.

 

[Thor2j]

When was the last time you calibrated your tds meter?

2 days ago, it's right on.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Sorry if I missed this before, but have you added anything new to your tank since it cycled?

2 days ago, it's right on.

 

[Thor2j]

Sorry if I missed this before, but have you added anything new to your tank since it cycled?

In terms of rock, sand, equipment, no.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Diatoms come and go even in mature systems. we can't seem to pinpoint the source but it sounds like you're doing all you can on your end (rodi). unless it happens to be something other than diatoms, let it ride. plastics especially will add silicates to your water. for example a small frag rack or something. so diatoms aren't a big deal except they're ugly.

In terms of rock, sand, equipment, no.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Your tank is only 4 months old. ONLY 4 months old. Let it mature. Keep running GFO to absorb silicates and perform minimal water changes. Make sure you have plenty of snails that eat diatoms. Usually you only get excess diatoms when there isn't enough clean up crew to take care of it.

 

[Thor2j]

Your tank is only 4 months old. ONLY 4 months old. Let it mature. Keep running GFO to absorb silicates and perform minimal water changes. Make sure you have plenty of snails that eat diatoms. Usually you only get excess diatoms when there isn't enough clean up crew to take care of it.

It's 139 gallons with sump. I have about 10 nasarius, 4 hermits, 8 trochus, a couple big Mexican turbos. 1 sea cucumber. Nothing seems to eat diatom except my foxface picks at it.

What do u think about 3 large conch fighters?

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Ceriths and nerites, if you want to go that route. conchs and other sand sifters just mix up the sand and don't actually eat the diatoms.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

And for good practices going forward.....make sure you're using a high quality tds meter with atc, calibrate it one a year and use new solution each time.

 

[reeferfoxx]

It's 139 gallons with sump. I have about 10 nasarius, 4 hermits, 8 trochus, a couple big Mexican turbos. 1 sea cucumber. Nothing seems to eat diatom except my foxface picks at it.

What do u think about 3 large conch fighters?

You should have about 20-25 trochus or Astrea and 5-10 Turbos. I think you have an inefficient clean up crew. You might have enough sand sifters.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Maybe even do 30 trochus. Or just add another 20 trochus on top of what you have. Right now you have enough clean up crew for a 40 gallon tank.

 

[Thor2j]

Maybe even do 30 trochus. Or just add another 20 trochus on top of what you have. Right now you have enough clean up crew for a 40 gallon tank.

Will that effect the sand diatoms, my rocks look fine.

 

[Thor2j]

Looks like while I was gone for a week diatoms changed to something else.

Here is a video and pic

 

[reeferfoxx]

Will that effect the sand diatoms, my rocks look fine.

Yes. The snails will clear everything up. Trochus and Astrea snails eat hair algae, diatoms and little bit of cyano. That video looks almost like cyano also. You will need to manually remove that and get the snails. IF the cyano returns, do a 3 day black out period.

 

[Thor2j]

Yes. The snails will clear everything up. Trochus and Astrea snails eat hair algae, diatoms and little bit of cyano. That video looks almost like cyano also. You will need to manually remove that and get the snails. IF the cyano returns, do a 3 day black out period.

I vacuumed it all up yesterday. It was back this morning. Obviously it must not all be coming out. Do you just take all the sand that comes with it when u vacuum?