My first reef under attack by diatoms

[RiversideReefer]

As you can see in the picture diatoms are taking over my rocks. I know the ugly phase of the tank is normal, but should I be doing anything to actively fight the diatoms? Currently I have 3 nassarius snails and 3 blue hermits... don't know if they're eating diatoms or not but not much seems to be changing. Should I just let it be and see what happens?

 

[Ron Reefman]

Just live with it unless it REALLY gets bad. This isn't a 'normal' nuisance algae deal. This is a bloom because the new tank has too much food that this algae likes. It will bloom and over populate the tank. That uses up all the food and then it dies off... mostly. Just relax, it's going to be ugly for a month or two.

 

[RiversideReefer]

Just live with it unless it REALLY gets bad. This isn't a 'normal' nuisance algae deal. This is a bloom because the new tank has too much food that this algae likes. It will bloom and over populate the tank. That uses up all the food and then it dies off... mostly. Just relax, it's going to be ugly for a month or two.

thanks for the reassurance. Would nitrate be one of the things that the algae uses to grow? I've noticed nitrate numbers have been going down... which I'm happy with.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Patience is all you need for this!

 

[TriggerFinger]

Fyi, those are scavenger snails and do not eat algae. You may want to add another variety for algae control later on down the line.

 

[Phycodurus]

in addition to cyano and film algae, dwarf cerith snails and nerite snails will eat diatoms. perhaps one of each for right now while the diatom buildup is light.

 

[RiversideReefer]

so another quick update guys... so the diatoms are definitely starting to take over the entire rockscape/sand and now i am starting to see little micro bubbles on the surface of these diatoms... i have read it could be dinos but i am not seeing any stringy things with bubbles on it, just on the surface of the diatoms.

why is it bubbling? should i be concerned?

 

[Waters]

I highly recommend one of the CUC packages offered by many sites......just not as much as they recommend. They ship a variety of species in different sizes (to get into the hard to reach areas) based on what you are trying to accomplish.

 

[JoshO]

You could dose vibrant. It will help keep things at bay and prevent them reoccurring. I wouldn't wait for them to get really bad as has been mentioned, it's discouraging and takes longer to rectify.
If you don't want to dose then looking at feeding, lighting and nutrient export (water changes etc) is what you need to do before it gets too bad. New tanks for go through the ugly phase, however it can be controlled, not just left to run rampant!

 

[Aqua Man]

Astrea snails will eat diatoms. Diatoms like silicates which comes from new sand and rocks. Use a toothbrush and brush it off. Now is a good time to dial in maintenance routines.
Did you rinse the sand?

 

[Ron Reefman]

Take a turkey baster and try blowing the stuff off the rocks. Be careful blowing at the sand, but it can be done. And you may need to clean filters or change a sock after you do it.

 

[ScottB]

Congratulations on the diatoms. They are your first ugly. The bubbles are a bonus. Next up? some light green stuff, followed by some brown stuff. Then, some brown furry stuff. Then, the dreaded green hair algae! Oh no!

This is all totally natural and expected. Worry if it doesn't happen. That means there is not enough nutrient to support the development of your biome. When the green hair algae comes you will want to be tracking your nitrate by that point.

In the interim 4-6 months focus on a couple of crucial things:
Control temperature (78ish but minimal swings)
Control salinity (34-35ppt but dead steady)
Perfect your water changes (to begin about a month or so after startup;15-20% every two weeks)
Feed fish quality frozen food (LRS, frozen mysis)
Do not chase PH. Do not dose for PH. Crack a window if you are nervous about it

Post pics now and again

 

[RiversideReefer]

I highly recommend one of the CUC packages offered by many sites......just not as much as they recommend. They ship a variety of species in different sizes (to get into the hard to reach areas) based on what you are trying to accomplish.

i will visit the LFS and see what they have to offer. for me ordering online for livestock just doesn't feel right... are there any websites you can recommend who constantly put out high quality live stocks (fish, coral, inverts etc)

Astrea snails will eat diatoms. Diatoms like silicates which comes from new sand and rocks. Use a toothbrush and brush it off. Now is a good time to dial in maintenance routines.
Did you rinse the sand?

i did rinse the sand with just tap water (i realize after joining this forum i should have done so with RODI water), and i let it dry before i put it into the tank. the sand was used prior to me putting it into my tank (i bought the complete set up used.. except the rocks and water i bought new). I also used toothbrush yesterday to clean off one area of the rock just to see... and this morning although not as bad, the diatoms are back.

Congratulations on the diatoms. They are your first ugly. The bubbles are a bonus. Next up? some light green stuff, followed by some brown stuff. Then, some brown furry stuff. Then, the dreaded green hair algae! Oh no!

This is all totally natural and expected. Worry if it doesn't happen. That means there is not enough nutrient to support the development of your biome. When the green hair algae comes you will want to be tracking your nitrate by that point.

In the interim 4-6 months focus on a couple of crucial things:
Control temperature (78ish but minimal swings)
Control salinity (34-35ppt but dead steady)
Perfect your water changes (to begin about a month or so after startup;15-20% every two weeks)
Feed fish quality frozen food (LRS, frozen mysis)
Do not chase PH. Do not dose for PH. Crack a window if you are nervous about it

Post pics now and again

thanks for the reassurance now i feel i can just let it be and enjoy the transition. so if i'm understanding correctly, just let it be, ride it out, and once green hair algae starts showing up focus on lowering nitrates correct? and all this mess should eventually disappear on its own?

and whats LRS?



also, i have on order 2 intank media baskets along with their filter floss, chemipure blue and seachem matrix. hoping these will also help maintain the tank in a good condition.

 

[Waters]

i will visit the LFS and see what they have to offer. for me ordering online for livestock just doesn't feel right... are there any websites you can recommend who constantly put out high quality live stocks (fish, coral, inverts etc)



i did rinse the sand with just tap water (i realize after joining this forum i should have done so with RODI water), and i let it dry before i put it into the tank. the sand was used prior to me putting it into my tank (i bought the complete set up used.. except the rocks and water i bought new). I also used toothbrush yesterday to clean off one area of the rock just to see... and this morning although not as bad, the diatoms are back.



thanks for the reassurance now i feel i can just let it be and enjoy the transition. so if i'm understanding correctly, just let it be, ride it out, and once green hair algae starts showing up focus on lowering nitrates correct? and all this mess should eventually disappear on its own?

and whats LRS?



also, i have on order 2 intank media baskets along with their filter floss, chemipure blue and seachem matrix. hoping these will also help maintain the tank in a good condition.

As far as sites that will ship CUCs, I have used https://www.reefcleaners.org/ with very good success. For fish and coral, I normally use LiveAquaria/DIvers Den.

 

[ScottB]

thanks for the reassurance now i feel i can just let it be and enjoy the transition. so if i'm understanding correctly, just let it be, ride it out, and once green hair algae starts showing up focus on lowering nitrates correct? and all this mess should eventually disappear on its own?

and whats LRS?

Yea, just focus on the basics at first. Salinity, temp, WC process, general tank husbandry. Re-calibrate your refractometer. There is just SO MUCH change going on with your biome that just needs to evolve. These days a lot of folks are starting with sterile systems (dead rock) that tends to extend the maturation time frame. And then we are marketed "fixes" that upsets the process.

At some point, you want to pick up GOOD test kits (not API).
Nitrate - I like NYOS
Phosphate - Hanna ULR Phosphate
Alkalinity - Salifert is fine

Nitrate testing you can begin whenever, but don't feel compelled to do much about them unless they are over 30 or so. Maybe cut back feeding a bit, or slightly increase your water change amount or frequency. Smooth, modest, gradual changes.

 

[ScottB]

thanks for the reassurance now i feel i can just let it be and enjoy the transition. so if i'm understanding correctly, just let it be, ride it out, and once green hair algae starts showing up focus on lowering nitrates correct? and all this mess should eventually disappear on its own?

and whats LRS?

LRS is very high quality frozen fish food.