My so far successful Diatoms Eliminator

[Teaman89]

I have seen hundreds of different ways to Eliminate diatoms from tanks. Our 28 gal exploded in diatoms. So for what ever reason I just shut off all blue lights and left on white green and red. Now 2 weeks in there is 0 and I mean 0% diatoms in that tank. So today I turned on the blue as low as it can go and I’m going to see if it flares up again or if I beat it I will keep you posted. Our 75 started getting diatoms soon did the same thing 5 days ago. No blue and have white red and green on and it has turned it from a brown hair algae to a green algae without the long hair. Going to leave that alone for another week then start introducing the blues back in slowly. I also turned off my refugium light in the 75.

 

[andrewey]

Out of curiosity, have you checked your water recently for silica? It seems odd that both of your tanks are exploding in diatoms (assuming it's diatoms and not another organism).

 

[Teaman89]

I have not. I bought 110lbs of (live rock) from a not so trusting source (didn’t realize that at the time of purchase) those 2 tanks have the same rock from that purchase. That’s a good idea though I will have to go buy the test kit.

 

[andrewey]

I suspect it's not from the rock and is more likely coming from your water. If you have a TDS meter, you can also make sure your filters or RO membrane don't need to be replaced.

 

[Teaman89]

I have 4 tanks. 2 have the same rock and all 4 use same Ro system water. The other 2 tanks are doing great.

 

[Jason mack]

Diatoms need a silicate source .. once silicate is gone so will the diatoms ..like stated check for sources . New sand .?? Rodi filters ....??dosing something like brightwells sponge excel ..??

 

[Scottmac]

I have the same issue with my new tank, its not the brownish colour that i'm bothered about its how it clumps the sand together. Considering getting rid of the sand altogether and replacing with beech pebbles, anyone tried this?

 

[Aqua Man]

@Scottmac did you rinse the sand before putting in?

Diatoms are ugly but will go away once all silicates are used up.

 

[Scottmac]

I did wash it but maybe not thoroughly enough. Does it depend on the type of sand used?

 

[Aqua Man]

All sand has dust/silicates. Rinse until the water runs clear. Can take awhile.

 

[Lasse]

Diatoms need a silicate source .. once silicate is gone so will the diatoms ..like stated check for sources . New sand .?? Rodi filters ....??dosing something like brightwells sponge excel ..??

@Scottmac did you rinse the sand before putting in?

Diatoms are ugly but will go away once all silicates are used up.

Is this really the truth or is it a myth? Does high silicates always cause a diatom bloom ? What are normal concentrations of Si in a normal reef aquarium with natural limestone rocks?

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Aqua Man]

Is this really the truth or is it a myth? Does high silicates always cause a diatom bloom ? What are normal concentrations of Si in a normal reef aquarium with natural limestone rocks?

maybe both! My thoughts are that if nothing is using the Si then diatoms will.

 

[SMSREEF]

maybe both! My thoughts are that if nothing is using the Si then diatoms will.

And then snails eat the diatoms.
My snails that were put in my new tank have some serious growth from the diatom bloom!
I can actually see the new growth

 

[Lasse]

maybe both! My thoughts are that if nothing is using the Si then diatoms will.

Consider this 4 years measurements of Si in my aquaria - no diatom problems ever. and the top is nearly 20 000 µg!!!!!

My normal levels is now around 250 - 300 µg

Sincerely Lasse

​

 

[Aqua Man]

That is interesting Lasse. Don’t have an explanation. Although your tank setup is different than most!
So when you first set it up, you never had the “uglies” ? I remember reading you having Cyano on occasion.

 

[Jason mack]

Every tank is different ...tanks with more sponges will consume more Si ..and even when treating tanks with dinos with si ..which aim for around 2ppm ...diatoms might be present in the water but not too the eye

 

[Lasse]

Yes I have get some cyano after three years - and still have some in very small patches. Not a problem. Normally not doing anything - if it get a little to much - a toothbrush is a hand tool . Not much diatoms in the start and they disappear. And for the first year - I only use tap water and have not used any silicate filter for more than 3.5 years. I decided to do an experiment in order to evaluate if I could use my tap water and only filtrate through a resin. (save water from the osmosis process). Did not work very well and now I have a lot of resins - it means that I use it after my RO. I will not buy any new after I have used all.

Its not only my special tank - we have a lot of analyses from different tanks at my job - and they all show the same - variation between 100 and 250 µg

A 10 000 L tank - hard corals

An experimental tank

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A large coral farming system

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IMO - the picture is rather clear - most tanks with limestone rocks contain between 100 - 250 µg SI without any problems

Tests taken with Triton ICP

Sincerely Lssse

 

[Reef.]

I have seen hundreds of different ways to Eliminate diatoms from tanks. Our 28 gal exploded in diatoms. So for what ever reason I just shut off all blue lights and left on white green and red. Now 2 weeks in there is 0 and I mean 0% diatoms in that tank. So today I turned on the blue as low as it can go and I’m going to see if it flares up again or if I beat it I will keep you posted. Our 75 started getting diatoms soon did the same thing 5 days ago. No blue and have white red and green on and it has turned it from a brown hair algae to a green algae without the long hair. Going to leave that alone for another week then start introducing the blues back in slowly. I also turned off my refugium light in the 75.

The blues might have had less to do with the result than the 2 week wait.

 

[Lasse]

There is a lot of different diatoms - some could be affected of the light switch - this article explain a little about the photosynthesis of diatoms.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[SMSREEF]

Consider this 4 years measurements of Si in my aquaria - no diatom problems ever. and the top is nearly 20 000 µg!!!!!

My normal levels is now around 250 - 300 µg

Sincerely Lasse

​

I think you have the biodiversity that wold cycle all that silica into biomass of your tank inhabitants.

You have an amazing system Lasse.

I think newer systems with dead rock and new sand just have “issues” for a while. I know mine is having them.