No diatoms... have I done something wrong?

[gemini9]

I've had my tank up for a month and I still have no diatoms or anything growing in there. It's actually worrying me to death, as I'm thinking I'm doing something wrong. I had cycled my tank once, because I added a shrimp and about 12 pounds of dry rock with 3 pounds live rock. My ammonia, nitrites were 0. Nitrate was still really high. Thursday I added another 14 pounds of dry rock and now my nitrites are back up again. I have never seen my ammonia spike. It's never been over .50 so I don't know what the deal is there. I have and still see almost microscopic teeny tiny critters swimming in there now and then, which I'm told are pods. So small I can barely see them. Other than that, tho, there's nothing.

But you would think that after a month, I would be seeing some diatoms, algae or something, but I don't have either. Is something wrong?

 

[scott3569]

Well it's also been only a month, are you ghost feeding? do you have a sump? if you have a sump do you chaeto or an algae scrubber..from the research I have been doing one of those are much need in you refugium because it will keep phos and nitrate in check.

 

[scott3569]

Also remember what you are doing here, you are trying to create a bioload, and create a biological atmosphere..it could take 1 month it could take 6..It will do what it needs to do in it's time not ours..LOL no matter how bad we want it.

 

[gemini9]

I don't have a sump yet. I'm having a hard enough time with what I've got now haha. I do, however, plan to set up a sump eventually. About 5 years ago, I started to set up this tank once before. The only thing I got around to doing, was adding a few live rock at the time, but back then, I had diatoms within a few weeks. I ended up having to move and tear down my tank (broke up with my girlfriend and moved back home lol) and haven't messed with it since. But recently I blew off the dust and tried again. But this time it's been a month, I have more rock than I did then, added the shrimp, but still no diatoms.

Water is a little murky so I changed one of my carbon filters to try and clear it up. I did a 20% water change before I added my new batch of dry rock.

Should I be ghost feeding?

 

[AJsTank]

Mine took 7 weeks before I saw diatoms

 

[scott3569]

Mine took 7 weeks before I saw diatoms

from what I have been reading ghost feeding is very important for the cycle process it helps build up the bactieria

 

[scott3569]

ops I didn't mean to quote Aj..LOL

 

[Fish drive me crazy]

I set up my 58 with 20 gallon sump added some bacteria starter from the store with about 35 pounds of live rock and some dry rock along with 80 pounds of live sand I had 0 amonia and I got diatoms with in a week or so I'd say I donno if this helps

 

[Fish drive me crazy]

Also I am new to the hobby only had salt water tanks for about 6 months to a year but so far I've had good luck

 

[Fish drive me crazy]

Cycling a Saltwater Aquarium
That's a like to a web sight I read up on cycling my tank hopefully it helps you with yours

 

[gemini9]

A week. Wow. I still don't show any signs of anything in there. Will high alkilinity, magnesium or copper readings cause problems with diatoms? All i have atm is a master api test kit which includes pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate tests.

 

[Fish drive me crazy]

I'm not sure tbh I just know I don't have copper in my tank because it's a reef tank

 

[reefer32]

How do I post forums??

 

[81Shaun]

mine is going through the diatom stuff now and cant wait until clears

 

[Fish drive me crazy]

Ya I hate diatom

 

[gemini9]

Can I add fish or cuc even if I don't get a diatom outbreak?

 

[scott3569]

Can I add fish or cuc even if I don't get a diatom outbreak?

well, even tanks that have been up and running for a while like 9 mos. will get a diatom breakout due to over feeding and all from what I am reading..you might be able to get a CUC, but If it where me I would keep it somewhat small, although I think a lot of your CUC buddies can handle some higher nitrates..I have a list of recommended CUC if you would like it.

 

[gemini9]

Sure. Let's see the list.

 

[scott3569]

here it is just remember this was recommended for my size tank. I think you could get a few of these guys and see how it goes, I also have another possible recomendation but I got to find it. 6-10 Trochus Snails
4-6 Nassarius Snails
2-3 shrimp (peppermint or cleaners are best) blood shrimp are awesome to look at though

1 fighting Conch
3-5 Margarita Snails
**maybe 1 emerald crab
** maybe 1 Turbo Snail

 

[scott3569]

yeah here it is..read though this good stuff man.
Reefkeeping Magazine - Reefkeeping 101