reefs.com
Yes sir it is my understanding that is potentially effective against large amphidinium dinos. The silica would feed diatoms which would eat or outcompete the dinos. I am still researching to understand the method.
Thanks for that. Looks to be almost $100.. wonder if the Hanna silica test would be as effective for my needs, at closer to $60. I may just bite the bullet. If I knew a sure fire method/process, I'd probably pay $300+ right now to get rid of the dino issueI used and like the Hach silica kit.
Silica In Reef Aquariums
Why would I recommend dosing silica? Largely because creatures in our tanks use it, the concentrations in our tanks (at least in mine) are below natural levels, and the sponges, mollusks, and diatoms may not be getting enough to thrive.
Tests that analyze for soluble silica, such as any of the kits available to the hobby, will only detect soluble forms. I recommend the low range silica test from Hach, Model SI-7, catalog number 22550-00. While the values obtained with such kits may not be comparable to those obtained by other methods, they are suitable for understanding how much dissolved silica is present and available to organisms in tank water, and in other aqueous solutions, such as tap water.
Thanks for that. Looks to be almost $100.. wonder if the Hanna silica test would be as effective for my needs, at closer to $60. I may just bite the bullet. If I knew a sure fire method/process, I'd probably pay $300+ right now to get rid of the dino issue
Sounds like a good plan. I havent tried this myself but pool sand is silicate based and I used it for my very first tank and had diatoms on it for a year before replacing the sand bed due to frustration. I've never had to really deal with a serious dino issue they just dont seem to exsist when the rocks are already covered in diatoms and other algeas at the beginning of a new tank.
So...I bought the Hanna kit...and took my first reading this morning. I got .79.....What should I be shooting for? So far...the dinos are winning.
12 hours....and yes....ppm....according to my Hanna Silica LR
That number is fine. I get good diatom growth (provided other nutrients are present) at anything from a couple of tenths up to 1ppm SiO2. No reason to go higher than that, IMO.
hanna reports SiO2 ppm
I'd test before dosing. Now that you know your current dosing amount is giving you a reasonable tank concentration, I'd test once every few days.
I've seen you mention the trace elements theory thing in lot of posts. Still catching up on the LCA post and the main Dino post on pages 16 and I think like 50, respectively. I see this post was from few years ago. Do you still feel that depleting trace elements is what's working? I know you are one of the leading experts on dinos so I should probably just do whatever you say lol, but if I try to bottom out trace elements, can't this have other consequences in the tank? I've had several corals either die or almost dead recently so I hate to do something drastic that could weaken them more. I'm still dosing my 2 part B Ionic and All-For-Reef as I have for probably a year now. I just started dosing silica 2 days ago, hoping this will help. Basically just checking in here to see how strongly you feel or if you still think limiting some trace elements is worth doing in the scheme of all this. Thanks!
