Silicate remover that won’t drop out PO4

Reefer911 · Sep 30, 2022

I’m getting some diatoms (possibly) on my 9 month old aquarium and I’m wondering if silicates are my problem. I need to check TDS of my RODI, and assuming that is the issue, is there a way to reduce silicates without refusing PO4? My PO4 is currently 0.03 so I obviously don’t want it much lower. I have some SeaChem Elite but not wanting to use it due to its PO4 lowering capability.
Any suggestions?

Dan_P · Sep 30, 2022

Brian Bearden said:
I’m getting some diatoms (possibly) on my 9 month old aquarium and I’m wondering if silicates are my problem. I need to check TDS of my RODI, and assuming that is the issue, is there a way to reduce silicates without refusing PO4? My PO4 is currently 0.03 so I obviously don’t want it much lower. I have some SeaChem Elite but not wanting to use it due to its PO4 lowering capability.
Any suggestions?

Is this the first diatom bloom for this system? How are you distinguishing diatoms from dinoflagellates?

Reefer911 · Sep 30, 2022

Yeah this might be the first bloom, however it’s only occurring on the glass. The sand and rocks are clear.
I never went through an ugly phase to speak of because I left the lights off like three months.

Honestly I’m not sure how to distinguish the two. I have been reading about diatoms vs dinos some though.

Reefer911 · Sep 30, 2022

I’m guessing diatoms purely based on the fact that my NO3 and PO4 aren’t zero.

Dan_P · Sep 30, 2022

Brian Bearden said:
Yeah this might be the first bloom, however it’s only occurring on the glass. The sand and rocks are clear.
I never went through an ugly phase to speak of because I left the lights off like three months.

Honestly I’m not sure how to distinguish the two. I have been reading about diatoms vs dinos some though.

You will need a microscope to distinguish the two micro algae.

Clean surfaces general become fouled first by a conditioning layer, which is made of organic compounds dissolved in the water. Next bacteria colonize the surface and change the surface by laying down a biofilm. About this time diatoms colonize the surface. I presume the presence of bacteria is beneficial. At this point if silicon, nitrogen and phosphorous are available, the diatoms quickly reproduce and until other photosynthetic organisms begin to grow on the surface, the diatoms will develop visible golden-brown films. Generally, the diatoms are introduced into the system when you stock the aquarium. Diatoms can arrive in a dormant state and start to grow when conditions are right. Dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria seem to become visible after diatom numbers decline.

Maybe, your system‘s surfaces are just starting be colonized.

Lavey29 · Sep 30, 2022

my 4 stage RODI still lets silicate get through and results in some light diatoms in my tank from water changes and top off. I recently switched to a Spectrpure silicate buster filter for my RODI system to eliminate the silicate in my water.

killer2001 · Sep 30, 2022

Brian Bearden said:
I’m guessing diatoms purely based on the fact that my NO3 and PO4 aren’t zero.

I don't think thats how that works. Once my silica depleted less than 0.06ppm (tested with hanna low range silica) I started to get dino's despite my nitrates averaging around 18ppm and phosphate 0.14 ppm.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 30, 2022

Brian Bearden said:
I’m getting some diatoms (possibly) on my 9 month old aquarium and I’m wondering if silicates are my problem. I need to check TDS of my RODI, and assuming that is the issue, is there a way to reduce silicates without refusing PO4? My PO4 is currently 0.03 so I obviously don’t want it much lower. I have some SeaChem Elite but not wanting to use it due to its PO4 lowering capability.
Any suggestions?

Im not aware of any good way to remove silicate from the aquarium itself without also reducing phosphate, except dosing phosphate plus a binder.

shakacuz · Sep 30, 2022

get some nerite snails while you figure out how to reduce your silicates. they’ll help minimize the diatoms on glass and rocks.

i had the same issue but eventually dosed live phyto and it went away. few weeks later i ended up with cyano…

BAMatter · Dec 21, 2022

Lavey29 said:
my 4 stage RODI still lets silicate get through and results in some light diatoms in my tank from water changes and top off. I recently switched to a Spectrpure silicate buster filter for my RODI system to eliminate the silicate in my water.

Is just a certain type of DI resin?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 21, 2022

BAMatter said:
Is just a certain type of DI resin?

Yes, but I wouldn't recommend spending the extra on it unless you have problematic diatoms.

BAMatter · Dec 21, 2022

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Yes, but I wouldn't recommend spending the extra on it unless you have problematic diatoms.

My Silicon levels on my last ICP tests has been creeping up since September. 198, 225, and now 231. I know these aren’t egregious compared to the 0-200 set point that Triton assigns. However, I don’t want them getting higher over time. Thoughts on best way to approach?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 21, 2022

BAMatter said:
My Silicon levels on my last ICP tests has been creeping up since September. 198, 225, and now 231. I know these aren’t egregious compared to the 0-200 set point that Triton assigns. However, I don’t want them getting higher over time. Thoughts on best way to approach?

Why does it concern you?

I dosed silicate regularly to keep it sufficient to allow diatom growth.

Lavey29 · Dec 21, 2022

BAMatter said:
Is just a certain type of DI resin?

Not sure but my ICP from last week shows 0 silicate in my RODI now so I'm happy with the results.

FIN&BONEZ · Dec 21, 2022

I doubled up on my di and also have started running phosguard in my top off and water change containers so not to strip the display. We have super clean city water but high silicates I'm guessing because we live so close to the ocean?

BAMatter · Dec 21, 2022

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Why does it concern you?

I dosed silicate regularly to keep it sufficient to allow diatom growth.

I have some sponges growing that are taking off, and assuming it’s from the silicate. I need to keep removing the sponge, pretty much grows in between my zoas and starting to take over a bit.

GuppyHJD · Feb 13, 2023

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Im not aware of any good way to remove silicate from the aquarium itself without also reducing phosphate, except dosing phosphate plus a binder.

Randy,
What is the best way to remove silicate? If I have to dose phosphates, I can do that too. My phosphates are low now (below 0.03) but my siliacates are above 8.
When you say "plus a binder", what do you recommend?
Thank you

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 14, 2023

GuppyHJD said:
Randy,
What is the best way to remove silicate? If I have to dose phosphates, I can do that too. My phosphates are low now (below 0.03) but my siliacates are above 8.
When you say "plus a binder", what do you recommend?
Thank you

What are the units of that "above 8" and do you have a problematic level of diatoms?

GuppyHJD · Feb 14, 2023

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
What are the units of that "above 8" and do you have a problematic level of diatoms?

8653 ug/l
I have some diatoms...would love to get back to white sand.
The biggest problem is that the silicate/silicon throws off the Hanna ULR Phosphate tester
I did restart the GFO reactor today and plan to dose phosphates to keep the GFO from bottoming out the phosphates while it removes the silicates

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 15, 2023

GuppyHJD said:
8653 ug/l
I have some diatoms...would love to get back to white sand.
The biggest problem is that the silicate/silicon throws off the Hanna ULR Phosphate tester
I did restart the GFO reactor today and plan to dose phosphates to keep the GFO from bottoming out the phosphates while it removes the silicates

What company did that ICP?

How are you purifying top off water?