Silicates?

NanaReefer · Oct 28, 2015

Hi Randy.

Hope you can help. For the last year I've been struggling with what I believe to be Diatoms. Found mainly on my sand bed. Some days are worse than others but they are always present. Seems to get worse within a couple days after a water change, 5g bi-weekly of 47g total water volume.
My RO/DI water always test 0 TDS. 0 out of both reservoirs. Out of tap is 165.
I run a reactor of carbon/PhosGuard.

Please can you tell me, is it possible my salt, Reef Crystals, is to blame?

Salty0331 · Oct 28, 2015

I am by no means at Randy's level, however have been reefing a while. May I ask what type of rock is in the tank and where is it from? Also are you running filter socks or BioBalls in the sump?

Salty0331 · Oct 28, 2015

Also can we see a pic? That way we can help you diagnose the suspect properly.

NanaReefer · Oct 28, 2015

Tank has been running for almost 2yrs. I am running filter socks changed out every 10-14 days, should be changed more often I know. Bad me!
Rock is BRS Reef Saver.
Like stated seems to get worse 1-2 days after a water change. Lasting up to 7-10 days then starts to recede.

Salty0331 · Oct 28, 2015

Doesn't seem like rock is culprit, by leaking silicates or phosphates. I use IO ReefCrystal myself and don't see similar issue, but I couldn't tell you if the chemical make up could be suspect.

I use socks also but I change them every three to four days. I not sure the socks would cause the issue.

As for the pic it looks like it could be diatoms. When the suspect problem is heavy do you notice a snotty or stringy look with bubbles accompanying the heavy areas?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 28, 2015

I don't think the salt could have substantial silicate unless you use tap water with it.

What kind of sand is it?

Sabellafella · Oct 28, 2015

Hey not sure if this is irrelevant but wen i used rc i always had a brown tint to my tank even my mixing jugs would turn brown , it has added organics witch cause this

Salty0331 · Oct 28, 2015

Sabellafella said:
Hey not sure if this is irrelevant but wen i used rc i always had a brown tint to my tank even my mixing jugs would turn brown , it has added organics witch cause this

Might be onto something.....my socks are always brown.....same with skimmate. I post a pic when I get home. I do dose VDK and H202, not sure if it is just pulling heavier junk from water. I originally thought it was my GFO grinding in my reactor, but I have a gentle tumble.

Randy, anything thoughts to the RC causing this?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 28, 2015

If it is diatoms, the organic matter in RC that appears to cause the brown stuff wouldn't be contributing. They are not organic consumers.

If it is actually cyano, that's different, and organics from many sources may contribute.

Salty0331 · Oct 28, 2015

ImageUploadedByREEF2REEF1446079447.257176.jpg

Here is the color on my sock......

NanaReefer · Oct 29, 2015

The sand I used was Carib Sea Arga-Live. Neither my sock nor skim mate are colored like it.
It is neither stringy nor slimy. Easily disturbed by gentle stirring. Light dusting on the glass also. Rocks seem to be untouched.
All makeup water is returned via my sump. My sump does not have this same issue.

Could it be my lights? Like I said, it's worse right after a water change.

sawdonkey · Oct 29, 2015

Do you run bio pellets? I do and somewhat struggle with what you have. I just gravel vac my gravel into a filter sick in my sump once every two weeks or so.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 29, 2015

There are many different species of diatoms and cyanobacteria, so it can be hard to identify what it is from appearance, but it does sound like diatoms based on the color.

I might be more aggressive with the Phosguard. When was the last time it was changed? How much are you using?

NanaReefer · Oct 29, 2015

Changed on 8/7/15, using 250ml in a TLF reactor. I do not use bio pellets. Only thing dosed it BRS 2part via doser.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 29, 2015

NanaReefer said:
Changed on 8/7/15, using 250ml in a TLF reactor. I do not use bio pellets. Only thing dosed it BRS 2part via doser.

I'd definitely change it again. I might change it every 2 weeks max when there's an issue like this.

Water changes can boost pests, even for reasons that are not a fault of the salt, such as supplying a crtical trace element (iron, etc.) that may be depleted.

NanaReefer · Oct 29, 2015

I will change it out then. Would it be better to dose Trace Elements as opposed to water changes? Strangely the longer I go without WC the more this stuff recedes. But I'm finding it hard to change 6yrs of habitual bi-weekly WC-lol.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Oct 29, 2015

I think it might not hurt to just avoid the water changes for a bit, and only dose calcium and alkalinity as needed.

NanaReefer · Oct 29, 2015

My last WC was on 10/11/15. I'll let things go as is and see what happens. Still I'm concerned about not replenishing trace elements [emoji16]

NanaReefer · Nov 6, 2015

Well here I am going on 27 days without a WC. Sand bed is completely Diatom free. But how long can I go without a WC? I'm very nervous! My only form of nutrient export has been WC's and growing Chaeto. I do use a filter sock.