Siphon Brown Diatoms

[Hallowhead]

Howdy,

When doing a water change is it beneficial or hurtful to siphon the diatoms off the substrate and use a turkey baster to blow them off the rocks? Does this speed the process up or lengthen it?

 

[islander84]

Lengthen it.... Diatom outbreaks are usually temporary and once the silica levels lower the diatoms will die off. Let them flourish, the more there are the faster they will absorb the silica.

 

[Hallowhead]

I am nervous that it's not Diatoms but that's just my nature. The diatoms don't appear to be growing where light doesn't exist IE under my rock arches. It looks exactly like brow diatom and has little tiny brown (almost hairish algae) growing from the substrate & rocks. It's like a film of some sort.

 

[Neo Jeo]

I am nervous that it's not Diatoms but that's just my nature. The diatoms don't appear to be growing where light doesn't exist IE under my rock arches. It looks exactly like brow diatom and has little tiny brown (almost hairish algae) growing from the substrate & rocks. It's like a film of some sort.

You got a pic?

 

[Hallowhead]

You got a pic?

 

[DangerDave]

Looks like diatoms to me...

 

[islander84]

Definitely looks like diatoms. How long has your tank been setup?

 

[Hallowhead]

Definitely looks like diatoms. How long has your tank been setup?

It's approaching 2 months!

When I cycled my tank I had a small brown diatom breakout and than it went away. Which is why I am nervous about it now. When I treated my bryopsis 1.5 weeks ago I stopped doing my weekly water change and it just came back at incredible speeds.

So it's bad to siphon?

 

[DangerDave]

I don’t think it’s bad. You’re pulling out nutrients/silicates that they needed to grow. Just know until those elements are depleted they will keep growing.

 

[Hallowhead]

I don’t think it’s bad. You’re pulling out nutrients/silicates that they needed to grow. Just know until those elements are depleted they will keep growing.

Thanks everyone. I play the lovely waiting game now !

 

[Neo Jeo]

Looks like a new tank! Wait it out

 

[Hallowhead]

Here is a quick video I shot this morning maybe it helps identify

https://imgur.com/a/AhOHFIP