What can I do about diatoms?

[Hetts]

So I have this brown algae stuff all over my rocks, sand, and no parts of my glass. I’ve heard it’s diatoms, should I just let this stay and overtime disappear or what should I do? And is this harmful at all to fish? Thanks!
(Tank is fairly new, been setup for a little over 3 weeks and I used turbo start 900 to get it cycled faster)

 

[Texas Rick]

Hey, I have the same problem. I hope someone can help us! I’ve had it for a couple of months now though

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

There are several things that can cause a diatom bloom, but you said your tank is 3 weeks in... right? It’s kind of standard. It should go away on its own. It is kind of helping some good bacteria grow (that’s what will eventually eat all of it) keep up with your water changes... you can vacuum a lot of it off your sand that way. Do you have a clean up crew yet? Some snails, hermit crabs, conches...?

 

[Texas Rick]

There are several things that can cause a diatom bloom, but you said your tank is 3 weeks in... right? It’s kind of standard. It should go away on its own. It is kind of helping some good bacteria grow (that’s what will eventually eat all of it) keep up with your water changes... you can vacuum a lot of it off your sand that way. Do you have a clean up crew yet? Some snails, hermit crabs, conches...?

I sure don’t. Been thinking of getting a few snails and a black brittle starfish

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

I sure don’t. Been thinking of getting a few snails and a black brittle starfish

It’s time for a clean up crew... just start with a few snails and hermit crabs at first. Make sure they stay alive : ) then add more to it. Get your CUC going before adding anything else

 

[Hetts]

There are several things that can cause a diatom bloom, but you said your tank is 3 weeks in... right? It’s kind of standard. It should go away on its own. It is kind of helping some good bacteria grow (that’s what will eventually eat all of it) keep up with your water changes... you can vacuum a lot of it off your sand that way. Do you have a clean up crew yet? Some snails, hermit crabs, conches...?

I have 4 blue legged hermits, 3 cerith snails, 3 nassarius snails, and 2 turbo snails

 

[Texas Rick]

I have 4 blue legged hermits, 3 cerith snails, 3 nassarius snails, and 2 turbo snails

I have a question about your hermit crabs. Have they ever dije any harm to your fish or so?
The reason I asked. I used to have 3 hermit crabs. All comfortably eating bubble algae and doing there own thing. So one day, I woke up and happen to look at my tank that morning. To my shock, they were eating my black brittle starfish that I had since it was small. It was very upsetting. I immediately got rid of my 3 crabs.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

I have a question about your hermit crabs. Have they ever dije any harm to your fish or so?
The reason I asked. I used to have 3 hermit crabs. All comfortably eating bubble algae and doing there own thing. So one day, I woke up and happen to look at my tank that morning. To my shock, they were eating my black brittle starfish that I had since it was small. It was very upsetting. I immediately got rid of my 3 crabs.

If I was a betting man, I would say they were eating something that had died... are you sure they killed it? I have never had a problem with hermit crabs.

 

[Texas Rick]

If I was a betting man, I would say they were eating something that had died... are you sure they killed it? I have never had a problem with hermit crabs.

Wasn’t dead. Very alive and well. Until he got eaten, of course.

 

[ApoIsland]

I have 4 blue legged hermits, 3 cerith snails, 3 nassarius snails, and 2 turbo snails

Seems to be a lot of clean up crew for what appears to be a small tank with not much algae to feed on. In my experience a good rule for cleanup crew is one per 10 or 20 gallons. Hermit crabs are very territorial. They also like to kill snails. I have only two hermits in a 120g and can still see them locked up in battle once or twice a week. Originally they were 12 hermits many years ago....

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Wasn’t dead. Very alive and well. Until he got eaten, of course.

I’ve never own one of those starfish... sorry

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Wasn’t dead. Very alive and well. Until he got eaten, of course.

I did recently learn why all my emerald crabs disappeared... apparently my snowflake eel considers them to be quite tasty.

 

[Hetts]

I have a question about your hermit crabs. Have they ever dije any harm to your fish or so?
The reason I asked. I used to have 3 hermit crabs. All comfortably eating bubble algae and doing there own thing. So one day, I woke up and happen to look at my tank that morning. To my shock, they were eating my black brittle starfish that I had since it was small. It was very upsetting. I immediately got rid of my 3 crabs.

No I’ve had no issues

 

[Hetts]

Seems to be a lot of clean up crew for what appears to be a small tank with not much algae to feed on. In my experience a good rule for cleanup crew is one per 10 or 20 gallons. Hermit crabs are very territorial. They also like to kill snails. I have only two hermits in a 120g and can still see them locked up in battle once or twice a week. Originally they were 12 hermits many years ago....

Well I added 5 larger empty shells for them to gl into so they try not to kill my snails for their shells. I haven’t had any issues so far. And everyone at my LFS said my clean up crew is perfect now. I have 2 clowns and 2 cardinal bangghais right now

 

[member 99594]

What are your NO3 and PO4 levels? You may want to know that before attacking what “might” be Dino’s.

 

[Hetts]

What are your NO3 and PO4 levels? You may want to know that before attacking what “might” be Dino’s.

NO3 are low like 0 and how do I test for phosphate

 

[member 99594]

Either a Hanna checker ulr or any titration test kit. However, the Hannah checker is way more accurate. I would use the checker when you want a pin point number and a kit like Red Sea or Salifert for weekly checks.

 

[Hetts]

Either a Hanna checker ulr or any titration test kit. However, the Hannah checker is way more accurate. I would use the checker when you want a pin point number and a kit like Red Sea or Salifert for weekly checks.

Hannah checker seems quite expensive for only checking phosphate. I bought API’s master saltwater test kit for $50 and it checks nitrates, nitrites, Ph, and ammonia

 

[member 99594]

It is. That’s why I use it sparingly. It will give you a reading that is more accurate than a colour test.

sorry. Those Po4 kits are not titration kits. I said that wrong above. You just read the colour on a colour chart. BUT the kits are like .17 to .34 as the next level. So it’s harder to really see what number you have.

 

[Hetts]

It is. That’s why I use it sparingly. It will give you a reading that is more accurate than a colour test.

sorry. Those Po4 kits are not titration kits. I said that wrong above. You just read the colour on a colour chart. BUT the kits are like .17 to .34 as the next level. So it’s harder to really see what number you have.

Gotcha, what level of phosphate would I want and what would that number be telling me