What is this this stuff?! UGH!!

[NanaReefer]

I'm very frustrated!! Brown/Rust colored dust crap all over my SB, glass, pumps and over flow box.
4 stage RO/DI. 0 TDS coming out of unit, holding tank and ATO resivoure.
Tank is 6 months old. Dosing nothing but BRS 2part. Bi-weekly WC. ALK=8.4, CA=440, MAG=1400, PH=8.0-8.3, Temp=79.4
Happy, healthy fish & Corals. Fed lightly, small amounts 3x a day. Frozen only, rinsed well.
20L sump, in sump skimmer, LR/Chaeto.
Lights are LED's.

I suspect this is Diatoms. Seems to get worse after every WC. Could the cause be silicates leaching from my 32g Black Brute RO/DI holding tank?
From the Reef Crystals Mix?

Thanks for any help.

 

[moviepastor]

my tank is 11 months old. does same thing. when i decrease the time i leave the lights on it dissapears. i did not think about silicates tho. i use a brute can that is prob not food grade for my rodi. maybe you are on to something.

 

[zesty]

Sure looks like diatoms.

Did you start out with live rock? From what I've read 6 months is still a valid time to have diatoms. Depending on what you started out with, it could just take longer. Sponges on the underside of your live rock will start to form and take up that extra silicate. Hopefully you'll get some pineapple sponges as well, I went thru a bloom of them for a few months.

This is just an assumption.

 

[NanaReefer]

Started with 25# of dry BRS Reef Saver Rock. 80# of Arag-Live Fiji Pink sand. I did notice a small decline when I lowered the intensity of my white lights. But still present everywhere.

 

[zesty]

I'm just going to assume diatoms and that in time they should go away.

When I got my (in-home) RO/DI and brute's I had a pineapple sponge bloom. I'm assuming maybe some extra silicates from the brutes? I was using seachem reef salt and now use reef crystals.

If anyone else has some more advice for diatoms, have at it!

 

[dbl]

My system is right around 7 months and I still see diatoms, albeit less and less. From what I've read, it's pretty normal and time will take care of it. The best thing I'm learning from this hobby is patience...not historically my strong suit.

 

[NanaReefer]

After almost 6yrs reefing, I've gained much by way of having patience True to form, not every tank is the same. I never experienced this malady with my first two tanks. Thus my need to figure out what if anything I've done differently. Larger system, larger skimmer, LED's versus T5HO, only differences.
As you've all suggested, I shall continue the wait-lol. Maybe the new corals coming this weekend will make the waiting more pleasant eh?!
Thank you all for the quick replies. The area that I live, reefers are very far and few. This is where I come for reefers peace of mind

 

[Rob&Gab]

+1diatoms. How's your feeding.? Any excess food going on the floor.? They will go away maintain your water canges. We all get them I get them from time to time thy last no more then a few days. Only due to our heavy feeding cause of the fish.

 

[NanaReefer]

Well these buggers have been lasting for 6 months-lol. I feed frozen only, thawed/rinsed well. 2-3x daily. Very small amounts. Half a dime size for entire day. I prefer several smaller feedings as opposed to anything else. If any makes it to the SB, I have 8 Nassarius snails that go crazy cleaning. A Strawberry Conch gently keeps things stirred up and a Scarlet Hermit. Oh and my Bi-Colored Blenny picks at the SB as well. I too will gently stir it up about once a week to keep things in the water column so's to be removed.

 

[Tank.Bro!]

I had diatoms for like 7 months in the beginning of my older reef and tye went away. They won't harm anything they are just an eye sore. You can suck them off before a water change tho..