Why does my tank have diatoms?

[Zeal]

Pic related

My phosphates are 0.12
My Nitrates are 13

Prior to this, my phosphates were extremely high due to traveling and the tank sitter feeding a bit too much so I turned on the reactor again added new GFO and carbon it has been running since Friday.

I did a chemiclean treatment as well last week, but that doesn't seem to have cleared up anything.

 

[DaJMasta]

I don't see a pic, but chemiclean as far as I know is for cyanobacteria, I don't know if it does anything for diatoms.

Generally, the blooms aren't long term, so it could be that the high phosphates through the balance in a different direct, and the relatively sudden correction just hasn't had time to properly settle yet. You may even find that churning the sand or blowing off the rocks makes them more or less go away if they're already on the down swing.

 

[Zeal]

I don't see a pic, but chemiclean as far as I know is for cyanobacteria, I don't know if it does anything for diatoms.

Generally, the blooms aren't long term, so it could be that the high phosphates through the balance in a different direct, and the relatively sudden correction just hasn't had time to properly settle yet. You may even find that churning the sand or blowing off the rocks makes them more or less go away if they're already on the down swing.

You don't see it on the zoas? There was ALOT more but I blew it off... I believe its choking my zoas. I cant tell if they have gotten better uet

 

[Cali Reef Life]

Sometimes increasing flow and making sure there isn't direct sunlight hitting the tank. I get patches of it sometimes in the dead spot in the back of my tank. I usually just get a clean up crew or try to increase flow a little. Manually hit it with a turkey baster for a week could be the solution.

If you had a nutrients problem sometimes it takes a couple weeks for the nutrient rich organisms to die off. Most problems we face are something that has already happened and were riding it out.

 

[DaJMasta]

Didn't see the pictures before, but if it's sticking to zoas it may be more likely to be dinos than diatoms. If that's the case, letting the nutrient levels come up just a bit, maybe slightly reducing carbon dosing (if you do it), and just removing it periodically and seeing if time (a week or two) will level things out again.

 

[Zeal]

Sometimes increasing flow and making sure there isn't direct sunlight hitting the tank. I get patches of it sometimes in the dead spot in the back of my tank. I usually just get a clean up crew or try to increase flow a little. Manually hit it with a turkey baster for a week could be the solution.

If you had a nutrients problem sometimes it takes a couple weeks for the nutrient rich organisms to die off. Most problems we face are something that has already happened and were riding it out.

Thats what I did was hit it with the turkey lol. Also My flow is over 3000GPH with 3 Nero 5s at 100%, so its moving lol. I guess Ill give it some time...

 

[Zeal]

Didn't see the pictures before, but if it's sticking to zoas it may be more likely to be dinos than diatoms. If that's the case, letting the nutrient levels come up just a bit, maybe slightly reducing carbon dosing (if you do it), and just removing it periodically and seeing if time (a week or two) will level things out again.

Maybe it is Dinos... I dont think I should let the phosphates come up more? I think if I drop the phosphates and keep the nitrates around 15 it should be fine... and no im not carbon dosing.

 

[Cali Reef Life]

Thats what I did was hit it with the turkey lol. Also My flow is over 3000GPH with 3 Nero 5s at 100%, so its moving lol. I guess Ill give it some time...

Being patient sucks in this hobby week 3 of 6 for my CUC QT. I wouldn't chase the problem stick to a simple solution and if still persists in a month try another route.

How To Eliminate and Prevent Diatoms in a Reef Tank - ReefBum

Diatoms are a brown algae that typically appear in a reef tank that has just completed its cycle. How do you eliminate and prevent diatoms in a reef tank?

reefbum.com

 

[Zeal]

Being patient sucks in this hobby week 3 of 6 for my CUC QT. I wouldn't chase the problem stick to a simple solution and if still persists in a month try another route.

How To Eliminate and Prevent Diatoms in a Reef Tank - ReefBum

Diatoms are a brown algae that typically appear in a reef tank that has just completed its cycle. How do you eliminate and prevent diatoms in a reef tank?

reefbum.com

Oh man… 3 day blackout

 

[Cali Reef Life]

Oh man… 3 day blackout

I think it said in really bad cases yours doesn't look to bad and you already know the cause. I'd go one day if it doesn't work My bet it resolves it self with a little TLC.

 

[Graemesreef]

Shake em off in flow if you can and increase flow baste off dead spots.