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09/23/2008, 05:52 PM
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#1 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Middletown PA
Posts: 762
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blah, diatoms
since I rebuilt my 75g system (100% new RO/DI water w/IO; new aragonite; established rock) my diatoms have been running rampant. phosphates are @ zero. actinics are running from 3p - 9p, halides 4p - 8p.
I've been blasting the sand and rock to clear it off for aesthetics, but is there any chance this phase will pass quicker if I just let it be and grow like nuts, so it 'chokes' itself out? I just get the feeling that I'm at best getting nowhere, if not making the situation worse, by 'cleaning' the sand and rock. thanks.
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Tank Info: 120g |
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09/23/2008, 09:27 PM
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#2 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 354
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I am in the same situation. Lately, I have just been letting them cover the sand bed. The diatoms are getting worse, but I think it probably gets worse before it gets better?
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~Addicted to Salt~ Current Tank Info: Planning my next build |
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09/23/2008, 10:57 PM
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#3 |
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Chartered Accountant
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 2,219
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I'm going to tag along to this thread too because I'm in the EXACT same situation....I left the lights off from Sunday and I have them programmed to turn back on tomorrow so I'll let you know how the 3-days lights out went but the diatoms will probabibly come back.....
how can we get rid of the diatom problem for good?? |
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09/23/2008, 11:04 PM
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#4 |
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Premium Member
 Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Canton, Ga
Posts: 162
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my bloom lasted for a few days but I added a few larger hermits and they cleaned up up over night!!! They ate non stop and no more issues.
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09/23/2008, 11:08 PM
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#5 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Glendale Heights
Posts: 1,289
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Patience grasshoppers....this too shall pass..
But it sucks. Do you have macroalgae to help export extra nutrients? |
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09/24/2008, 07:50 AM
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#6 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Middletown PA
Posts: 762
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No macro yet, although chaeto is on the to-do list. The only nutrient reading i've got is Nitrates @ 5 ppm, everything else is @ 0.
Besides no chaeto yet, I'm also running a woefully undersized BakPak skimmer, which will be replaced with an Octopus NW-150 hopefully sooner than later.
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Tank Info: 120g |
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09/24/2008, 10:50 AM
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#7 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Glendale Heights
Posts: 1,289
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Check your local reef clubs. There is always someone pruning their fuge and will give bags of the cut off away. Well I guess I'm assuming you do have a place to put it.
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09/24/2008, 10:58 AM
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#8 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Middletown PA
Posts: 762
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Well, the 30g it’ll be going in is currently a temporary home to a monsterous little jewel damsel that wasted 2 6-year old ocellaris clowns and a coral beauty angel. I’m going to trade it to my buddy, and he’s gonna give me some of his chaeto… I just need to get over to his place to make the swap. The damsel’s going in his 75g currently home to a devilish maroon clown, and frankly we’re both curious as to who’ll come out alive.
Anyway, I’m gonna put the chaeto with a DSB and some extra rubble rock in there too, granted the sand will take some time to get up to par and start doing it’s thing.
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Tank Info: 120g |
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09/24/2008, 11:01 AM
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#9 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Glendale Heights
Posts: 1,289
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Put the fight on pay per view lol
I have rubble and established sand...trick is you have to come to IL to get lol. Sounds like your on your way though with a good set up. Good luck. |
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09/24/2008, 11:17 AM
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#10 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Middletown PA
Posts: 762
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ha, only if I can get Don King to promote the event!
thanks 
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Tank Info: 120g |
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