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05/06/2010, 03:49 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 31
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Diatoms?
There are these little dots on my tank wall. There are ton of them. One half of my tank is green and the other is brown. I also think it is on my live rock. I keep scrubbing it off but eventially comes back.
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05/06/2010, 03:51 PM | #2 |
Moved On
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: canada, toronto
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is the tank new?
if so, they will go away soon themselves. its a result of end of cycle, as the no3 is high. make sure you use RO water to top off and good water circulation. |
05/06/2010, 03:56 PM | #3 |
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I got it 9 months ago
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05/06/2010, 04:00 PM | #4 |
Moved On
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Location: canada, toronto
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IF it is only on the glass, then scrape it off, its planktonic food, which you are re releasing into your tank for everyone to eat.
some water parameters system info would def. help. |
05/07/2010, 02:03 PM | #5 |
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I also think it is on myrocks because they are turning dark green/black. I will try to find the parameters
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05/07/2010, 03:17 PM | #6 |
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Location: Mountain View, CA, USA
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I suspect that the tank is getting more food than it should. If so, you might need to back off on the feeding or get more nutrient export going. Better skimming might help.
Are there any snails in the system? Moved to New to the Hobby for more views.
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Jonathan Bertoni |
05/07/2010, 03:30 PM | #7 |
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Location: Minnetonka, MN
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I picked up a handfull of astraea snails, and they've been little miracle workers on my glass. The impossible to reach spots in the back are no longer green! If you don't have any, they're worth considering as part of your cleanup crew.
And of course, as bertoni mentioned, not feeding the algae in the first place will provide a more permanant solution and should be the first thing you work on. |
05/07/2010, 08:51 PM | #8 |
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about how new of a tank are diatoms expected in. because I have a bunch that showed up yesterday, the tank is only about two months old
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05/07/2010, 08:56 PM | #9 |
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It mostly happens in new tanks right after the cycle, but I've heard of them coming and going in tanks that have been up and running for decades.
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05/07/2010, 08:58 PM | #10 |
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so do you think I should just wait it out?
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05/07/2010, 09:40 PM | #11 |
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Location: Minnetonka, MN
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If it's really diatoms (brown dust) then yeah, wait it out. The green stuff may be something else and related to nitrate/phosphate issues.
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