diatom questions

Lynnmw1208 · 03/08/2011, 07:55 PM

I did a search for diatoms and came up with stuff that didn't answer my questions and I don't feel like going thru millions of pgs lol.

Anyway my tank was set up on 3/1 with RO/DI water (4 stage BRS), 60 lbs of dry rock from BRS and reeflakes aragonite sand. I added 2 pieces of live rock on 3/3. I added 2 koralia 1400 powerheads on 3/6 and now I have a diatom bloom. I haven't added anything else to the tank.

My first question is, does turning the lights off help keep them away or does it not matter?

My second question is, When can I add a couple of snails to start helping to eat this stuff? I have a stray snail that came in on the live rock and he can't keep up with it as he's so tiny. I know I'm still cycling so I am not sure if snails would be ok.
Ammonia .50, nitrite .25, nitrate 0 or 2 (can't read API test and can't find salifert anywhere!)

Misled · 03/08/2011, 10:17 PM

The lighting really doesn't matter that much. I always leave mine on through a cycle. For the second part, don't add anything. Just let nature take it's course. I'd leave the one snail that came in the rock. You'll most likely see other organisms as things move along. Get a flashlight and look around after the lights go out. You'll see tons of life begin to spring from nowhere.

b0bab0ey · 03/08/2011, 10:30 PM

The diatoms will eventually die off when all the silicates in the water are all used up. So you can do nothing and eventually the problem will go away on it's own.

If you're still having this problem once the tank is cycled *not before* then you could throw in some snails (Astreas work best for this IMO) to expedite the process. They might live thru the cycle, but why chance it?

Lynnmw1208 · 03/08/2011, 10:41 PM

Thanks for the responses guys! I'll keep my lights off for a day to keep the algae away anyhow. I started to see some hair algae growing on one of the LR. I have the moonlights on right now and that's it. Just basically so I could see what's going on in there.

I figured that I shouldn't add anything. I'm actually surprised that this little snail is surviving all of this including baby brittle stars. I think I may also have a small crab too as I think I see an exoskeleton. I don't see eyeballs in it so I'm assuming it isn't a dead crab. Not even sure what kind it is.

Would adding 2 more koralia 1400s help keep the diatoms in the water column? I plan on adding more anyway as 2 of these just aren't enough flow for my 6' tank. I want vortechs, but can't afford.

b0bab0ey · 03/08/2011, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynnmw1208

Would adding 2 more koralia 1400s help keep the diatoms in the water column? I plan on adding more anyway as 2 of these just aren't enough flow for my 6' tank. I want vortechs, but can't afford.

Probably won't help too much with the diatoms, but it will help with all the other little annoyances (cyano, hair algae, etc.) that usually come after diatoms...

PRDubois · 03/09/2011, 02:25 AM

Part of normal cycle. MAke sure you have good flow to spots where you see the problems

03/08/2011, 07:55 PM	#1
Lynnmw1208 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brunswick, Ohio Posts: 3,306	diatom questions I did a search for diatoms and came up with stuff that didn't answer my questions and I don't feel like going thru millions of pgs lol. Anyway my tank was set up on 3/1 with RO/DI water (4 stage BRS), 60 lbs of dry rock from BRS and reeflakes aragonite sand. I added 2 pieces of live rock on 3/3. I added 2 koralia 1400 powerheads on 3/6 and now I have a diatom bloom. I haven't added anything else to the tank. My first question is, does turning the lights off help keep them away or does it not matter? My second question is, When can I add a couple of snails to start helping to eat this stuff? I have a stray snail that came in on the live rock and he can't keep up with it as he's so tiny. I know I'm still cycling so I am not sure if snails would be ok. Ammonia .50, nitrite .25, nitrate 0 or 2 (can't read API test and can't find salifert anywhere!) __________________ equipment: Eshopps psk-200 skimmer, Mag 12 pump, 30gal sump, 2x 300w Finnex heaters, glass-holes 1500gph overflow kit with 3/4" return kits, 72" 8x36w t-5 AquaticLife light, 66lbs of LR, 150lbs of tropic eden reeflakes, 2 Koralia Evo 1400, JBJ ATO, BRS dual GFO/carbon reactors, Hydor smartwave Current Tank Info: 125gallon

03/08/2011, 10:17 PM	#2
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	The lighting really doesn't matter that much. I always leave mine on through a cycle. For the second part, don't add anything. Just let nature take it's course. I'd leave the one snail that came in the rock. You'll most likely see other organisms as things move along. Get a flashlight and look around after the lights go out. You'll see tons of life begin to spring from nowhere. __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

03/08/2011, 10:41 PM	#4
Lynnmw1208 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brunswick, Ohio Posts: 3,306	Thanks for the responses guys! I'll keep my lights off for a day to keep the algae away anyhow. I started to see some hair algae growing on one of the LR. I have the moonlights on right now and that's it. Just basically so I could see what's going on in there. I figured that I shouldn't add anything. I'm actually surprised that this little snail is surviving all of this including baby brittle stars. I think I may also have a small crab too as I think I see an exoskeleton. I don't see eyeballs in it so I'm assuming it isn't a dead crab. Not even sure what kind it is. Would adding 2 more koralia 1400s help keep the diatoms in the water column? I plan on adding more anyway as 2 of these just aren't enough flow for my 6' tank. I want vortechs, but can't afford. __________________ equipment: Eshopps psk-200 skimmer, Mag 12 pump, 30gal sump, 2x 300w Finnex heaters, glass-holes 1500gph overflow kit with 3/4" return kits, 72" 8x36w t-5 AquaticLife light, 66lbs of LR, 150lbs of tropic eden reeflakes, 2 Koralia Evo 1400, JBJ ATO, BRS dual GFO/carbon reactors, Hydor smartwave Current Tank Info: 125gallon

03/09/2011, 02:25 AM	#6
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	Part of normal cycle. MAke sure you have good flow to spots where you see the problems __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

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03/08/2011, 10:30 PM	#3
b0bab0ey Moved On Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,564	The diatoms will eventually die off when all the silicates in the water are all used up. So you can do nothing and eventually the problem will go away on it's own. If you're still having this problem once the tank is cycled not before then you could throw in some snails (Astreas work best for this IMO) to expedite the process. They might live thru the cycle, but why chance it?