Diatoms on my sand bed, help?

ian09 · 06/16/2011, 11:45 PM

Hello all, so i have a diatom issue with my 3 month old setup. I've been reading that it is just a natural progression of our tanks and that it would resolve on its own etc. Just wondering, if I should be worried as it looks really nasty? So I read that good flow and lights out for no less than 3 days helps keep diatoms at bay, but is there anything else that would prevent its growth or spread? I have about 20 dwarf cerith snails in my 30 gallon long tank as well but don't think they are enough. Should I just leave the diatoms alone or suck them out? should i just let nature take its course? sorry, i guess i am just looking for reassurance, thanks for any feed back!

jarrett · 06/16/2011, 11:56 PM

i wouldnt worry about it all that much you pretty much answered yourself it usually takes care of itself and if its that concerning turn the lights out.

ian09 · 06/17/2011, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarrett

i wouldnt worry about it all that much you pretty much answered yourself it usually takes care of itself and if its that concerning turn the lights out.

Haha! thanks jarett! it's just such an eyesore. any idea how long it resolves itself? i understand every system is different, how long did it take you?

C0rp · 06/17/2011, 04:01 AM

Probably a few weeks

njudson · 06/17/2011, 06:27 AM

Diatoms are caused by silica which is likely coming from the sand. Once they use up all of it they will go away.

Mike247 · 06/17/2011, 06:39 AM

yeah, wait it out. if it gets outta control just vacuum it up. vacuuming will clean some of the phosphate and nitrates that are causing it.

ian09 · 06/17/2011, 10:38 PM

wow, thanks everyone! i'm not familiar with silica so that is something new for me to research, thanks! this hobby is so addicting and we can never learn too much.

MarcoPolo · 06/17/2011, 11:07 PM

Ian09, while diatoms may be a natural " come and go " thing, their presence indicate some of your parameters are not where they should be. In a new tank that is to be expected and it can take several months for tank to reach a reasonable equilibrium or basic stability , that said you can facilitate process by regular water changes, feeding appropriately, and monitoring parameters. : fun4:

ian09 · 06/18/2011, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarcoPolo

Ian09, while diatoms may be a natural " come and go " thing, their presence indicate some of your parameters are not where they should be. In a new tank that is to be expected and it can take several months for tank to reach a reasonable equilibrium or basic stability , that said you can facilitate process by regular water changes, feeding appropriately, and monitoring parameters. : fun4:

Wow, thanks! which parameter would you say is off or needs some work if there are still diatoms after a few months? I am assuming excess nutrients/waste (i do tend to over feed and I do have a heavy bioload). I will look into this as well and thank you again MarcoPolo. I just hope I can accomplish a thriving mixed reef and although this hobby takes lots of work at least I am enjoying every second of it.

jeff@zina.com · 06/18/2011, 08:56 AM

A decent cleaning crew can help, anything that stirs the sand. Ceriths and nauseous snails help keep this at bay.

Jeff

Text mangled by iPhone spell check...

bnumair · 06/18/2011, 08:59 AM

diatoms are silica related as mentioned in earlier post. this is pass over time.

SGTG · 12/02/2012, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarcoPolo

Ian09, while diatoms may be a natural " come and go " thing, their presence indicate some of your parameters are not where they should be. In a new tank that is to be expected and it can take several months for tank to reach a reasonable equilibrium or basic stability , that said you can facilitate process by regular water changes, feeding appropriately, and monitoring parameters. : fun4:

i would have to disagree my tank is about 3 months now and i still have diatoms and water parameters are all perfect everything is 0, phosphates nitrites nitrates ammonia etc. they where almost al gone so i thought i would do a water change and suck what was left out. i moved rocks around and i stirred up the sand while doing that. then the next day it came back with advengeance. a week later wicth is today lots of it is gone but still have some encrusting going on on the sand bed. many would argue that cotrolling light its best but i think that leaving the light on as long as possible would be better. the more light the more diatm the more diatom the more silica and nutriets they will cosume untill its all gone. but i guess that stirring up the sand bed will release the silica under the top layer and bring forth more diatom. so untill the silica is all goe you will continue having diatom. again thats my theory.

oops sorry didnt notice the date on this thread

Breadman03 · 12/02/2012, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff@zina.com

A decent cleaning crew can help, anything that stirs the sand. Ceriths and nauseous snails help keep this at bay.

Jeff

Text mangled by iPhone spell check...

Nassarius snails. DYAC

06/16/2011, 11:45 PM	#1
ian09 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 382	Diatoms on my sand bed, help? Hello all, so i have a diatom issue with my 3 month old setup. I've been reading that it is just a natural progression of our tanks and that it would resolve on its own etc. Just wondering, if I should be worried as it looks really nasty? So I read that good flow and lights out for no less than 3 days helps keep diatoms at bay, but is there anything else that would prevent its growth or spread? I have about 20 dwarf cerith snails in my 30 gallon long tank as well but don't think they are enough. Should I just leave the diatoms alone or suck them out? should i just let nature take its course? sorry, i guess i am just looking for reassurance, thanks for any feed back!

06/16/2011, 11:56 PM	#2
jarrett Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 231	i wouldnt worry about it all that much you pretty much answered yourself it usually takes care of itself and if its that concerning turn the lights out. __________________ we cant stop here this is bat country!! Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef. 45g sump

06/17/2011, 04:01 AM	#4
C0rp Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: West Lafayette, IN Posts: 431	Probably a few weeks __________________ 75RR, 4" DSB, 29G AE Tech Sump/fuge/ETSS skimmer w Mag9.5, Mag5 Return, RKE w Net, Tunze Osmolator, Tradewind 1/5HP Chiller, 6x54 ATI T5HO, Vortech MP40WES/MP10WES w/Battery Backup, Sarcophyton, Clavularia, Capnella, Briareum, Lobophytum, Nepthea, Sinularia Flexibilis, Ricordia, Discosoma, Rhodactis, Zoanthus, Caulastrea, Blastomussa Wellsi, Isaurus Tuberculatus, Seriatopora Hystrix, Plerogyra Sinuosa, Euphyllia Paradivisia, Tubipora Musica, Ecsenius Midas, Paracheilinus Carpenteri Current Tank Info: pH 8.0-8.2, Temp 78-80, Salinity 1.026, Alk 9dKH, Ca 400, Red Sea Coral Pro Salt

06/17/2011, 06:27 AM	#5
njudson Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 610	Diatoms are caused by silica which is likely coming from the sand. Once they use up all of it they will go away. __________________ Barebottom Nano Radion Pro Icecap 1k Gyre Icecap K1 Nano Skimmer Ocellaris pair / Potter's Angel / BTAs, Zoas and Montis Current Tank Info: IM Nuvo Fusion Lagoon 25

06/18/2011, 08:59 AM	#11
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	diatoms are silica related as mentioned in earlier post. this is pass over time. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

06/17/2011, 06:39 AM	#6
Mike247 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Largo FL Posts: 106	yeah, wait it out. if it gets outta control just vacuum it up. vacuuming will clean some of the phosphate and nitrates that are causing it.

06/17/2011, 10:38 PM	#7
ian09 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 382	wow, thanks everyone! i'm not familiar with silica so that is something new for me to research, thanks! this hobby is so addicting and we can never learn too much.

06/17/2011, 11:07 PM	#8
MarcoPolo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Brussels, EU Posts: 475	Ian09, while diatoms may be a natural " come and go " thing, their presence indicate some of your parameters are not where they should be. In a new tank that is to be expected and it can take several months for tank to reach a reasonable equilibrium or basic stability , that said you can facilitate process by regular water changes, feeding appropriately, and monitoring parameters. : fun4:

06/18/2011, 08:56 AM	#10
jeff@zina.com Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 3,345	A decent cleaning crew can help, anything that stirs the sand. Ceriths and nauseous snails help keep this at bay. Jeff Text mangled by iPhone spell check...

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