Any good way to get rid of Diatoms---Make that---Dinoflagellates?

[dragonmaster544]

I have a 150g tank and 29g sump. I have been battling this diatom issue for over a month now. My level are slighly elevated but everyone says not high enough. to worry about. I'm doing weekly water changes. someone daily or every 2 days. I run a protien skimmer getting dark green junk out every day(about1.5 cups) I also have a 36 watt UV going right now othing seems to slow it down. I'm new to this I Need Help Bad!!!!

[cloak]

What kind of water are you using? RO/DI or tap? Usually in time the diatoms will go away. Having a few grazing snails wouldn't hurt either. Paitence...

[SKurj]

How long has the tank been setup?

[bdr]

i just went through the diatom phase and i bought 10 turbos for my 90. they had it spotless in less then a week

[dragonmaster544]

The Tank has been set up atleast 4 Yrs. I'm using RO/DI water for my water changes. Started using the RO/DI about 3 monthes ago. I do have a few snails but they don't seem to keep up. I'm thinking a differant type of snail. what about lighting I'm running 3 250w Mh and 4 80w actinics. During the time when the metal halides are on the diatoms form air bubbles and floats to the surface. I was thinking about shutting down the the metal halides. What do you guys think?

[tony53176]

air bubbles? are you sure that its diatoms and not cyano bacteria?

I may be way off base but I always though that diatom bloom form during a new tank cycle not an established tank that is 4yrs old, again I may be way off though.

if it is diatoms I would suggest shortening your light cycle for a few days and let nature take its course, from what I've seen and read only time gets rid of diatoms, diatom eating snails never hurt either

[dragonmaster544]

That is what I understand also. I have talk to many people that thinks my tank crashed and is starting over I dont know. I got the tank when I bought this house (The tank is built in) You dont know how many time I have thought about emptying it out and staring over. but what to do with the live stock. I dont have alot. they say starfish are hard to keep if your water is not right well I have had mine 2 yrs now!

[SushiGirl]

Sounds like dinoflagellates to me, not diatoms.

[sasharotty]

Originally Posted by SushiGirl

Sounds like dinoflagellates to me, not diatoms.

x2 Do you have a pic? Are they stringy looking?

[dragonmaster544]

Yes they have started getting stringy. up till now it just looked like dirty snow on every thing. any ideas on how to remove it.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Silicate reduction is a good way to get rid of diatoms, but stringy brown algae is not usually diatoms and might be dinos. Is it snotty? That is the best identifier for dinos relative to other things. Unfortunately, dinos are a lot harder to get rid of.

[dragonmaster544]

Yes it does look snotty. I have suck it up and next day it is right back doesn't look like I even did anything.

[dragonmaster544]

Ok sorry about the last post. I just looked at pics of dino and diatoms on the rocks it looks like brown snow. But it does have stings growing up the water column. During the day when the MH light are on it grows bubbles and detaches from the rock work and floats I try to scoop this all out. I'm about to give up!! Any Ideas on what to do? I have thought about setting up another tank and moving everything. But wont I have the same issue? Oh yeah it looks like Dino to me after looking at pics

[dragonmaster544]

Are there any good snails fish etc that will eat dino or diatom?

[xCry0x]

It could be a mix of cyano & brown hair algae.. I thought I had dinos but am pretty sure I had more of a mix of that. did a 3 day lights out while dosing peroxide then got two turbo snails and started running gfo, it is fading off my rocks now. Will do another lights out soon to try to finish everything off as the cyano is still all over one half of my tanks sand bed.

[dragonmaster544]

I do belive I'm going to try the lights out for my tank. I'm thinking about moving all my livestock to a new tank and completely breaking this one down. I know it will be like starting over but I'm thinking that might be better than fight this for another year. I dont know????? What will the peroxide do? I was going to raise the Ph in the tank. I will probally get some turbos also.

[Peter T]

If you have dinoflagellates, you can try to keep an elevated pH in conjunction with the lights out method. I would post pictures of the before and after of my tank when I had a bad dinoflagellate outbreak; but I was so ashamed of the dino outbreak I didn't take any pictures. Here is an article detailing the pH method:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/rhf/index.php

Peroxide is an effective method of dealing with all different sorts of algae. I was skeptical at first, but after reading through this thread, the results and outcomes speak for themselves:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2082359
It is in the nano tank section, but after reading this thread, it is apparent it also works with larger tanks as well. I guess you can also PM the starter of the thread for more info if you need too

[dragonmaster544]

I have started the lights out method. will be starting to raise the ph tonight. Lets see what happens if this dont work tearing it down I guess. I'm going to cycling a 29g on sunday. Thank for the advice and the links interesting reading!!!!

[xCry0x]

Originally Posted by dragonmaster544

I do belive I'm going to try the lights out for my tank. I'm thinking about moving all my livestock to a new tank and completely breaking this one down. I know it will be like starting over but I'm thinking that might be better than fight this for another year. I dont know????? What will the peroxide do? I was going to raise the Ph in the tank. I will probally get some turbos also.

The thing is, starting over will not guarantee anything unless you know 100% for sure what you did wrong in the first place. I think it is better to figure it out and learn how to fix it than to start over and hope things work out better the second time.

[mguiling]

Originally Posted by dragonmaster544

Are there any good snails fish etc that will eat dino or diatom?

Ceriths and Nassarius worked great for me. Started with 15 then got another 24 in a 100 gal. That seems about the right number, since the brown stuff is mostly gone, just enought to keep my cuc alive.

[dragonmaster544]

Well that is a problem because I have know idea why it went bad. I have been fighting with this thing for a few monthes and nothing so far has seemed to work. Lights out and raise the ph I think might be my last resort unless someone else has an idea. I will be picking up some snails early next week if I see an improvement. I have wanted to set this other tank up anyway now is a good reason.

[Peter T]

Originally Posted by dragonmaster544

Well that is a problem because I have know idea why it went bad. I have been fighting with this thing for a few monthes and nothing so far has seemed to work. Lights out and raise the ph I think might be my last resort unless someone else has an idea. I will be picking up some snails early next week if I see an improvement. I have wanted to set this other tank up anyway now is a good reason.

I wouldn't add any snails if you have dinos until after it clears up. Dinos may end up killing your snails. There is nothing that eats dinos as far as I know. Red tide in the ocean is caused by a species of dinoflagellates. It poisons the crustaceans that are hit by it. People can get very sick eating shellfish that is contaminated by the dinos.

[dragonmaster544]

No I'm not planing on adding anything until I get this cleaned up

[Tonz of Fun]

Turbos are a great way as well...

[SushiGirl]

Our turbos ate it, and lived.