Diatom problem?

[Palu]

Hi

Tank been running for 7 weeks and still have diatom in the sand and live rock. One water change 20% 2 weeks ago using ro/di water.

Setup:
10 gal
HOB filter
Koralia nano
Led lights (run for 10 hrs day)
9 lb live rock
1 1/2 inch sand bed
One Chromis
One Cinnamon clown

Water parameters:
Amonia 0
Nitrite 0
PH 8.4
Nitrate 40
Temp 82.4 F
Salinity 1.023

Thanks

[thegrun]

Your nitrates and probably your phosphates are high. I would make a series of 20% water changes to reduce the nitrates. What are you doing for water flow? Higher water flow will also help reduce diatomes.

[Lynxone]

Originally Posted by Palu

Hi

Tank been running for 7 weeks and still have diatom in the sand and live rock. One water change 20% 2 weeks ago using ro/di water.

Setup:
10 gal
HOB filter
Koralia nano
Led lights (run for 10 hrs day)
9 lb live rock
1 1/2 inch sand bed
One Chromis
One Cinnamon clown

Water parameters:
Amonia 0
Nitrite 0
PH 8.4
Nitrate 40
Temp 82.4 F
Salinity 1.023

Thanks

I don't think having diatoms on a 7 week old system is too unusual and I wouldn't be terribly concerned. Most new tanks will go through cycles of algae and such as they mature. That being said, there are many things you can do to mitigate the issues. With small tanks like this, it's a little trickier since small changes can have a big effect on the system.

First thing I might suggest is to try and lower your nitrates a bit. More water changes and keeping your hob filter cleaned regularly. Temporarily, you might also try shortening your light cycle to see if that helps. I also wonder if lowering your temperature a degree or two might help. Another thing with diatoms is flow.....you could experiment with placement and direction of your power head to eliminate any areas of low flow.

Good luck!

[Palu]

Thanks a lot for the info and sorry for the delayed reply. Monday made a water change 20% and sifted the sand, seams to be better not much diatom now lets see in a couple of days and test again. Did also few deg less on the temp now 79.7 F, seams that the old florescent light was heating the water now that I´m running led have this temp steady.

[ca1ore]

Diatoms are normal during the cycle and can certainly persist for 7 weeks. Silicate is the culprit with diatom growth and it should dissipate as the silicates are depleted. If your tap contains silicates then water changes won't help. GFO will remove both phosphate and silicate and might help. Also a CUC will eat the stuff.

[dppitone]

Give it six months plus. You're system needs time to mature. And FYI, higher water temperatures facilitate certain micro-algae growth.

[HUNTER1]

Higher temp also speeds up algae growth.

[hogfanreefer]

It's a pain but don't over react. My tank is 4 1/2 months post cycle. I had a diatom bloom like yours about 2 weeks after the cycle and then everything looked beautiful till about a week ago. Now I have another diatom bloom with a Nitrate of 2.0. It will pass if you keep your parameters in line.