Still Cycling Brown Diatoms

[gjgordon]

About a month ago, I setup my system, did a wet test and all was good. I added the saltwater and let it run for another week before purchasing 28lbs of Base rock and 5 lbs of LR. I also added 15lbs of Caribsea argonite and 5 lbs of caribsea Live sand. The tank was setup beautifully, after about 4 days it showed Ammonia at 0.05 and nitrites and nitrates at 0.....if has been up and running for 10 days now and the ammonia has dropped to <0.25. A couple of days ago, I noticed some brown diatoms starting to grow on the BR and the LR.......this stuff really takes hold as it is now on the sand, the LR, the BR and the glass and keeps going.

Is this normal to a new tank which is inthe process of cycling? Any recommendations on what to do about it? Some posts say it is a horrible thing and it is the end of the world while others say that it is ok and will eventually die off after the diatoms have used up and available nutients in the tank. Currently I have no fish and no CUC as I am waiting for the Ammonia and Nitrites/Nitrates (I get these two mised up all the time and have to check everytime I test ) to reach 0 before I add any livestock.

ANyway, any help would be appreciated.

[pdiehm]

from what I know, diatoms are the start of the end of the cycle. The way I understand this, is you're coming close to the end, and after about a week or so the diatoms will dissappear. Once you have 0 ammonia and nitrites, you can add some snails to clean up the diatoms, but not a full blown CUC yet.

That is...my very basic understanding. Like you, learning every day.

[pyithar]

don't worry too much about it. it'll go away on its own. use the ro/di water. wait till ammonia and nitrites become zero before adding any livestock. many cucs and fish eat them. just relax and be patient in the mean time.

[tzylak]

+1 on all of the above.
My only advise is for you to brace yourself with patience.
1 Get a skimmer. -As the plant life starts to break down the skimmer will rid of it.
2 wait a couple more weeks
3 get some CUC and wait several weeks
4 get no more than one fish/month
Meanwhile, research on fish compatibility of what you want to get.
Have fun!

[gjgordon]

Thanks for all your advice. I have a skimmer running 24/7 since day 1 but it really hasn't picked up anything yet. I have only one Powerhead rated at 800GPH currently running on my 40 GAL but another 560 GPH is set to arrive tomorrow. The second PH I am going to setup on the back left pointed a bit up to help agitate the surface as I believe that most proteins float to the top and need to be resuspended in the water column in order for the skimmer to pick them up. Am I correct in this hypothesis. I was planning on waiting until May 21 (my son's birthday) to get my first fish ans was only going to go with 2 clowns. Tested the water last night and PH is 8.3 amm is 0.1 nd nitrites are at 0.25. Amm iss dropping NH2 is coming up. All is as it should be. If by next weekend amm and NH2 are at 0 I would like to add at least a few snails and hermits. Will they starve if there are no fish added until May 21?

Thanks again.

[tzylak]

gjgordon, It is a pleasure to read about you well-thought out plan.
All too often I read about some really goofy (ignoramus) situations from newcomers. Yes, I presented some silly questions as well. . . .
Meanwhile read all that you can here on RC, especially the STIKYs, to fortify your knowledge base.
Have Fun!

[BigCountry74]

i just cycled a 40g.

you will want 10 snails and 2-4 hermits. and that should clean your diatoms just fine. it will be slow (they are snails ). but they will clean it up

make sure your salt is 1.025-26 before adding them.

keep your HOB pads changed out also. let them get good and brown then change them etc. helps soak up and out the diatoms etc. yeah about the only way to remove them (outside waiting and staring at a nasty looking tank lol) is heavy mech filtration and snails to be honest

[Big_Boss_77]

One thing to add... diatoms don't always necessarily go away in a week. I had mine for the better part of a month. It sounds like you've got the patience to be a pro in this hobby, so you'll do just fine. Just resist the allure to start dumping livestock in and keep researching. Patience is the key to this, be patient and you'll reap the rewards.
Good luck and keep us posted!

[gjgordon]

Diatoms all cleaned up with some snails and crabs. Looking good so far, still have not added any fish as we maybe moving again in a month or so. Got a colony of zoas and they look good. Found an unusual crab that much tahe come with the live rock. Apparently it was not a good crab so he/she met their maker. All is running smooth, no spread of the coraline algea yet...still waiting for that but I am sure it will come in time.