diatoms

CrOsSwIrE · 04/27/2006, 10:44 PM

What is the best invertabrate for a FOWLR that will eat diatoms?

Thanks for any advice

~mike

dmo · 04/27/2006, 11:13 PM

I put a few astraea snails in to take care of a massive diatom outbreak after curing my rock. They clean up the diatoms very quickly and are making my live rock look much healthier in general. I can't say if they are the best, but they are good.

CrOsSwIrE · 04/27/2006, 11:17 PM

Well, my next question would be... How many would you reccomend for a 125gal tank with 200lb of live rock?

bertoni · 04/27/2006, 11:33 PM

If you can get snails locally, you could start with a dozen or so, and add more as needed. I tend to prefer Trochus and cerith snails for this job, since they are better adapted to sandy substrates.

CrOsSwIrE · 04/28/2006, 12:09 AM

oops, I forgot to mention that i have a crushed coral substrate...

AquaReeferMan · 04/28/2006, 01:31 AM

I have both Astraea and Cerith snails to control diatoms. In my 55 I have about 17 astraea and 3 ceriths. In my 30 I have 10 and 1. I do not have a conch though I was thinking about geeting a queen. Either way everything stated works great. Good luck

CrOsSwIrE · 04/28/2006, 09:06 AM

are these ok on crushed coral?

tulkas71 · 04/28/2006, 09:37 AM

Also diatom outbreaks will go away on their own. just wait it out.(weeks)

dmo · 04/28/2006, 10:00 AM

Unless there is something I am missing, I can't see why crushed coral would make a difference..? Sometimes if an astraea falls on its side, you might need to give it a hand in righting itself.. Though I have seen them stretch WAY out to grab onto something

rodgod20 · 04/28/2006, 10:11 AM

I am working my diatom bloom right now, the astrea snails are doing real well cleaning it up, I would also look at a turbo snail or 2 as well.

I have *heard* that hermits will kill snails, my hermits don't mess with them, but just FYI

WaterKeeper · 04/28/2006, 10:24 AM

The tanks initial algae bloom is one of competition. Diatoms appear first but green algae soon follows and out-competes the diatoms for the tanks nutrients. The diatoms then fade away. Snails help but don't completely solve the problem as they return some of the nutrients to the tank. Water changes or growing macro algae to harvest are good methods to remove those nutrients and skimming can also help.

CrOsSwIrE · 04/28/2006, 04:43 PM

I dont have a spot to put macro algae without putting it in the tank. Is there an option that doesnt involve adding algae to get rid of algae. I've also been running my skimmer since day one. Also, how much of a water change would you reccomend for a 125?

acrouse · 04/28/2006, 06:33 PM

How often do you intend on doing water change?

CarmieJo · 04/28/2006, 07:58 PM

My astera snails never were interested in the diatoms on my sand. But, as stated above, this is all part of a new tank and with good husbandry it will go away.

CrOsSwIrE · 04/28/2006, 09:59 PM

acrouse once a month if i can get away with it. but if smaller changes more often would be more effective I could go that way as well...

WaterKeeper · 04/29/2006, 12:06 PM

I always changed 15 gallons a week on my 130. With the sump it was just about 10% of the actual water volume. For less than $4 a week it was good insurance.

acrouse · 04/29/2006, 01:02 PM

I agree with Waterkeeper- I also do 10% weekly in my 100gal. It has helped keep nitrates down. Also had your diatom problem and the Trochus,ceriths, and Nassarisus snails did an excellent job cleaning up(as bertoni mentioned earlier). They started on the rock first and have moved on the sand. I don't have to worry about these snails tipping over and not being able to get up. Also added 2 med sized turbo snails that are algae eating machines!(they seem to work on the glass more than the others) In my tank anyway. Good Luck

WaterKeeper · 05/01/2006, 05:50 PM

Thanks Acrouse,

There are few people in this world that will agree with me.

jerehmy · 05/01/2006, 07:13 PM

I also have a diatim problem right now, At night I will stirr the sand up make it all nice and clean and two hours after the light is on all sand is brown!

WaterKeeper · 05/02/2006, 12:42 PM

Diatoms almost always go away on there own but don't cheer too loud. The usual replacement is green algae that hangs around longer. Once again, water changes will remove nutrients and help the plaque abate.

04/27/2006, 10:44 PM	#1
CrOsSwIrE Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: dwight, IL Posts: 223	diatoms What is the best invertabrate for a FOWLR that will eat diatoms? Thanks for any advice ~mike

04/27/2006, 11:33 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If you can get snails locally, you could start with a dozen or so, and add more as needed. I tend to prefer Trochus and cerith snails for this job, since they are better adapted to sandy substrates. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

04/28/2006, 01:31 AM	#6
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	I have both Astraea and Cerith snails to control diatoms. In my 55 I have about 17 astraea and 3 ceriths. In my 30 I have 10 and 1. I do not have a conch though I was thinking about geeting a queen. Either way everything stated works great. Good luck __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together

04/28/2006, 09:37 AM	#8
tulkas71 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Birmingham, Alabama Posts: 155	Also diatom outbreaks will go away on their own. just wait it out.(weeks) __________________ No man is an island, but some are penninsulas Current Tank Info: 55gl 260w PC lights, Odyssa PS75 HOB skimmer, 2 MJ 1200 powerheads, and an unknown model cannister filter

04/28/2006, 10:11 AM	#10
rodgod20 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 459	I am working my diatom bloom right now, the astrea snails are doing real well cleaning it up, I would also look at a turbo snail or 2 as well. I have heard that hermits will kill snails, my hermits don't mess with them, but just FYI __________________ "If your going through hell, Keep going" -Winston ChurchHill- Current Tank Info: 65G (90lbs of LR, CSS125, ATO,Oceans Motions, 33x turnover) LPS tank

04/27/2006, 11:13 PM	#2
dmo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Seattle, Wa Posts: 154	I put a few astraea snails in to take care of a massive diatom outbreak after curing my rock. They clean up the diatoms very quickly and are making my live rock look much healthier in general. I can't say if they are the best, but they are good.

04/27/2006, 11:17 PM	#3
CrOsSwIrE Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: dwight, IL Posts: 223	Well, my next question would be... How many would you reccomend for a 125gal tank with 200lb of live rock?

04/28/2006, 12:09 AM	#5
CrOsSwIrE Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: dwight, IL Posts: 223	oops, I forgot to mention that i have a crushed coral substrate...

04/28/2006, 09:06 AM	#7
CrOsSwIrE Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: dwight, IL Posts: 223	are these ok on crushed coral?

04/28/2006, 10:00 AM	#9
dmo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Seattle, Wa Posts: 154	Unless there is something I am missing, I can't see why crushed coral would make a difference..? Sometimes if an astraea falls on its side, you might need to give it a hand in righting itself.. Though I have seen them stretch WAY out to grab onto something

04/28/2006, 10:24 AM	#11
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	The tanks initial algae bloom is one of competition. Diatoms appear first but green algae soon follows and out-competes the diatoms for the tanks nutrients. The diatoms then fade away. Snails help but don't completely solve the problem as they return some of the nutrients to the tank. Water changes or growing macro algae to harvest are good methods to remove those nutrients and skimming can also help. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

04/28/2006, 04:43 PM	#12
CrOsSwIrE Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: dwight, IL Posts: 223	I dont have a spot to put macro algae without putting it in the tank. Is there an option that doesnt involve adding algae to get rid of algae. I've also been running my skimmer since day one. Also, how much of a water change would you reccomend for a 125?

04/28/2006, 06:33 PM	#13
acrouse Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ackworth Posts: 473	How often do you intend on doing water change?

04/28/2006, 07:58 PM	#14
CarmieJo Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NC Posts: 390	My astera snails never were interested in the diatoms on my sand. But, as stated above, this is all part of a new tank and with good husbandry it will go away. __________________ Carmie Only disasters happen fast! Current Tank Info: 54 gal AGA corner tank with a Solaris LED fixture; NanoCube 24

04/28/2006, 09:59 PM	#15
CrOsSwIrE Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: dwight, IL Posts: 223	acrouse once a month if i can get away with it. but if smaller changes more often would be more effective I could go that way as well...

04/29/2006, 12:06 PM	#16
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	I always changed 15 gallons a week on my 130. With the sump it was just about 10% of the actual water volume. For less than $4 a week it was good insurance. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

04/29/2006, 01:02 PM	#17
acrouse Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ackworth Posts: 473	I agree with Waterkeeper- I also do 10% weekly in my 100gal. It has helped keep nitrates down. Also had your diatom problem and the Trochus,ceriths, and Nassarisus snails did an excellent job cleaning up(as bertoni mentioned earlier). They started on the rock first and have moved on the sand. I don't have to worry about these snails tipping over and not being able to get up. Also added 2 med sized turbo snails that are algae eating machines!(they seem to work on the glass more than the others) In my tank anyway. Good Luck

05/01/2006, 05:50 PM	#18
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Thanks Acrouse, There are few people in this world that will agree with me. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

05/01/2006, 07:13 PM	#19
jerehmy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: san diego Posts: 511	I also have a diatim problem right now, At night I will stirr the sand up make it all nice and clean and two hours after the light is on all sand is brown! __________________ Fish are the best medecine for body and mind Current Tank Info: 55g, 40g, 29gx2, 60g, 10g African Cichlids (Breeders) 40g SW Reef with a 20g sump/refugium 75lbs prime LR Mag 9.5 SCWD and Remora skimmer, 2x96w PC's

05/02/2006, 12:42 PM	#20
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Diatoms almost always go away on there own but don't cheer too loud. The usual replacement is green algae that hangs around longer. Once again, water changes will remove nutrients and help the plaque abate. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29