Diatom Filter Use, can it cause Brown diatom breakout?

saltydog64 · 11/13/2008, 12:41 PM

Hey Guys/Gals,

I used my diatom filter, a Diatomagic (a unit from Second nature) on my 70g the other day and now it looks like I have a break out of "Brown diatom" covering just about everything

. The have used this before, Ok! a long time ago, but I don't remeber ant issuses with it, but back then the tank was full of hair alge, live rock, and a couple of fish. Anyhow my current sisituation is much better with the Nitrates @ Zero and PO4 @0.10(a little hi I know,but working on it) and all other parms pretty good. I'm sure some powder got in the tank but I assumed the unit took it out, a couple days later I swear the tanks is got lots of what looks like diatoms..........Brown and crappy looking.

I hesitate to use ChemiClean or other "slime" removers BUT will if need be. I'm tempted to just let it run it's course and wait. What do u guy (gals of course) think?? is it possible the filter did this??

a picture trying show this:

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...2___Small_.jpg [/IMG]

a second pic :

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...1___Small_.jpg [/IMG]

THX in Advance.

Dick[IMG][IMG]

Sk8r · 11/13/2008, 01:46 PM

No, in short. I don't recall what the powder actually is, but it's harmless. You've probably stirred something up, but it's just a snit and will go away. To hasten its departure, turn your lights out for 3 days (harmless to corals) and run actinic only on 4th day if you use MH. Do this once a month and you'll eliminate such pests. Pretty well all these primitive slime coats react to the absence of light.

11/13/2008, 12:41 PM	#1
saltydog64 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: UpState NY Posts: 503	Diatom Filter Use, can it cause Brown diatom breakout? Hey Guys/Gals, I used my diatom filter, a Diatomagic (a unit from Second nature) on my 70g the other day and now it looks like I have a break out of "Brown diatom" covering just about everything . The have used this before, Ok! a long time ago, but I don't remeber ant issuses with it, but back then the tank was full of hair alge, live rock, and a couple of fish. Anyhow my current sisituation is much better with the Nitrates @ Zero and PO4 @0.10(a little hi I know,but working on it) and all other parms pretty good. I'm sure some powder got in the tank but I assumed the unit took it out, a couple days later I swear the tanks is got lots of what looks like diatoms..........Brown and crappy looking. I hesitate to use ChemiClean or other "slime" removers BUT will if need be. I'm tempted to just let it run it's course and wait. What do u guy (gals of course) think?? is it possible the filter did this?? a picture trying show this: http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...2___Small_.jpg [/IMG] a second pic : http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...1___Small_.jpg [/IMG] THX in Advance. Dick[IMG][IMG]

11/13/2008, 01:46 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	No, in short. I don't recall what the powder actually is, but it's harmless. You've probably stirred something up, but it's just a snit and will go away. To hasten its departure, turn your lights out for 3 days (harmless to corals) and run actinic only on 4th day if you use MH. Do this once a month and you'll eliminate such pests. Pretty well all these primitive slime coats react to the absence of light. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.