...And here comes the diatoms

bosco0633 · 10/17/2010, 08:55 PM

I am in my fourth week of set up on my 150gal tank. I have 275lbs of live rock doing its thing. And this week the diatoms have developed. I have read as much as I can to understand it better.

Looks to be very normal possible phosphate issue from what I see.

I am currently running lights 12 hours a day, I plan to drop it down to 7 for the next little bit.

I may do a water change, started with tap water.... I know I know, switching to RO this week.

Water has a slight orange tint to it, going to add carbon to filter to clear it out a bit. Hope to introduce clean up crew in the next week or two.

I am looking at hermits and snails to start. Any recommendations, I am think blue hermits and turbo snails. Quantity???

all water perameters are good, I adjusted my 2 hydor #5s to blow on the rock to make the diatom go airborn and work its way to my skimmer.

Any other ideas suggestions on how to treat this?

I am in no hurry, really trying hard to keep this hobby slow paced. no rushing.

torero500 · 10/17/2010, 09:34 PM

I got a big outbreak too recently and siphon vacuumed it all off the sand and took a few of the worst rocks out and scrubbed the brown stuff off. Seems to stopped its advance any further. In time it will go away, it's just a natural tank phase when you're nearing the end of the cycle. But it sure looks hideously ugly. I used only very pure RO/DI water from the start and still got it, I think most of the silicates come from the new live rock and sand.

lordofthereef · 10/18/2010, 01:10 PM

Do you have anything in the tank? You said you are running your lights for 12 hours. THat is a little much IMO even for a stocked tank.

chimmike · 10/18/2010, 01:44 PM

yah, 12hrs is too long, and the tap water is likely more of a source of stuff than it being attributed to cycling.

bosco0633 · 10/19/2010, 07:39 AM

Thanks for the input. How many hours should I be running these lights for? I am thinking maybe 8 hours a day?

I am starting to cycle ro water on top up now and all future water changes will be with ro

everything is looking good. Going to do 10% water changes weeklfeom here on in.

10/17/2010, 08:55 PM	#1
bosco0633 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 51	...And here comes the diatoms I am in my fourth week of set up on my 150gal tank. I have 275lbs of live rock doing its thing. And this week the diatoms have developed. I have read as much as I can to understand it better. Looks to be very normal possible phosphate issue from what I see. I am currently running lights 12 hours a day, I plan to drop it down to 7 for the next little bit. I may do a water change, started with tap water.... I know I know, switching to RO this week. Water has a slight orange tint to it, going to add carbon to filter to clear it out a bit. Hope to introduce clean up crew in the next week or two. I am looking at hermits and snails to start. Any recommendations, I am think blue hermits and turbo snails. Quantity??? all water perameters are good, I adjusted my 2 hydor #5s to blow on the rock to make the diatom go airborn and work its way to my skimmer. Any other ideas suggestions on how to treat this? I am in no hurry, really trying hard to keep this hobby slow paced. no rushing.

10/18/2010, 01:10 PM	#3
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	Do you have anything in the tank? You said you are running your lights for 12 hours. THat is a little much IMO even for a stocked tank. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

10/18/2010, 01:44 PM	#4
chimmike oxygen abuser Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Parrish, FL Posts: 5,089 Blog Entries: 2	yah, 12hrs is too long, and the tap water is likely more of a source of stuff than it being attributed to cycling. __________________ -Mike Tankless wonder Geaux Noles!

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10/17/2010, 09:34 PM	#2
torero500 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 289	I got a big outbreak too recently and siphon vacuumed it all off the sand and took a few of the worst rocks out and scrubbed the brown stuff off. Seems to stopped its advance any further. In time it will go away, it's just a natural tank phase when you're nearing the end of the cycle. But it sure looks hideously ugly. I used only very pure RO/DI water from the start and still got it, I think most of the silicates come from the new live rock and sand.

10/19/2010, 07:39 AM	#5
bosco0633 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 51	Thanks for the input. How many hours should I be running these lights for? I am thinking maybe 8 hours a day? I am starting to cycle ro water on top up now and all future water changes will be with ro everything is looking good. Going to do 10% water changes weeklfeom here on in.