diatoms!@#$%

iannozzi · 03/05/2006, 08:51 PM

Can anyone assit me in combating the diatoms which seems to be spreading like wild fire. I did a water change last night and scrubed the diatoms off the rocks--only to note this evening that the diatoms have returned and worse yet. What takes care of diatoms? Please advise

mr pink floyd · 03/05/2006, 08:53 PM

my new sand is covered in it the orangy brown stuff?

i think addign sand started a new cycle thing!

my rocks have some on it too!

i haev 34 snails now in my 29, 12 cerinth, 12 nassarious, 10 astrea

graveyardworm · 03/05/2006, 09:16 PM

Could be dinoflagellates rather than diatoms.

skylsdale · 03/05/2006, 09:41 PM

Are you using RO/DI or tap water?

iannozzi · 03/05/2006, 09:41 PM

In all candor--I don't care what it is --how do I get rid of it

skylsdale · 03/05/2006, 09:42 PM

In all candor--you need to know exactly what it is in order to be told how to get rid of it.

However, it sounds to me like diatoms...and they generally love things like phosphates and other things often found in our tap water, well water, etc. You can do an infinite number of water changes with these water sources, but you're only fueling the diatoms' growth.

If you are in fact using RO/DI, then you can keep doing some water changes or allow things to die off a bit. You can have a clean tank in the morning and completly brown by the end of the day...then clean again in the morning as snails have trimmed it down and it's died off a bit...then brown again the next light cycle as it feeds again...etc.

iannozzi · 03/05/2006, 09:51 PM

I read you now. I use R/O water--I am wondering if the silver sides are polluting the tank>

fat-tony · 03/05/2006, 10:16 PM

if they're not being completely consumed....a good chance

jdieck · 03/05/2006, 10:34 PM

Diatoms are mostly fueled by high silicates, snails are one of the best options as they need to consume them by the bunch as they need the silicate for their shells.
Some salts particularly Oceanic have had history of some high Silicate batches, Try using a different salt, My preferred will be Tropic Marin Pro (expensive), IO, Kent.
Also you can try some chemical media, Phosban and Alumina based media remove Silicated although the Alumina base can release some Aluminum if not rinsed well and using more than recomended by the manufacturer.
Make a water change after swiping the aquarium panels to remove some of them suspended in the water column, you may also try a UV sterilizer.
Of course none of this will help if what you have is Dinoflagelates. For that water changes Nitrate and Phosphate reduction may help.
If what you have is Cyanobacteria then you basically need to ram up all your husbandry.
a) improve skiming
b) run a refugium with macroalgae
c) reduce feeding
d) run Activated Carbon and/or Purigen and Phosban
e) increase the amount and frequency of water changes
f) vaccum out as much of the Cyano as you can
g) increase water flow
h) use sand stirring critters
i) bet some blue legged hermits
j) if your light bulbs are older than 1 year you need to replace them
k) if everything else fail use chemi-clean if it fails treat with Red Slime Remover

Again all this is if you have Cyanobacteria.

iannozzi · 03/05/2006, 11:02 PM

Tanks--I suspect perhaps my phospahtes are out of whack--will test in the am tom. However, I have recently switched to Sera sea salt. I am so frustrated with this-- I have been hypervigilant with this tank--changing 4 cups of water every day--it's a 29 gallon; watching feedings etc.. I am wondering if my sand bed has finally gone--its two years old--we'll see

thanks again

jdieck · 03/05/2006, 11:12 PM

Did this happen after your salt switch?

graveyardworm · 03/06/2006, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by iannozzi
Tanks--I suspect perhaps my phospahtes are out of whack--will test in the am tom. However, I have recently switched to Sera sea salt. I am so frustrated with this-- I have been hypervigilant with this tank--changing 4 cups of water every day--it's a 29 gallon; watching feedings etc.. I am wondering if my sand bed has finally gone--its two years old--we'll see

thanks again

A 4 cup a day water change probably isnt going to do much to kick your algae in the butt. Are you siphoning the algae out prior to or during the water change? I would test my RO water and make sure it has no impurities. If you're only running RO then you may have high silicates as well which in conjunction with NO3, and PO4 will fuel the diatoms. Once you know the water your putting in isnt the culprit then I would suggest doing some larger water changes.

Can you lists some specs on your setup? Like water parameters, stocking, skimmer, lighting, feeding, how long has it been set up, etc...?

rustybucket145 · 03/06/2006, 08:14 AM

Cerinth Snails love the stuff. How old is the setup? It is probably just a cycle but that doesn't mean you can't control it. Ceriths and Blue Leggs!!!

03/05/2006, 08:51 PM	#1
iannozzi Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 224	diatoms!@#$% Can anyone assit me in combating the diatoms which seems to be spreading like wild fire. I did a water change last night and scrubed the diatoms off the rocks--only to note this evening that the diatoms have returned and worse yet. What takes care of diatoms? Please advise

03/05/2006, 09:16 PM	#3
graveyardworm Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nottingham, NH Posts: 7,251	Could be dinoflagellates rather than diatoms. __________________ -David- President - New Hampshire Reef Club There’ll be no one to save, with the world in a grave Current Tank Info: 100 gal lagoon/seagrass, 100 gal sump, Lifereef 72" skimmer, 180 inwall, 125 inwall seagrass/lagoon in progress

03/05/2006, 10:16 PM	#8
fat-tony Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Hornell, NY Posts: 1,483	if they're not being completely consumed....a good chance __________________ Jason Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef. Icecap 660 3x5' T5HO Icecap 430 2x6' VHO actinic

03/05/2006, 10:34 PM	#9
jdieck Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Maumee, OH Posts: 15,673	Diatoms are mostly fueled by high silicates, snails are one of the best options as they need to consume them by the bunch as they need the silicate for their shells. Some salts particularly Oceanic have had history of some high Silicate batches, Try using a different salt, My preferred will be Tropic Marin Pro (expensive), IO, Kent. Also you can try some chemical media, Phosban and Alumina based media remove Silicated although the Alumina base can release some Aluminum if not rinsed well and using more than recomended by the manufacturer. Make a water change after swiping the aquarium panels to remove some of them suspended in the water column, you may also try a UV sterilizer. Of course none of this will help if what you have is Dinoflagelates. For that water changes Nitrate and Phosphate reduction may help. If what you have is Cyanobacteria then you basically need to ram up all your husbandry. a) improve skiming b) run a refugium with macroalgae c) reduce feeding d) run Activated Carbon and/or Purigen and Phosban e) increase the amount and frequency of water changes f) vaccum out as much of the Cyano as you can g) increase water flow h) use sand stirring critters i) bet some blue legged hermits j) if your light bulbs are older than 1 year you need to replace them k) if everything else fail use chemi-clean if it fails treat with Red Slime Remover Again all this is if you have Cyanobacteria. __________________ Did I write what I wrote? What the heck am I talking about! Well..... Nevermind. Current Tank Info: 225 gal reef, DSB, 40 g sump w/ LRT100 return, 37 g pre-sump, 3 MH 250 W 15K, 4 96 W PC dual actinic,ETS 1500 Skim.w/LRT70, 20 lb Ca R., 40 W UV, 1/3 HP chiller, two 350 W Htrs, Neptune II Cont., 330 P LR/ 330 P LS. 55 gal Refugium

03/05/2006, 11:12 PM	#11
jdieck Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Maumee, OH Posts: 15,673	Did this happen after your salt switch? __________________ Did I write what I wrote? What the heck am I talking about! Well..... Nevermind. Current Tank Info: 225 gal reef, DSB, 40 g sump w/ LRT100 return, 37 g pre-sump, 3 MH 250 W 15K, 4 96 W PC dual actinic,ETS 1500 Skim.w/LRT70, 20 lb Ca R., 40 W UV, 1/3 HP chiller, two 350 W Htrs, Neptune II Cont., 330 P LR/ 330 P LS. 55 gal Refugium

03/05/2006, 08:53 PM	#2
mr pink floyd Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: west hartford, CT Posts: 3,480	my new sand is covered in it the orangy brown stuff? i think addign sand started a new cycle thing! my rocks have some on it too! i haev 34 snails now in my 29, 12 cerinth, 12 nassarious, 10 astrea

03/05/2006, 09:41 PM	#4
skylsdale Reefer Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Central WA Posts: 2,220	Are you using RO/DI or tap water?

03/05/2006, 09:42 PM	#6
skylsdale Reefer Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Central WA Posts: 2,220	In all candor--you need to know exactly what it is in order to be told how to get rid of it. However, it sounds to me like diatoms...and they generally love things like phosphates and other things often found in our tap water, well water, etc. You can do an infinite number of water changes with these water sources, but you're only fueling the diatoms' growth. If you are in fact using RO/DI, then you can keep doing some water changes or allow things to die off a bit. You can have a clean tank in the morning and completly brown by the end of the day...then clean again in the morning as snails have trimmed it down and it's died off a bit...then brown again the next light cycle as it feeds again...etc.

03/05/2006, 09:51 PM	#7
iannozzi Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 224	I read you now. I use R/O water--I am wondering if the silver sides are polluting the tank>

03/05/2006, 11:02 PM	#10
iannozzi Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 224	Tanks--I suspect perhaps my phospahtes are out of whack--will test in the am tom. However, I have recently switched to Sera sea salt. I am so frustrated with this-- I have been hypervigilant with this tank--changing 4 cups of water every day--it's a 29 gallon; watching feedings etc.. I am wondering if my sand bed has finally gone--its two years old--we'll see thanks again

03/06/2006, 08:14 AM	#13
rustybucket145 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: valdosta, ga Posts: 3,707	Cerinth Snails love the stuff. How old is the setup? It is probably just a cycle but that doesn't mean you can't control it. Ceriths and Blue Leggs!!! __________________ 400gals of various tanks in the same system. Current Tank Info: 2 175w MH, 2 VH0 Actinics, Lots of Live Rock, tons of copepods, a Fat Mandarin Goby, Niger Trigger, Yellow Tang, Falco Hawkfish, Bi-Color Pseudo, numerous soft, SPS and LPS Corals