Diatom bloom?

Gdubb · 03/14/2008, 05:00 PM

Cant understand why its doin this, the tank cycled weeeeeks ago and now I came home to this. The water parms are in check, just dont what would bring this about.

If someone could help I would be very thankful.

kapella · 03/14/2008, 05:37 PM

Same here... tank is 4mo old but I still have bunch of this stuff all over.

demonsp · 03/14/2008, 05:41 PM

Your SB needs sifting and turning. Nass snails are great and if tanks big enough a sand sifting goby will keep it well turned and oxygenated. You could stir small areas your self before water changes to remove more debris and good flow helps. The SB will convert ammonia and nitrate into harmless nitrogen but only if its clean and flow is proper. If it isnt it will only collect nitrate.

SeaSpza · 03/14/2008, 05:56 PM

That always happens to me when setting up new tanks.I think its part of the new tank setting up and maturing.Like the others have said good flow and a few critters to stir it up will help.Cerith snails are said to eat it but they eat so little it doesnt clear it up but it also cant hurt.They also stir up the sand a little.Nass snails are the best.I have had enginere gobys before.They move a ton of sand.As long as you keep up on your matinance it will fade with time.Like most things in this hobby it just needs time.

reefworm · 03/14/2008, 06:58 PM

also make sure you have decent water flow that reaches everywhere, esp. good if its random but not really necessary if the substrate gets swept. You might add a #3 Koralia on the opposite side to keep things moving.

lloydkeller · 03/14/2008, 07:03 PM

water flow helps alot it goes away soon

Gdubb · 03/14/2008, 07:51 PM

thanks, so it looks like some more critters or goby and a #3 might cure problem.

thanks everyone

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/15/2008, 07:44 AM

What do you use to top off? Tap water can contain huge amounts of silicates that can allow diatom growth.

dante7921 · 03/15/2008, 08:47 AM

Yeah, you should only use RO/DI water. If you don't have a unit yourself, GET ONE! But until you do, use RO or Distilled water from you grocery store!

Diatoms are normal. Don't panic, they usually go away on their own.

Gdubb · 03/15/2008, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Randy Holmes-Farley
What do you use to top off? Tap water can contain huge amounts of silicates that can allow diatom growth.

I have a filter guys ro/di. I keep a brute 32g in the garage with a heater mj600 for movement for manual top offs. I test usually every other top off so they have all been in line along with the tank.

thanks.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/15/2008, 12:41 PM

When you say in line, does that mean you checked the RO/DI to be sure the effluent is still 0 ppm TDS?

Gdubb · 03/15/2008, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Randy Holmes-Farley
When you say in line, does that mean you checked the RO/DI to be sure the effluent is still 0 ppm TDS?

yes, 0 on the tds meter.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/16/2008, 07:47 AM

It is probably just the often encountered stage in cycling them. It appears that there is enough silicate on cycling live rock to allow a diatom stage that many get. I'd attack it like any other algae, reducing nutrients and especially phosphate. GFO might be a good choice as it may bind silicate as well.

03/14/2008, 05:00 PM	#1
Gdubb Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Houston Posts: 321	Diatom bloom? Cant understand why its doin this, the tank cycled weeeeeks ago and now I came home to this. The water parms are in check, just dont what would bring this about. If someone could help I would be very thankful.

03/14/2008, 06:58 PM	#5
reefworm Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Waxhaw, NC USA Posts: 2,139	also make sure you have decent water flow that reaches everywhere, esp. good if its random but not really necessary if the substrate gets swept. You might add a #3 Koralia on the opposite side to keep things moving. __________________ "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." - Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: 29 gal. reef/assist with 75 gal. at the school

03/15/2008, 07:44 AM	#8
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	What do you use to top off? Tap water can contain huge amounts of silicates that can allow diatom growth. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/15/2008, 12:41 PM	#11
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	When you say in line, does that mean you checked the RO/DI to be sure the effluent is still 0 ppm TDS? __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/16/2008, 07:47 AM	#13
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	It is probably just the often encountered stage in cycling them. It appears that there is enough silicate on cycling live rock to allow a diatom stage that many get. I'd attack it like any other algae, reducing nutrients and especially phosphate. GFO might be a good choice as it may bind silicate as well. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/14/2008, 05:37 PM	#2
kapella Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 105	Same here... tank is 4mo old but I still have bunch of this stuff all over.

03/14/2008, 05:41 PM	#3
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	Your SB needs sifting and turning. Nass snails are great and if tanks big enough a sand sifting goby will keep it well turned and oxygenated. You could stir small areas your self before water changes to remove more debris and good flow helps. The SB will convert ammonia and nitrate into harmless nitrogen but only if its clean and flow is proper. If it isnt it will only collect nitrate.

03/14/2008, 05:56 PM	#4
SeaSpza Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southie MA Posts: 192	That always happens to me when setting up new tanks.I think its part of the new tank setting up and maturing.Like the others have said good flow and a few critters to stir it up will help.Cerith snails are said to eat it but they eat so little it doesnt clear it up but it also cant hurt.They also stir up the sand a little.Nass snails are the best.I have had enginere gobys before.They move a ton of sand.As long as you keep up on your matinance it will fade with time.Like most things in this hobby it just needs time.

03/14/2008, 07:03 PM	#6
lloydkeller Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ca Posts: 563	water flow helps alot it goes away soon

03/14/2008, 07:51 PM	#7
Gdubb Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Houston Posts: 321	thanks, so it looks like some more critters or goby and a #3 might cure problem. thanks everyone

03/15/2008, 08:47 AM	#9
dante7921 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Harrisburg, Pa. Posts: 97	Yeah, you should only use RO/DI water. If you don't have a unit yourself, GET ONE! But until you do, use RO or Distilled water from you grocery store! Diatoms are normal. Don't panic, they usually go away on their own.