Diatoms on sand argg!

strendo · 04/13/2008, 10:58 AM

Every afternoon I get brown algae/diatoms on my sand. It's really killing the look of my setup. The cleanup crew takes care of it overnight but I can't seem to get rid of it. Someone suggested switching salt brands, any ideas??

My nitrates and phosphates are 0, ph is 8-8.2, mg is 1200

Jeff · 04/13/2008, 11:28 AM

Your nitrates and phosphates are not zero if you have diatoms. You are just testing that low since your test kits cant read extremely low amounts that feed your diatoms. Tank maturity, flow, and 0 tds makeup water tends to get rid of it. Is the tank kind of new?

strendo · 04/13/2008, 12:47 PM

This tank is new, but everything is from an existing 2 year old system. My RO water output reads 0 tds. I'm pushing aprox 7,000gph in a 175G tank so flow shouldn't be a problem.

The tank sits near a skylight and is getting a little bit of sun every day..

ReidiLoverLinds · 04/13/2008, 01:22 PM

Conchs are great for cleaning up diatoms and stirring the sand bed. I have one and he keeps it pretty clean. Mine is a tiger conch.

Jeff · 04/13/2008, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by strendo
This tank is new, but everything is from an existing 2 year old system. My RO water output reads 0 tds. I'm pushing aprox 7,000gph in a 175G tank so flow shouldn't be a problem.

The tank sits near a skylight and is getting a little bit of sun every day..

Everytime I start a new tank or replace sand it happens to me. Usually the diatoms last 3-4 weeks then go away. Its normal for a new tank. I have found sucking as much as possible out during a water change helps as well as just being patient.

strendo · 04/13/2008, 03:34 PM

half the sand is new, that's probably it.

mccrat · 04/13/2008, 03:39 PM

I think the rays from the sun feeds it a bit too. In our last house, my tank was by the patio door and I aways seemed to have a lot of it. Now that we have moved and the tank gets sun light only at about 7 at night and I haven't had any...of course, I have two conchs as well....their janitorial services do not go un-noticed....

Nanz · 04/14/2008, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by strendo
half the sand is new, that's probably it.

Yep.. thats the exact problem I had. I was frustrated and the only real solution was to just wait for the bacteria to colonize.

cfarrow2 · 04/14/2008, 08:50 AM

definitely from moving the tank. I had the same prob. but diatoms didn't take long to disappear.

roxy · 04/14/2008, 09:18 AM

You certainly seem to have enough flow. The corner of my well established tank that is near a window has a similar sprout of diatoms during the day as well. It seems to come and go. I added some additional sand sifters and that took care of almost all of it.

strendo · 04/14/2008, 12:40 PM

I'll get some more sand sifters this week, I'll keep everyone updated. Thanks!

strendo · 07/31/2008, 08:07 PM

Update: I finally got rid of most of it! It turns out I wasn't mixing my mag solution right, once I got it back up the diatoms disappeared.

ang_99 · 07/31/2008, 08:27 PM

I always found diatoms were temporary, they always went away after a couple weeks.

Usually due to new sand.

otrlynn · 07/31/2008, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by strendo
Update: I finally got rid of most of it! It turns out I wasn't mixing my mag solution right, once I got it back up the diatoms disappeared.

Strendo, I'm really interested in your situation. My tank is eight months old and the bottom of my tank looks like the first pictures you posted. I can't seem to kick the diatoms. My nitrates are always low (last tested at .5) and there is no detectable phosphate. I have always used RODI. I don't have any hair or bubble algae that would make me think nitrates/phosphates. I just tested my magnesium for the first time tonight and got a reading of 1200, which seems to be a little low for my calcium level which is 430. What do you use to supplement magnesium and what level are you now keeping it at (to help eliminate the diatoms)??

chaderic26 · 07/31/2008, 10:59 PM

More Flow.

04/13/2008, 10:58 AM	#1
strendo Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 348	Diatoms on sand argg! Every afternoon I get brown algae/diatoms on my sand. It's really killing the look of my setup. The cleanup crew takes care of it overnight but I can't seem to get rid of it. Someone suggested switching salt brands, any ideas?? My nitrates and phosphates are 0, ph is 8-8.2, mg is 1200

04/13/2008, 11:28 AM	#2
Jeff Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 11,907	Your nitrates and phosphates are not zero if you have diatoms. You are just testing that low since your test kits cant read extremely low amounts that feed your diatoms. Tank maturity, flow, and 0 tds makeup water tends to get rid of it. Is the tank kind of new? __________________ Always remember.... any time you reef, you also reef with every reefer that reefer has reefed with. Mitch 2/18/10 IWNFT343F Current Tank Info: Innovative Marine 20

04/14/2008, 08:50 AM	#9
cfarrow2 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 626	definitely from moving the tank. I had the same prob. but diatoms didn't take long to disappear. __________________ Happiness is contagious. What are you spreading? Current Tank Info: 55 gal. 216 W. T5s. Wet/dry sump w/ Mag 5 return. Softies, 3 fish, shrimp, urchin. HA factory for the time being.

07/31/2008, 10:59 PM	#15
chaderic26 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: OKC Posts: 1,064	More Flow. __________________ Raoul Duke: There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die. Current Tank Info: 220 Gallon Shined up Turd.

04/13/2008, 12:47 PM	#3
strendo Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 348	This tank is new, but everything is from an existing 2 year old system. My RO water output reads 0 tds. I'm pushing aprox 7,000gph in a 175G tank so flow shouldn't be a problem. The tank sits near a skylight and is getting a little bit of sun every day..

04/13/2008, 01:22 PM	#4
ReidiLoverLinds Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South Carolina Posts: 116	Conchs are great for cleaning up diatoms and stirring the sand bed. I have one and he keeps it pretty clean. Mine is a tiger conch.

04/13/2008, 03:34 PM	#6
strendo Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 348	half the sand is new, that's probably it.

04/13/2008, 03:39 PM	#7
mccrat Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Airdrie, Alberta Posts: 93	I think the rays from the sun feeds it a bit too. In our last house, my tank was by the patio door and I aways seemed to have a lot of it. Now that we have moved and the tank gets sun light only at about 7 at night and I haven't had any...of course, I have two conchs as well....their janitorial services do not go un-noticed....

04/14/2008, 09:18 AM	#10
roxy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 52	You certainly seem to have enough flow. The corner of my well established tank that is near a window has a similar sprout of diatoms during the day as well. It seems to come and go. I added some additional sand sifters and that took care of almost all of it.

04/14/2008, 12:40 PM	#11
strendo Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 348	I'll get some more sand sifters this week, I'll keep everyone updated. Thanks!

07/31/2008, 08:07 PM	#12
strendo Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 348	Update: I finally got rid of most of it! It turns out I wasn't mixing my mag solution right, once I got it back up the diatoms disappeared.

07/31/2008, 08:27 PM	#13
ang_99 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 100	I always found diatoms were temporary, they always went away after a couple weeks. Usually due to new sand.