diatom longevity

Orvis · 11/12/2008, 12:24 PM

I have a 55 gallon cycling with approximately 35lbs. of live rock. About three weeks into the cycle I noticed the start of the brown diatoms on everything in the tank. How long on average does this last before the corollines take over? Tank is now 6 weeks old. A ten gallon water change was performed at five weeks.

Ammonia...0ppm, Nitrite...0ppm, Nitrates..?
Water temp. 78 degrees
Lighting period...8 hrs.
Lighting type...PC 65w actinic blue(2), 65w daylight(2)
Filtration...live rock and skimmer
Substrate...aragonite sand

About one third of the live rock had coralline on it.

No inhabitants yet.

Should I begin adding a clean-up crew?

Orvis · 11/12/2008, 12:31 PM

Re: Forgot to mention that I have a 3100 Rio at one end and a 2100 Rio at the opposite end for circulation.

tmcgaughey · 11/12/2008, 01:12 PM

Are you using RO water?

Diatoms stay alive due to silicates that they use to build thier cell walls with - silicates are in tap water usually.

Orvis · 11/12/2008, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tmcgaughey
Are you using RO water?

Diatoms stay alive due to silicates that they use to build thier cell walls with - silicates are in tap water usually.

I use well water that is put through a water softener system.

kevin2000 · 11/12/2008, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Orvis
I use well water that is put through a water softener system.

Suggest you purchase an RO/DI filtering system. Well water (softened or not) is generally considered unsuitable for for reef tanks and often problamatic for even FO tanks.

tmcgaughey · 11/12/2008, 02:23 PM

How true

well water usually has TONS of hard metals and other crap that is ok for you but trouble for your tank

fact of the matter: silicates HAVE to be coming from somewhere to feed your diatoms

crvz · 11/12/2008, 03:06 PM

it will last as long as you have a silicate source. new tanks will see the bloom due to anything imported upon initial tank setup (like new plastics, glass, etc.), but if you're not using good source water they could last indefinitely.

Orvis · 11/12/2008, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tmcgaughey
How true

well water usually has TONS of hard metals and other crap that is ok for you but trouble for your tank

fact of the matter: silicates HAVE to be coming from somewhere to feed your diatoms

I have a pre-filter on my supply line going to the water softener but I guess the filter combined with the softener isn't enough to remove the silicates, right?

Would larger water changes do anything for the situation? I don't have diatom problems in my freshwater tanks, but I do 40-50% water changes on them.

Orvis · 11/12/2008, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kevin2000
Suggest you purchase an RO/DI filtering system. Well water (softened or not) is generally considered unsuitable for for reef tanks and often problamatic for even FO tanks.

Is there any other way to help the situation? I don't know how feasible a RO/DI system will be for me.

kevin2000 · 11/12/2008, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Orvis
I have a pre-filter on my supply line going to the water softener but I guess the filter combined with the softener isn't enough to remove the silicates, right?

Would larger water changes do anything for the situation? I don't have diatom problems in my freshwater tanks, but I do 40-50% water changes on them.

Even RO/DI filters have a difficult time removing silicates.

Large water changes aren't going to help much if the water your adding is the source of the problem.

You can buy a decent RO/DI filter on Ebay for somewhere around $100 which is small potatoes when you think about how much money fish/corals cost.

Orvis · 11/12/2008, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by crvz
it will last as long as you have a silicate source. new tanks will see the bloom due to anything imported upon initial tank setup (like new plastics, glass, etc.), but if you're not using good source water they could last indefinitely.

I'm not liking the sound of this. I am trying to go low tech with this tank. If I have to get too involved with a lot of equipment I may have to rethink this reef tank.

Orvis · 11/12/2008, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kevin2000
Even RO/DI filters have a difficult time removing silicates.

Large water changes aren't going to help much if the water your adding is the source of the problem.

You can buy a decent RO/DI filter on Ebay for somewhere around $100 which is small potatoes when you think about how much money fish/corals cost.

I get what you're saying, but why don't I have this problem in freshwater?

kevin2000 · 11/12/2008, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Orvis
I get what you're saying, but why don't I have this problem in freshwater?

Totally different animal. I think one of the common problems that face many SW aquarist is their background in FW ... somehow everything the KNEW just didn't work anymore and by the time they figure it out they have tossed hundreds of bucks down the drain. SW is just harder than FW and much of the knowledge you aquired doing FW may handicap your SW efforts - lots to learn

Orvis · 11/12/2008, 03:24 PM

Is it because of the added salts in the water? I mean this is the same water that I keep Discus in and have no diatom problems at all and the fish are thriving.

Orvis · 11/12/2008, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kevin2000
Totally different animal. I think one of the common problems that face many SW aquarist is their background in FW ... somehow everything the KNEW just didn't work anymore and by the time they figure it out they have tossed hundreds of bucks done the drain.

That's what I would like to avoid, wasting money. Looks like if I want a reef tank it will take more equipment. Got some things to think about.

Gotta go, thanks everyone!

11/12/2008, 12:24 PM	#1
Orvis Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Pa. Posts: 73	diatom longevity I have a 55 gallon cycling with approximately 35lbs. of live rock. About three weeks into the cycle I noticed the start of the brown diatoms on everything in the tank. How long on average does this last before the corollines take over? Tank is now 6 weeks old. A ten gallon water change was performed at five weeks. Ammonia...0ppm, Nitrite...0ppm, Nitrates..? Water temp. 78 degrees Lighting period...8 hrs. Lighting type...PC 65w actinic blue(2), 65w daylight(2) Filtration...live rock and skimmer Substrate...aragonite sand About one third of the live rock had coralline on it. No inhabitants yet. Should I begin adding a clean-up crew?

11/12/2008, 03:06 PM	#7
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	it will last as long as you have a silicate source. new tanks will see the bloom due to anything imported upon initial tank setup (like new plastics, glass, etc.), but if you're not using good source water they could last indefinitely. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

11/12/2008, 12:31 PM	#2
Orvis Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Pa. Posts: 73	Re: Forgot to mention that I have a 3100 Rio at one end and a 2100 Rio at the opposite end for circulation.

11/12/2008, 01:12 PM	#3
tmcgaughey Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 353	Are you using RO water? Diatoms stay alive due to silicates that they use to build thier cell walls with - silicates are in tap water usually.

11/12/2008, 02:23 PM	#6
tmcgaughey Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 353	How true well water usually has TONS of hard metals and other crap that is ok for you but trouble for your tank fact of the matter: silicates HAVE to be coming from somewhere to feed your diatoms

11/12/2008, 03:24 PM	#14
Orvis Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Pa. Posts: 73	Is it because of the added salts in the water? I mean this is the same water that I keep Discus in and have no diatom problems at all and the fish are thriving.