silica out break help

newreef06 · 04/26/2009, 01:46 PM

I have had my tank running for 4 years now. I use ro/di water all the time. I have recently had a out break out brown diatoms algea in the sand bed and rock. I have been doing regular h20 changes of 10% every week. I have a 55G reef ready tank, 300w MH. Bulbs get changed every 10-12 months. 10G ump. And the tank Is a sps tank. Can some one please help

scott

Ohiomom · 04/26/2009, 02:05 PM

What kind of sand did you use? Aragonite?

newreef06 · 04/26/2009, 02:20 PM

aragonite

Ohiomom · 04/26/2009, 04:49 PM

Well then my second thought would be that maybe your bulbs are getting a little old..

davewbush · 04/26/2009, 05:47 PM

What are your water parameters?

newreef06 · 04/26/2009, 07:13 PM

bulbs are only 4 months old

newreef06 · 04/26/2009, 07:14 PM

ph 8.4 salt 1.024 not sure on alk no nitrates or ammonia

davewbush · 04/26/2009, 07:22 PM

How old are your ro/di filters and what do you have for a cuc?

newreef06 · 04/26/2009, 07:27 PM

whats a cuc. I just bought a ro/di 4-5 months ago. I bought it brand new

davewbush · 04/26/2009, 07:35 PM

Clean up crew. And do you run a skimmer?

newreef06 · 04/27/2009, 12:18 PM

turbo snails deluxe prizm skimmer

stingythingy45 · 04/27/2009, 12:26 PM

Most definitely diatoms in the top off water.
I would guess your DI is shot as this is the filter that removes the diatoms.What is the TDS of you ro/di and when's the last time you changed the di?

stingythingy45 · 04/27/2009, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stingythingy45
Most definitely diatoms in the top off water.
I would guess your DI is shot as this is the filter that removes the silicates that fuel diatoms.What is the TDS of you ro/di and when's the last time you changed the di?

Fixed above........

davewbush · 04/27/2009, 02:07 PM

Your di could need to be changed. Have you checked phosphate?

newreef06 · 04/27/2009, 06:05 PM

I dont have a tds meter. I will see if my friend has one

newreef06 · 04/27/2009, 06:47 PM

tds reads 002 ppm

kraze3 · 04/27/2009, 06:51 PM

It should be 0, i wont use any water over 005. You really need to get a test kit and test for nitrates and phosphates. Another thing that may help is more flow. How much do you have. Use a turkey baster to blow the diatoms off of the sand and rock.

newreef06 · 04/27/2009, 08:03 PM

i USE A TURKEY BASTER EVERY OTHER DAY. hOW CAN i GET THE WATER DOWB TO 0.

newreef06 · 04/27/2009, 08:09 PM

I HAVE A MAG 5 RETURN PUMP. I THIS ITS 380gph. And useing a korilia 4 for more flow

newreef06 · 04/28/2009, 08:38 AM

bump

cabrego · 04/28/2009, 10:44 AM

what makes you think you have a silica outbreak?

1.Parameters
2.TDS
3.Bulbs

newreef06 · 04/28/2009, 08:39 PM

all of a sudden i have been getting brown diatoms everywhere all over rocks and sand bed

04/26/2009, 01:46 PM	#1
newreef06 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Western Ma Posts: 822	silica out break help I have had my tank running for 4 years now. I use ro/di water all the time. I have recently had a out break out brown diatoms algea in the sand bed and rock. I have been doing regular h20 changes of 10% every week. I have a 55G reef ready tank, 300w MH. Bulbs get changed every 10-12 months. 10G ump. And the tank Is a sps tank. Can some one please help scott

04/26/2009, 02:05 PM	#2
Ohiomom Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,586	What kind of sand did you use? Aragonite? __________________ .....Sandra “Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.” Current Tank Info: 75 galllon reef, T5HO love em!

04/26/2009, 04:49 PM	#4
Ohiomom Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,586	Well then my second thought would be that maybe your bulbs are getting a little old.. __________________ .....Sandra “Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.” Current Tank Info: 75 galllon reef, T5HO love em!

04/27/2009, 12:26 PM	#12
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	Most definitely diatoms in the top off water. I would guess your DI is shot as this is the filter that removes the diatoms.What is the TDS of you ro/di and when's the last time you changed the di? __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

04/26/2009, 02:20 PM	#3
newreef06 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Western Ma Posts: 822	aragonite

04/26/2009, 05:47 PM	#5
davewbush ... Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 739	What are your water parameters?

04/26/2009, 07:13 PM	#6
newreef06 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Western Ma Posts: 822	bulbs are only 4 months old

04/26/2009, 07:14 PM	#7
newreef06 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Western Ma Posts: 822	ph 8.4 salt 1.024 not sure on alk no nitrates or ammonia

04/26/2009, 07:22 PM	#8
davewbush ... Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 739	How old are your ro/di filters and what do you have for a cuc?

04/26/2009, 07:27 PM	#9
newreef06 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Western Ma Posts: 822	whats a cuc. I just bought a ro/di 4-5 months ago. I bought it brand new

04/26/2009, 07:35 PM	#10
davewbush ... Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 739	Clean up crew. And do you run a skimmer?

04/27/2009, 12:18 PM	#11
newreef06 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Western Ma Posts: 822	turbo snails deluxe prizm skimmer

04/27/2009, 02:07 PM	#14
davewbush ... Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 739	Your di could need to be changed. Have you checked phosphate?

04/27/2009, 06:05 PM	#15
newreef06 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Western Ma Posts: 822	I dont have a tds meter. I will see if my friend has one

04/27/2009, 06:47 PM	#16
newreef06 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Western Ma Posts: 822	tds reads 002 ppm

04/27/2009, 06:51 PM	#17
kraze3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: RI Posts: 2,373	It should be 0, i wont use any water over 005. You really need to get a test kit and test for nitrates and phosphates. Another thing that may help is more flow. How much do you have. Use a turkey baster to blow the diatoms off of the sand and rock.

04/27/2009, 08:03 PM	#18
newreef06 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Western Ma Posts: 822	i USE A TURKEY BASTER EVERY OTHER DAY. hOW CAN i GET THE WATER DOWB TO 0.

04/27/2009, 08:09 PM	#19
newreef06 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Western Ma Posts: 822	I HAVE A MAG 5 RETURN PUMP. I THIS ITS 380gph. And useing a korilia 4 for more flow

04/28/2009, 08:38 AM	#20
newreef06 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Western Ma Posts: 822	bump

04/28/2009, 10:44 AM	#21
cabrego Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: McAllen,TX Posts: 720	what makes you think you have a silica outbreak? 1.Parameters 2.TDS 3.Bulbs

04/28/2009, 08:39 PM	#22
newreef06 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Western Ma Posts: 822	all of a sudden i have been getting brown diatoms everywhere all over rocks and sand bed