diatom algae???

egos4life · 04/28/2009, 01:19 PM

Ok i have had my tank up for about 4 montsh and got it from a friend who had it for over 2 years well established.
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrates 10
phosphate 0
calicium 420
ph 8.4
temp 78-80 degrees
its a 55 gallon with about 50 lbs of LR 15 gallon sump with chaeto
I have a yellow tang (yes I know I will have to get rid of him eventually for now he is doing fine)
coral beauty
pair clarkiis
and a damsel
Multiple zoas and other corals

Anyhow my question what can I do about the Diatom algae I have tried running my lights less just using the actics but as soon as I kick on the the daylights my sand comes brown I have a sandsifting starfish but he only cleans on side of the tank

I only feed everyother day one frozen cube
I also have added a cleanup crew and just nothing seems to work any suggestions makes me wanna go bottomless I hate brown sand

Fizz71 · 04/28/2009, 01:23 PM

What's your tank's turnover? (total gph of pumps/55g)

And what CUC did you add besides the sandsifter...any nassarius snails? cucumber?

davewbush · 04/28/2009, 01:25 PM

Are you using ro/di for water changes and if so, how old are the filters in the ro/di?

egos4life · 04/28/2009, 01:25 PM

600 gph at least thats what the pumps say and i have snails but not a cucumber
I was told I could add amphipods and they would help just trying to get some answers everythign is going so well and everything is doing awesome except the damn sand

egos4life · 04/28/2009, 01:26 PM

I am using RO water and I get it from a store and there machines say they are cleaned weekly

davewbush · 04/28/2009, 01:29 PM

Do you have any other power heads for flow?

egos4life · 04/28/2009, 01:33 PM

Hydor Koralia 1
400 gph centrifugal aquarium pump
2 of them one on each end

davewbush · 04/28/2009, 01:36 PM

A liitle more flow would help. Are you getting the water from a pet store or a machine in front of a store?

egos4life · 04/28/2009, 01:39 PM

a machine in front a lfs that he recommends... what do you recommend for more flow?

Fizz71 · 04/28/2009, 01:41 PM

The turnover sounds good. I would still wonder about the RO though. Even if they"clean" the machine every week it doesn't mean they replace the RO membrane. With a 55g you should really consider getting your own RO.

How ofter are you changing the water out?

And I mentioned Nassarius snails because they live in the sand and do a good job of mixing it up. Most other snails live on the glass or rock and crabs tend to stay on the rocks unless they fall or head out for a piece of food they saw. What do you have?

egos4life · 04/28/2009, 01:43 PM

mine may not be nassarius snails I do ten gallon water change weekly i tested the water and everything sounds good but i was really considering getting an ro system just saving up the cash school and reefing add up ha ha

Fizz71 · 04/28/2009, 01:51 PM

If they don't bury themselves in the sand, then they are not nassarius and I HIGHLY recommend them.

Does it get brown everywhere or just in patches? Nothing on the rock? What's the flow like at the sand? (if you disturb it does it settle right down, or carry "down stream" a bit)

davewbush · 04/28/2009, 01:55 PM

Your tank is turning over about 19 times and hour. If your 400 gph centrifugal aquarium pumps are made by Hydo, then there model # is 400 and there pushing 115 gph. I would take them out and put in 2 Koralia 2's and leave the nano in too.. I would also get and ro/di system. In the long run it will pay for itself.

egos4life · 04/28/2009, 01:58 PM

its just like two patches on my sand im going to get the snails tomorrow i fixed it the powerhead so now the sand carrys down stream can I add more sand or is that a bad idea?

Fizz71 · 04/28/2009, 02:13 PM

More sand isn't the issue, but if you don't mind a sand storm you can add more. The new flow might be enough, but nassarius snails are very cool and help out with keeping the sand moving so still go for it.

Mix up the sand a bit and see if it comes back with the new flow pattern.

Fizz71 · 04/28/2009, 02:16 PM

..and if you really want to check that water...get a silicate test kit.

egos4life · 04/28/2009, 02:51 PM

thanks for all the help expect to hear from me again you guys are awesome

davewbush · 04/28/2009, 03:41 PM

If you want to add sand and keep the sand storm down, get a 1 1/2 in piece of pvc and dump the sand through it where you want it in the tank. You'll get a little bit of cloudyness but not as much if you were to dump it from higher.

romsoccer12 · 04/28/2009, 05:36 PM

you should get a diamond goby He does WORK on the sand my friend had disgusting sand and it is perfectly clean in 2 days

04/28/2009, 01:19 PM	#1
egos4life Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: CEN CALI Posts: 123	diatom algae??? Ok i have had my tank up for about 4 montsh and got it from a friend who had it for over 2 years well established. Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Nitrates 10 phosphate 0 calicium 420 ph 8.4 temp 78-80 degrees its a 55 gallon with about 50 lbs of LR 15 gallon sump with chaeto I have a yellow tang (yes I know I will have to get rid of him eventually for now he is doing fine) coral beauty pair clarkiis and a damsel Multiple zoas and other corals Anyhow my question what can I do about the Diatom algae I have tried running my lights less just using the actics but as soon as I kick on the the daylights my sand comes brown I have a sandsifting starfish but he only cleans on side of the tank I only feed everyother day one frozen cube I also have added a cleanup crew and just nothing seems to work any suggestions makes me wanna go bottomless I hate brown sand

04/28/2009, 01:23 PM	#2
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	What's your tank's turnover? (total gph of pumps/55g) And what CUC did you add besides the sandsifter...any nassarius snails? cucumber? __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

04/28/2009, 01:41 PM	#10
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	The turnover sounds good. I would still wonder about the RO though. Even if they"clean" the machine every week it doesn't mean they replace the RO membrane. With a 55g you should really consider getting your own RO. How ofter are you changing the water out? And I mentioned Nassarius snails because they live in the sand and do a good job of mixing it up. Most other snails live on the glass or rock and crabs tend to stay on the rocks unless they fall or head out for a piece of food they saw. What do you have? __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

04/28/2009, 01:51 PM	#12
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	If they don't bury themselves in the sand, then they are not nassarius and I HIGHLY recommend them. Does it get brown everywhere or just in patches? Nothing on the rock? What's the flow like at the sand? (if you disturb it does it settle right down, or carry "down stream" a bit) __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

04/28/2009, 02:13 PM	#15
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	More sand isn't the issue, but if you don't mind a sand storm you can add more. The new flow might be enough, but nassarius snails are very cool and help out with keeping the sand moving so still go for it. Mix up the sand a bit and see if it comes back with the new flow pattern. __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

04/28/2009, 01:25 PM	#3
davewbush ... Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 739	Are you using ro/di for water changes and if so, how old are the filters in the ro/di?

04/28/2009, 01:26 PM	#5
egos4life Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: CEN CALI Posts: 123	I am using RO water and I get it from a store and there machines say they are cleaned weekly

04/28/2009, 01:29 PM	#6
davewbush ... Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 739	Do you have any other power heads for flow?

04/28/2009, 01:33 PM	#7
egos4life Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: CEN CALI Posts: 123	Hydor Koralia 1 400 gph centrifugal aquarium pump 2 of them one on each end

04/28/2009, 01:36 PM	#8
davewbush ... Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 739	A liitle more flow would help. Are you getting the water from a pet store or a machine in front of a store?

04/28/2009, 01:39 PM	#9
egos4life Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: CEN CALI Posts: 123	a machine in front a lfs that he recommends... what do you recommend for more flow?

04/28/2009, 01:43 PM	#11
egos4life Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: CEN CALI Posts: 123	mine may not be nassarius snails I do ten gallon water change weekly i tested the water and everything sounds good but i was really considering getting an ro system just saving up the cash school and reefing add up ha ha

04/28/2009, 01:55 PM	#13
davewbush ... Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 739	Your tank is turning over about 19 times and hour. If your 400 gph centrifugal aquarium pumps are made by Hydo, then there model # is 400 and there pushing 115 gph. I would take them out and put in 2 Koralia 2's and leave the nano in too.. I would also get and ro/di system. In the long run it will pay for itself.

04/28/2009, 01:58 PM	#14
egos4life Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: CEN CALI Posts: 123	its just like two patches on my sand im going to get the snails tomorrow i fixed it the powerhead so now the sand carrys down stream can I add more sand or is that a bad idea?

04/28/2009, 02:16 PM	#16
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	..and if you really want to check that water...get a silicate test kit. __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

04/28/2009, 02:51 PM	#17
egos4life Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: CEN CALI Posts: 123	thanks for all the help expect to hear from me again you guys are awesome

04/28/2009, 03:41 PM	#18
davewbush ... Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 739	If you want to add sand and keep the sand storm down, get a 1 1/2 in piece of pvc and dump the sand through it where you want it in the tank. You'll get a little bit of cloudyness but not as much if you were to dump it from higher.

04/28/2009, 05:36 PM	#19
romsoccer12 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: ohio Posts: 2,625	you should get a diamond goby He does WORK on the sand my friend had disgusting sand and it is perfectly clean in 2 days __________________ Colin R Current Tank Info: 3rd tank working fine!(29gal oceanic biocube) 5-6months old