Diatoms? And what to do???

[Hefner413]

I've had this 29g biocube set up for almost 2 years and am just now having a brown growth outbreak. I'm thinking diatoms because it's not stringy and it comes off like dust when I squirting it with my baster. My levels: SG 1.026, ph8.2, NO3 and NH3 are both 0 as always. Possible issues: my RODI unit had long been overdue on DI media replacement. Plus my lights were the original lights and thus needed changed out big time. So I changed out my RODI filters and got a TDS meter (didn't check before changing them) and my new water is 0 TDS. My lights have been changed also. My lights were then decreased from 6 hrs a day to only 4.5 hrs a day now. I also did some drastic water changes... A bit much at 80%... But I wanted to get any possible silica from the prior bad RODI water.

So any more thoughts on steps that need taken or things I need to test/check?? It is still growing with a vengeance and covers soon after sucking out during water changes. It also has grown over most of my polyps at times and I've had to squirting it off to keep my polyps going. Thanks for any ideas / input!!!

[Hefner413]

Hey pros, any ideas?? Thanks

[Spectorman]

Dino's dude. There's several schools of thought to get rid of them. I use a phosreactor and GFO. just because, you don't show numbers w N03 doesn't mean it's not there. Those things can thrive in very low nutrient scenarios too. Do a couple days with no light. Run GFO and they will likely subside. I feed my fish every other day. It cuts down on nutrients.

[Hefner413]

Thanks for your help. I read about dinos and wasn't sure. My understanding was that if you hit it with a baster and it comes off like dust, then likely diatoms vs if it all sticks together as a layer, more likely dinos. Mine is more the former.

But either way, I'll keep my lights off for a few days. Will my coral be ok without the lights for a few?

And either way, I'll look into the GFO.. I wasn't aware that NO3 would still be in the tank despite reading zero.

[Spectorman]

Our test kits for the most part are hobby grade. Hanna checkers seem to be accurate. $40-50.00 a piece is steep for many. But they do give you a pretty good idea.
Yes,your corals will be fine. Lights out for a couple days. I am also,going to suggest not doing a water change right away, as the Dino's seem to come back after a change.
If you'd like to go without chems? Look into researching algae scrubbers. I use one. They can be made easily for cheap.
Set your skimmer for a wet skim. If it's already wet? Try and make it wetter.

[Hefner413]

Thanks again. Lights out since yesterday. I actually had forgotten that my other test kit (although hobby grade as u point out) has the phosphate test. I tested and they're zero (or 0.25... Hard to tell). I'll def look into an algae scrubber. I agree to hold off on further water changes. The water that's in there should be good water now. Hopefully time will help clear this more than anything. I wish my 29g were as stable as my 180 aggressive fowlr. I never have issues with it and hardly even touch it. Thx again

[Spectorman]

Mine are hobby grade too. Unless you'd like to spend absolutely absurd money?Lol. Good luck!

[charlesgage]

What's the source water quality?

[Hefner413]

Originally Posted by charlesgage

What's the source water quality?

You mean before my RODI filter? No idea. TDS says 80-120. It's city water, not well water... but city water has its issues. My RODI has all new filters and media now, but like I said initially, it was overdue when the outbreak began. TDS going into the tank now is 0.

[Hefner413]

Originally Posted by Spectorman

Mine are hobby grade too. Unless you'd like to spend absolutely absurd money?Lol. Good luck!

I looked with a flashlight tonight. Everything is now pretty much cleared with lights out. Man, my corals are looking pitiful but I assume they'll perk back up once I turn the lights back on. I'm thinking tomorrow evening I'll give them a couple hours and increase over a few nights back to norm. Fingers crossed this doesn't return.

[Hefner413]

Awaken coral! Stay dead brown scum!

[Munster49]

That's like night and day. Was that just lights out for a few days?

[Hefner413]

Originally Posted by Munster49

That's like night and day. Was that just lights out for a few days?

Thanks! Yeah, just lights out. No chemicals etc. The real test will be if it comes right back with the lights back on. I need to bolster my CUC too in order to clean up the fuzz on the rocks.

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by Hefner413

Thanks! Yeah, just lights out. No chemicals etc. The real test will be if it comes right back with the lights back on. I need to bolster my CUC too in order to clean up the fuzz on the rocks.

Unfortunately, it probably will be back.
Whatever is in your water is still there.

You can try things like lots of heavy water changes, vacuuming the sand bed, gfo, or something like DinoX as a last resort. Careful with that stuff though... it ain't no joke. I just got done treating my tank with it.

[Hefner413]

Originally Posted by d2mini

Unfortunately, it probably will be back.
Whatever is in your water is still there.

You can try things like lots of heavy water changes, vacuuming the sand bed, gfo, or something like DinoX as a last resort. Careful with that stuff though... it ain't no joke. I just got done treating my tank with it.

I hear ya. I'm hoping that it was the overdue RODI filter/media change and old bulbs. The tank was great for almost 2 yrs and just recently bloomed. I actually have been following your tank, IMPRESSIVE!! Maybe I can emulate your elaborate setup some day. I saw how that DinoX worked in your tank.. hopefully it stays away for you also! I'm tempted, but hope to not need it now that I've replaced my RODI filters/media and have new lights (gradually increasing time on).