diatoms just won't go away!

jmack · #1 08/19/2005, 04:09 PM

I still have diatoms after almost 3 mos up and running...my hermits take little interest in them and I am getting a light blanket over sections of my substrate. What will really go to town on these and is there anything else that will clear it up? I do a 5% waterchange weekly...I have a 120gallon with a rio 1100 powerhead and a venturi skimmer and a canister filter with spraybar return (seems like enough flow).

TippyToeX · #2 08/19/2005, 04:59 PM

I'd up the amount of water you change weekly. 5% on a new tank seems weak. What is the brand name of your skimmer? DO you use Ro/DI water?

Also, if you can list your water quality test numbers that would be a big help.

bertoni · #3 08/19/2005, 05:19 PM

I would guess they're dinoflagellates or cyanobacteria, unless you have a silicate source somewhere. What's the total GPH rating for your equipment?n Skimmers tend not to produce much flow because the pump is moving air instead of water.

Ironically, dosing silica might help your situation:

http://advancedaquarist.com/issues/jan2003/feature.htm

although I wouldn't bother at this point.

What do you have for a cleanup crew? Since the tank is new, some aggressive waiting might be the way to go.

hskim · #4 08/19/2005, 05:31 PM

Do you use tap water and is your tap well water? Silicate can cause this. On my tank I had it for almost a year and I did not have place to install RO so I just bought Tap Water Filter to get rid of silica from my source water and the diatoms went away completely. Now I use two Tap Water filter in a row and the water I add to the tank is extreamly free of silica and any other stuff that DI removes.

jmack · #5 08/19/2005, 05:38 PM

i guess it might be tap water...i'll start topping with r/o

reefwick · #6 08/19/2005, 09:01 PM

I had diatoms BAD! Then I got a cucumber and they were gone in a week.

smoknreefrs · #7 08/19/2005, 09:03 PM

you may want to consider not using that canister filter also

titleist · #8 08/19/2005, 09:14 PM

Low light source could be the problem. When i had this problem I did a 20% water change and they were gone.

Also, really should get a RODI

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=4348540660

jmack · #9 08/20/2005, 08:58 AM

Thanks for the advice..I'll try to save up for the r/o..until then I can buy water at the local water place. I'm still a little attached to the canister filter..if I take that off, I don't know if the skimmer would be enough? Would I add more powerheads or what would I need?

bertoni · #10 08/20/2005, 07:20 PM

You might see an ammonia spike if you suddenly disconnect the canister, so you might try slowly removing the filter media. You can run it with carbon and for water circulation.

I don't know how much flow your system has now, so I don't know how much more it might need.

romunov · #11 08/21/2005, 01:23 AM

A number of small water changes is nothing compared to a one, massive one. Think about it.

Teremei · #12 08/21/2005, 01:41 AM

Is that one RODI unit you linked to a generally approved of one here on Reef Central? Cause I need to buy one soon.

bertoni · #13 08/21/2005, 05:25 PM

I'd stay away from any RO-DI with a 100gpd membrane. The 75gpd and lower do a much better job of filtration.

Teremei · #14 08/21/2005, 05:33 PM

Boy so much to remember. I should dig up my old RODI thread.