Another diatom problem.

[reeflower]

I have a diatom problem. My tank is slowly turing brown. My live rock used to be pretty, but now it is covered in this stuff. Is there anything that eats this stuff? What will get rid of it?

 

[who dey]

how old is your tank??

 

[reeflower]

4 months old.

 

[who dey]

did you recently add anything new, maybe some LR. what kind of water are you using

 

[reeflower]

yeah I added about 20lbs of live rock (I had to re-cure it but it was fully cured when I added it). I use distilled water most of the time but recently I have been forced to use tap (since there was a shortage at the store of distilled). I don't have enough money right now for a RO filter, but that's my next investment.
Is there anything that can get rid of this stuff int he mean time?

 

[who dey]

your tap water is feeding this. I would go to walmart and buy a jug of RO water and prep for a water change. when changing water use your siphon tube to suck out the diatoms from your tank. also what is your lighting cycle. have you checked your parameters, you could be going through a mine cycle from the new LR addition. I would buy some phosban to rid your tank of existing phosphates, cut back on feeding to everyother day.

 

[reeflower]

Does wal-mart sell RO water? I am not sure mine does, it doesn't even have a freshwater fish department. But I am going to check now, I will be extatic if they do! I usuallly have my lights on for 10-12 hours a day. I feed them every other day anyway. But thank you for your help. I will try what you reccomened, nd let you know how it turns out!
Thanx again!

 

[who dey]

prob #1 too much light. turn cycle back to 9hr on
most walmarts sell RO/DI for between .38-.58 per gallon :joy: