Brown Diatoms on sand...STILL

[phishy]

I posted about a week ago about having brown diatoms all over the sand in one corner of my tank. I was told it is "normal" for a tank my age (finished cycling 4 weeks ago).
However, I couldn't stand the look of the "dirty sand". So, I purchased 10 small (all they had were small ones) nassarius snails about 4 days ago. They are putting a small dent in the problem, but not as much as I would like.
How long should this last? Does it really go away in its own? Is there anything else I can do? Is it causing any damage (besides looking ugly)? I was thinking about getting another PH for Christmas and increasing the water movement in that corner (is that too long to wait?).
Please send me your thoughts.
Thanks....Phishy

 

[beaslbob]

If they are limited to one corner then the extra circulation will help.
Normally brown algae on new tanks is a sign of phosphates. As phosphates are consumed the brown is replaced green algae which feeds more off of nitrates. Either can be reduced or eliminated by establishing plant growth you desire.

 

[iechy]

Are you using tap water or RO water?

 

[phishy]

oh, no, here comes the debate...I use tap.
I know everyone says I should use RO, but I can't afford it right now and I have a neighbor that has been using tap water in his tank for 5 years without a problem.
Should I add more snails? Will this clear up on its own? Is it hurting anything?

 

[iechy]

I'm not trying to start a debate but more times than not people who use tap water will see more of a problem than those who don't. It's not expensive to do. I didn't have the money to buy a filter either so I go to one of those little water kiosks and it costs me .75 for 5 gallons. So I end up spending no more than 5.00 a month on water if I even do a water change. With all the money that goes into my tank that 5.00 is not even noticeable.

 

[iluvfish]

You might consider purchasing a fighting conch. They are wonderful diatom consumers.

 

[phishy]

how many fighting conches should I get for a 72 gal.? I thought the nassarius snails were the best for diatoms...

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by Phishy
oh, no, here comes the debate...I use tap.
I know everyone says I should use RO, but I can't afford it right now and I have a neighbor that has been using tap water in his tank for 5 years without a problem.
Should I add more snails? Will this clear up on its own? Is it hurting anything?
Not only is it not hurting any Thint but all algaes including the ugly ones are beneficial to your system. The only problem is that it looks bad.
Again, if you do not have plant life then add some. if you do have some you might try reducing you lighting. But the best short and long term solution is to cultivate plant life you desire. As you have already found, the only other option is to have plant life you do not desire.

 

[phishy]

Bob,
You may have won me over on the plant life...I can't say I agree with some of your other ideas...but you are slowly making sense
I am considering buying some shaving bushes with my next order (Christmas time). Will these fit the requirement? Can I hide them a little? I plan to put them behind some of my rock (I am not a big fan of how it looks in a tank). Or is there other more attractive things I can buy that will work? If so, where?
Thanks...

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by Phishy
Bob,
You may have won me over on the plant life...I can't say I agree with some of your other ideas...but you are slowly making sense
I had tanks for two years before I won myself over
I am considering buying some shaving bushes with my next order (Christmas time). Will these fit the requirement?
Yea they will and SWF ships them as livestock and that is good. Some posters here have reported that they slowly deteriorate losing bristles and eventually breaking in half looking like fallen xmass trees. I had some from a competitor that did that also but new brushes came up from runners.
Can I hide them a little? I plan to put them behind some of my rock (I am not a big fan of how it looks in a tank).
Sure. Just make sure they get enough light.
Or is there other more attractive things I can buy that will work? If so, where?
One of the prettiest macos I have is a bright deap red. ---- auction. Also there is turtle grass which looks like a blade of grass and is a true marine plant with a circulation system. It and the red are slow growing. There are several sources so you could try a simple google search on macro algae or macroalgae and see what comes up. My first marine plant/macro was a suctioncup caulpera which did grow nicely in my display. It was about $5 at LFS. My anemone crabs ate it faster then it grew so it slowly disappeared in about a month. So whatever you do, I highly recommend you culture them in another container to protect your investment. With the seperate container (a old 20g in my case but just a simple rubbermaid with some sand will do) I have had a constant supply of the kelp like caulpera for my display and livestock. You might try the wetwebmedia web site which has several good articles on various marine macros and plants. Your best source would be locals who are throwing away macros from their systems each month. Free is good. If you still need some links email me at beaslbob@aol.com
Thanks...
welcome and let us know how it works.

 

[bang guy]

Originally posted by Phishy
I purchased 10 small (all they had were small ones) nassarius snails about 4 days ago.
ummm.. Nassarius Snails cannot eat Diatoms. They strictly eat Carrion.

 

[phishy]

so fighting conch are my only option? How many should I get for a 72 gallon?

 

[bang guy]

Cerith will work well too. A pair of small Fighting Conch would be good but you'll have to remove one in a couple years when they get bigger.

 

[squidd]

This is a cut and paste from an older thread of mine outlining my experiance with "Diatoms"
"The Ugly Brown Sludge Pit of Diatoms covering my tank and Everything in it is Finally gone!!
I've been fighting a Diatom buildup problem since forever...
At first "They" said "It's just new tank syndrome, it'll go away on it's own when things stabalize"...
So I waited...and waited...and waited...3,4,6 months and it just kept coming...
Then "They" said you need more lights , less lights, different lights...
I got lots of different lights and timers scheduals...no change...
Then they said "You have too many nitrates, Phosphates, you feed too much...
Not that..light bio load tested 0 on phosphates...>5 nitraes...
"You need a sump/fuge/macros to remove unwanted elements...
Got that...and a huge outbreak when I added 35gal of "new" salt water...(Clue )
Then they said it was my sand bed... and I was just about to change it out (again) "Must be the 'silica' sand leaching silicates"
So I tested my Tap water (well)...I thought it was "Good" because I live in the woods ,no farms, no nitrates or trites in the water and NO noticable "Algae" in my tanks Just Brown Crud.
Silicates 20 ppm...
I got a Phosphate/Silacate sponge and switched to Store bought RO for top off water.
Week One...Noticable difference..
Week Two...Almost gone...
Week Three...Clean sand (wow it's white!!)
End of week pull sponge, continue with RO water...
This is the end of week Four...Still clear, Fish look Great...(Could be the extra light reflecting off the sand or the fact I'm Not looking through a Brown Stained glass) But I think they just look and act and feel better...
I'm sold TAP WATER SUCKS FOR SALTWATER TANKS PERIOD.
I've got some of the best, clean, safe, spring fed, Northwoods water and it's night and day difference using RO water for my tank
I'm off to buy an RO/DI for my tanks...(and maybe my coffee )"
Hope this helps...