Day 29 of Cycle--Red Stuff??

[primetime]

Hey Guys..
I am at day 29 of my cycle and in the last 4 days I have encountered this stuff all over my tank.
Is this just part of the cycling process?
Or should I be concerned?

 

[primetime]

here is one shot of full tank..

 

[tizzo]

They are "diatoms" and totally normal. It will seem like forever, but they will disappear on they're own soon.
Love your username, is that after "22"?

 

[primetime]

Thank You--Thank You....

I was getting rather concerned. Get it soo ugly to look at.
I have friends that are wanting to come over to check it out.
I have been telling them to wait, since it has this weird growth.
yeah--it's after Sanders.... My name is Dion--And thats what everyone calls me around here..Kinda fits I guess..
Should I get more turbo snails, cleaning crew?
Here is a pic of my Hermit..

 

[tizzo]

Cool hermit, never seen one like that before. As far as snails, they prolly won't survive a cycle. You can try to blast them with a turkey baster so that your filter will suck 'em up. It appears that you initially filled your tank with tap water, is this right?? If so then I would recamend your water changes and top offs be with RO, otherwise you will provide a continued supply of nutrients for these diatoms. They eventually disappear because they run out of "food". Their food supply comes from your tap water.
HTH

 

[primetime]

Currently I have a Turbo Snail in there right now. He has been there for about 2.5 weeks. (and blue & red legged crabs, and a scotter) They are all over the place, and seem to be happy.
My LFS which got my tank up and running for me used tap water and said that it "would be ok to use, we have been doing it for years". So I havent even thought otherwise..
Could I use my Magnet to clean the glass?
And the baster to blast it off of the rocks, etc..?
And would keeping the lights off for a few days help?
Since I dont own a RO system, tap water will be my only source for top offs.
thanks..

 

[tizzo]

Initial set up is almost always with tap water, so your LFS gave you the norm as far as advice. You can clean the glass with your magnet. Lights will make no difference with diatoms. They are not an algae. They don't eat the nutrients from light like a plant would, they eat the minerals, and stuff found in tap water. If it's all you have then it's all you have but a 150 dollar unit from the Home Depot has sustained my tank for quite a while now. Might be something for you to look into.

 

[primetime]

Could tell me what kind I should be looking for..(brand wise) And which one to stay away from.
Please--point me in the right direction. I would like to get this setup the right way. Since I have already dumped a crap full of money in already. Whats another $150 or so...

Thanks Tizzo

 

[tizzo]

I got the GE model.. Hold on Lemme see if I can find a link for you...

 

[tizzo]

GE
Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filtration System w/ Short Reach Faucet
Model GXRV10ABL-OEM
Internet/Catalog 162836
Store SKU # 456 690
$159.00

 

[tizzo]

And then I took Sqidd's advice (when it was time to replace the cartriges) and replaced them with Kent's membranes and for 65 bucks you can add a DI unit. I haven't done that, but it's an option.

 

[fishieness]

i have the diatoms too right now. Someone told me to get like the gallon jugs of water at wal-mart or something. They said it wouldnt give you the diatom problem, but it all depends on if you want to spend a huge chunk of money now, or over a periode of time.

 

[primetime]

Thanks Tizzo,
I will look into the one from Home Depot...
Or maybe I will check ---- as well..

 

[primetime]

Hey Tizzo,
I found this on

[hr]
let me know what you think--Since I cant post a link to

[hr]
go to ---- and search for "ro/di", it's like the 3rd one down I believe..
Is this systems a better buy than the one at home depot?

[hr]
WATER FILTERS is our professional items!
We do our best to provide the best quality every item !!
We Ship From USA directly!
Buy It Now is Just US$99.99 and 2-7 days you will GET IT at HOME within US!!
100 Gallon Per Day 6 stage Reverse Osmosis
+ (DI)De-Ionized filter + 4 G Tank + Needle valve
Water Filter Complete System
for both Drinking and Aquarium use

[hr]
Dion

 

[wbilton]

Yhat's the one I bought a few weeks ago, I havn't hook it up yet Room is under constuction) so please tell me it's agood one.