Diatom Alge help

kopczynski

kopczynski

Member
I recently(2 weeks ago) put new LEDs on my 60 gallon FOWLR tank and there has been a massive out break of what I think is diatom alge. I cleaned a ton of it yesterday just to find it has reappeard again today. Is there a way to get rid if it. I have heard it will go away or lead to coraline alge. Is that true? I had some snails but since the bloom they have started dying. I have the lights on a 10 hour schedule with 4 hours of moonlight as an addition in the end. This was the recommended schedule and I don't know how to stop the growth. Please help!
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Personally, I'd led it go. Or encourage it to keep growing. The sooner it consumes its food source from the system the sooner it goes away. Patience is the virtue here, IMO.
However, I see no good reason to run lights for that long on a fish only system. Fish or other non photosynthetic creatures don't need it to survive. There's plenty enough ambient light going around for them to be fine.
Most of my lighting schedule occurs more in the afternoon/evenings when I'm around to see it.
 
kopczynski

kopczynski

Member
OK I turned it down to an 8 hour schedule and cleaned the glass. When I woke up this morning some of it had already began to fade.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
It will fade over night when lights are off then increase again with the light cycle.
Looks like a new tank. You most likely have an abundance of silicates in there right now.
Are you using tap or RO water?
 
kopczynski

kopczynski

Member
It is around a month old with no fish at the moment. I use tap water with instant ocean mix, I mix it with a circulation pump and an air pump the night before the water is added.
 
geridoc

geridoc

Well-Known Member
Diatoms require silicates and phosphates to thrive. So...guess what tap water has plenty of - yup, silicates and phosphates. That is why I strongly recommend that everyone use RODI (reverse osmosis deionized) water for mixing saltwater and topping off. RODI has no silicates or phosphates, so you will starve the diatoms into submission. If you continue to use tap water the diatoms will eventually consume their needed nutrient and fade away, only to be replaced by nuisance algae like hair algae.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeriDoc http:///t/397764/diatom-alge-help#post_3546656
Diatoms require silicates and phosphates to thrive. So...guess what tap water has plenty of - yup, silicates and phosphates. That is why I strongly recommend that everyone use RODI (reverse osmosis deionized) water for mixing saltwater and topping off. RODI has no silicates or phosphates, so you will starve the diatoms into submission. If you continue to use tap water the diatoms will eventually consume their needed nutrient and fade away, only to be replaced by nuisance algae like hair algae.

+1

Also you mentioned your CUC (clean up crew) of snails died...that's because they have nothing to eat, you have to wait for the algae to start before you can add algae eating critters such as snails. Water quality is the very life of your fish tank, it's not the place to pinch the pennies. If you can't afford an RO/DI unit, Walmart sells RO water for 37 cents a gallon.
 
celbrise

celbrise

Member
Had a diatom algae problem for YEARS not as bad as yours but pretty bad. couldn't figure out wth the problem was because my other tanks that use the same water doesn't get it nor have algae eaters. what i did before it went away was i added a circulation pump which you already have mines runs 24/7 since i only have one. I also got tired of scrapping it off i just left it on for maybe 2 weeks it is literally gone.

so yes i assume if you just let it go don't even scrub it off it will eventually consume it's food source and die off. i don't keep any light system but my tank is next to the window and gets lots of natural sun light for at least 12 hours a day it's indirect sunlight but enough to light up the tank.

as for it turning into coraline algae i don't think thats true. i read a lot about growing coraline algae and if diatoms turned into coraline algae i mean it would make life much easier. that stuff isn't cheap not in my state at least and diatoms are much easier to grow from scratch then just buying coraline algae and spreading it. most set ups i seen tell you to buy coraline algae from live rocks or just booster plates which Indo Pacific reef sells which again is expensive. I think i read something where coraline algae won't grow where other algaes are present as well. not sure if that is true..
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Diatomes won't turn into coraline. But in a new system they are the precursor to nuisance algae and then ultimately coraline. But it all depends on if conditions are right for coraline to grow.
 
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