minireef75
Member
Are there any certain species of snails that like to eat this stuff? I have blue-leg hermits but they can only clean the coral and the rock. Also how long does it last?
Diatom Bloom
- Thread starter minireef75
- Start date
david s
Member
here is part of a article I have. it does go into a disputed subject about sand wich I have no knowledge of but it is some helpful info
Brown Algae - Diatoms
One of the first signs of a nuisance algae in a marine set-up is the brown algae that begins as a dusting on your substrate and rapidly turns into a brown mat that can, if not controlled, cover the bottom in a few weeks time.. This brown algae is not actually algae at all, it's dead diatom skeletons that are actually linked together (visable when viewed through a microscope) and this is what makes up the mat found on top of your substrate and lying on your liverock..
Diatoms feed on silacates and only last as long as their is a supply of silacates in the water.. If you start a new tank using RO (Reverse Osmosis) or DI (DeIonized) water, you greatly reduce the possibility of introducing silacates into the set-up.. Untreated tapwater will often have unacceptible levels of silacate.. Another way silacates are inadvertantly introduced is in the choice of substratum.. If you're going to use sand, make sure it's aragonite sand or use a fine to course mix of aragonite gravel.. Don't make the mistake of choosing play sand or builders sand for a reef or even a FO (Fish Only) set-up.. Plain old silaca sand can and will leach silacates back into the water column and this leaching effect can last for weeks to months depending on the amount used.. Silaca sand will leach silacates into the water as the water flows over it and the leaching can be accellerated by vacuuming the sand, bringing more fresh sand to the surface of your substrate.. If you've ever made the mistake of using silica based sand, you're not likely to repeat it..
Getting Rid of Diatoms
As I mentioned before, diatoms only last as long as the silacates (that they feed on) are present.. When you see the brown mat first appearing, that is an indication that the diatoms are dying and should be gone in a matter of weeks.. You should begin using RO or DI water for all future top-off, kalkwasser addition and water changes.. A few 10-20% water changes (with RO or DI water) will help to reduce the amount of silacates present and you should syphon off as much of the diatoms as possible to remove the ugly mass.. Adding a few hermit crabs (1-2 per 5 gal) and some astrea snails (1-2 per 10 gal) will also help remove the diatoms..
Brown Algae - Diatoms
One of the first signs of a nuisance algae in a marine set-up is the brown algae that begins as a dusting on your substrate and rapidly turns into a brown mat that can, if not controlled, cover the bottom in a few weeks time.. This brown algae is not actually algae at all, it's dead diatom skeletons that are actually linked together (visable when viewed through a microscope) and this is what makes up the mat found on top of your substrate and lying on your liverock..
Diatoms feed on silacates and only last as long as their is a supply of silacates in the water.. If you start a new tank using RO (Reverse Osmosis) or DI (DeIonized) water, you greatly reduce the possibility of introducing silacates into the set-up.. Untreated tapwater will often have unacceptible levels of silacate.. Another way silacates are inadvertantly introduced is in the choice of substratum.. If you're going to use sand, make sure it's aragonite sand or use a fine to course mix of aragonite gravel.. Don't make the mistake of choosing play sand or builders sand for a reef or even a FO (Fish Only) set-up.. Plain old silaca sand can and will leach silacates back into the water column and this leaching effect can last for weeks to months depending on the amount used.. Silaca sand will leach silacates into the water as the water flows over it and the leaching can be accellerated by vacuuming the sand, bringing more fresh sand to the surface of your substrate.. If you've ever made the mistake of using silica based sand, you're not likely to repeat it..
Getting Rid of Diatoms
As I mentioned before, diatoms only last as long as the silacates (that they feed on) are present.. When you see the brown mat first appearing, that is an indication that the diatoms are dying and should be gone in a matter of weeks.. You should begin using RO or DI water for all future top-off, kalkwasser addition and water changes.. A few 10-20% water changes (with RO or DI water) will help to reduce the amount of silacates present and you should syphon off as much of the diatoms as possible to remove the ugly mass.. Adding a few hermit crabs (1-2 per 5 gal) and some astrea snails (1-2 per 10 gal) will also help remove the diatoms..