Diatom ... on a rampage

[andymi]

OK, it has been two weeks, and my levels have not moved from normal. I used the natures ocean live sand and about 40 lbs of live rock and have not seen anything move. In the last week my tank has been over run with diatom, on the rocks, sand and glass etc. Just curious if it would be ok to go ahead and add a cleanup crew to try and get this under control and if so what should I get as there is a lot of it now. If my tank has not already cycled will this throw it over the edge? I personally think it has already cycled...everything and i mean everything is still in normal ranges.
--Andy

 

[mr.vegas]

Andy
Try lowering the time on your lights. Until the tank is ready or do you have anything in it yet besides some damsels?

 

[andymi]

I have 2 damsels and 1 bangai cardinalfish, along with 40lbs of live rock and 20lbs of live sand (along with 50 lbs of southdown sand). I have not seen anything move, and I am getting a little green hairy algae on the live rock, but just a little. I have reduced my time to 8 hrs, but it is just growing like "the blob". I know it is a good indication, i just wonder if I should add something to it, other wise I think it will get too far out of control.
--Andy

 

[andymi]

Trey,
I used the deep ocean sea salts which has a dechlorination agent in the salt. So the chlorine should have been removed when the salt was added. Ok, I will add a clean-up crew. Should it be the standard size (i.e., 2 hermits per 10 gallons) or should i do just have of a cleanup crew to start.
--Andy
[ May 23, 2001: Message edited by: andymi ]

 

[coop21]

My tank just hit the 6 week mark, and the brown stuff is not growing much anymore. Patience sucks, but give it a little longer before you add the clean-up crew. Keep scrubbing the brown stuff off and soon it will not grow back as much. Good luck. COOP.

 

[kappadoku]

My cure for diatoms is to introduce a more desirable critter that competes with the diatoms for food. Mainly, rotifers. I added mountain corals velvet green with rotifers and the diatoms cleared up in a week. Plus, rotifers are a better food source for your critters than diatoms. My snails wouldnt touch the diatoms, but ate the HECK out of the velvet green!
HTH!