Diatoms all of a sudden.Why?

[angelofish]

Diatoms are getting on my nerves. My tanks a mature set up. Ive been using phos zorb as precautionary measure ever since the cycling tank diatoms and I havent had them since.The sand gets a rusty tan color not dark brown everyday after the lights come on.Its only on the sand.I dont think its the lights because 2 of them are fairly new(day bulbs). I tried having 2 on at a time(actinics only then daylights only) still get em.Ive got 3 PHs,an Aquaclear 300,Seaclone skimmer, and a Emperor 400.Flows not a problem.I got a good clean up crew.The sand's clean every mornning.These are the recent things Ive done before this and my thoughts on it.
1-Switched to eggcrate.Tanks brighter.Maybe it needs to get used to it?
2-Cleaned out both filters at the same time and(oops) found some big sponges in the Emperor. Maybe started a 2nd cycle ?
3-Distubed sandbed alot catching tiny snails.Maybe released something?
Extra info:
Water Changes have no effect. Nitrates steady at 10.Have been using tap h2o since day1 but didnt have the problem before. No cyano.Sorry no phosphate kit. Have some grape caulerpa in but Turbo snails ate most of it.I noticed some micro-bubbles on the diatoms.
Any help will be appreciated.Thanks.

 

[bang guy]

Your Diatom munchers have finally been saturated or you are now subject to seanonal changes in yout tap water.
I would suggest filtering your water.

 

[angelofish]

Diatom munchers? Would a regular,kitchen tap water help? I know RO is the way to go but dont have the room to set it up.I tried buying the water at the LFS but it was a pain. I didnt have the option of doing water changes anytime. Thanx Bang Guy for the quick reply.

 

[angelofish]

Anybody else tonite?

 

[theishkid]

Hey I'm having the same problem right now. Had the tank running for over a year and am just now getting this. The only difference is I do get all my water at the LFS.

 

[theishkid]

I changed my coral life 50/50 about 3 months ago and those things are supposed to have 12 months of guaranteed life.
I changed my daytimes at the same time... maybe it is the daytime lights causing it though cause only the front part of the sand (right under the daytimes) is what gets this junk all over it.

 

[angelofish]

I just realized I also stopped using Bio-chem zorb. Could this be causing the brown sand problem? Im using carbon for now. Is carbon pretty much the same thing? :notsure:

 

[reefer44]

are you guys using southdown......that crap leaches silicate after a few months that the diatoms love......
Brad

 

[angelofish]

A couple of months? Ive been using it for way over a year.Why no problem till now?.

 

[bang guy]

Originally posted by reefer44
are you guys using southdown......that crap leaches silicate after a few months that the diatoms love......
Brad
I'm not buying it. Southdown sand it pretty much pure CaCO3 so where would the Silicate come from?

 

[sammyg]

Originally posted by Bang Guy
I'm not buying it. Southdown sand it pretty much pure CaCO3 so where would the Silicate come from?
And besides, even if there were traces of silicates, the diatoms would chew through it relatively quickly and die off. The most likely source would be a change in your tap water, like Bang said. RO/DI is the only way to fly...