Quick diatom question

[runn3rb3an]

my tank has been cycling for about a month and a half now and I have a lot of diatoms allover my glass and sandbed (or what I think diatoms are) is this normal with a tank cycle at this stage or should I do something to stop them?

 

[bigarn]

You can scrape them off the glass, but this is normal for a newer tank. They will start to dissapear with time.

 

[jthomas0385]

I had a lot of diatoms also, when my tank was newer. I bought a Kole Tang for my tank, and he ate just about all of them within a couple of weeks. I didn't buy the Tang for the sole purpose of eating the diatoms, but it worked out good for that reason.

 

[runn3rb3an]

ok thanks. would any type of snail get rid of them

 

[jthomas0385]

Astraea snails is what I use. I'm sure Turbo Snails would eat them also, but I personally don't like Turbos.

 

[lauremf2002]

My margaritas eat it. IMO they are more active than turbo/astria snails. They are clumsy and fall alot though, so you have to keep an eye on them