what exactly is diatom, algae?
- Thread starter joshua24
- Start date
us~^>shark
Member
They lasted about 2-3 days for me. Started about 1 week ago and I thought it was an algae outbreak. It blew up all of a sudden. Then it began to disappear and is now basically gone.
reefnut
Active Member
Diatom is an algae. It uses silicates to build its outer shell and feeds on nutrients from the water. It is quite normal for new tanks to go through a diatom bloom. If it continues or blooms in an older tank then start checking the nutrients in the aquarium. Tap water is a common source of silicates.
dragonfli
Member
LIKE REEFNUTSAID you will go through a bloom. this means that your tanks are cycling. your nitrates are going to spike and most of your fish (if there are any in there....there shouldnt be though.) will get too stressed and die. then after a few more weeks (or sooner if lucky) your tank will settle. clean the algae, do a water change and start adding your live stock. read in the search......start a cycle, or anything of that nature. dont use tap water (and brita does nothing either) the minerals in there are steroids for algae.
fishmamma
Active Member
My nitrates have been at trace levels through out this entire diatom bloom. The spike happened 3 weeks ago. Should I be watching for another? (And yes I do have livestock)
I just put in my protein skimmer today. Will this help with the nitrate level should it want to rise again? I am doing weekly 10% water changes and still testing every 24-48 hours since the tank is "new".
I just put in my protein skimmer today. Will this help with the nitrate level should it want to rise again? I am doing weekly 10% water changes and still testing every 24-48 hours since the tank is "new".
dragonfli
Member
"My nitrates have been at trace levels through out this entire diatom bloom" what have the levels been at. ammonia, nitrites,nitrates, etc. id love to see what they are. but in theory if they spiked and leveled off you should be good. what protien skimmer did you get. im looking at changing mine out.
thejdshow
Member
When I was cycling I got diatoms really bad. Switched my water source to a more trusted RO company, and it continued getting worse for another week. One morning I wake up and BAM! no more diatoms. They pretty much disapeared over night. It is my understanding that diatoms are a normal occurance in a newly set up tank, especialy if you use tap. (dont use tap =P ) If you did use tap, switch over to RO/DI water, which you can purchase at most grocery stores for like 37 cents a gallon (see below for fun game to play at the grocery store) If you do all of your water changes with RO/DI water your diatoms will eventauly go away.
***Fun grocery store game.
When I go to the grocery store I usualy fill up with 20 gallons of RO water. What I do is I get in front of someone who needs to fill like 1 or 2 gallons of water. And I beggin filling all of my water jugs, ignoring them completly. Take this as far as you can without getting beat up. Caution should be taken when the guy behind you is twice your size... although, I beleive you are awarded bonus points for this too. :yes:
Have Fun!
-JD
***Fun grocery store game.
When I go to the grocery store I usualy fill up with 20 gallons of RO water. What I do is I get in front of someone who needs to fill like 1 or 2 gallons of water. And I beggin filling all of my water jugs, ignoring them completly. Take this as far as you can without getting beat up. Caution should be taken when the guy behind you is twice your size... although, I beleive you are awarded bonus points for this too. :yes:
Have Fun!
-JD
fishmamma
Active Member
JD- I think I said above I used tap for my intial tank fill and have been using RO for top-offs and water changes. :yes:
Dragonfli- My nitrates are lower than the lowest level on my test kit which is 10 ppm- very faint color to the water....if I had to guess 5ppm or under. The highest they went was 40 during my cycle. Ammonia has been zero until recent snail death occured- I have two dead snails I can not get to in the tank. So those levels have been evident but under.025 for 3 days now- and my water reaks!!
Luckily so far the levles have not gone up. Nirtrates are zero, and again nitrates well under 10. Do you think I will get more of an ammonia spike from the snails? Hopefully I have enough bacteria to maintain the low level I am at?? As for the skimmer I purchased the Aqua C Remora with the Rio 800 power head. My tank is only 16 gallons so I didn't need the Maxi 1200. I just put it in Monday afternoon and I already have some yellow water in the collection cup- so it didn't need too long to break in like I have read that it might. But I also do not have any additives or conditioners in my water so that probably helped. I did however go with the Maxi 1200 for my 29 gallon which I am just starting to set up.
Dragonfli- My nitrates are lower than the lowest level on my test kit which is 10 ppm- very faint color to the water....if I had to guess 5ppm or under. The highest they went was 40 during my cycle. Ammonia has been zero until recent snail death occured- I have two dead snails I can not get to in the tank. So those levels have been evident but under.025 for 3 days now- and my water reaks!!
Luckily so far the levles have not gone up. Nirtrates are zero, and again nitrates well under 10. Do you think I will get more of an ammonia spike from the snails? Hopefully I have enough bacteria to maintain the low level I am at?? As for the skimmer I purchased the Aqua C Remora with the Rio 800 power head. My tank is only 16 gallons so I didn't need the Maxi 1200. I just put it in Monday afternoon and I already have some yellow water in the collection cup- so it didn't need too long to break in like I have read that it might. But I also do not have any additives or conditioners in my water so that probably helped. I did however go with the Maxi 1200 for my 29 gallon which I am just starting to set up.
thejdshow
Member
Originally Posted by fishmamma
JD- I think I said above I used tap for my intial tank fill and have been using RO for top-offs and water changes. :yes:
Dragonfli- My nitrates are lower than the lowest level on my test kit which is 10 ppm- very faint color to the water....if I had to guess 5ppm or under. The highest they went was 40 during my cycle. Ammonia has been zero until recent snail death occured- I have two dead snails I can not get to in the tank. So those levels have been evident but under.025 for 3 days now- and my water reaks!! Luckily so far the levles have not gone up. Nirtrates are zero, and again nitrates well under 10. Do you think I will get more of an ammonia spike from the snails? Hopefully I have enough bacteria to maintain the low level I am at?? As for the skimmer I purchased the Aqua C Remora with the Rio 800 power head. My tank is only 16 gallons so I didn't need the Maxi 1200. I just put it in Monday afternoon and I already have some yellow water in the collection cup- so it didn't need too long to break in like I have read that it might. But I also do not have any additives or conditioners in my water so that probably helped. I did however go with the Maxi 1200 for my 29 gallon which I am just starting to set up.
I was talking to joshua, as he was the thread starter. You kind of stole it from him.
JD- I think I said above I used tap for my intial tank fill and have been using RO for top-offs and water changes. :yes:
Dragonfli- My nitrates are lower than the lowest level on my test kit which is 10 ppm- very faint color to the water....if I had to guess 5ppm or under. The highest they went was 40 during my cycle. Ammonia has been zero until recent snail death occured- I have two dead snails I can not get to in the tank. So those levels have been evident but under.025 for 3 days now- and my water reaks!!
Luckily so far the levles have not gone up. Nirtrates are zero, and again nitrates well under 10. Do you think I will get more of an ammonia spike from the snails? Hopefully I have enough bacteria to maintain the low level I am at?? As for the skimmer I purchased the Aqua C Remora with the Rio 800 power head. My tank is only 16 gallons so I didn't need the Maxi 1200. I just put it in Monday afternoon and I already have some yellow water in the collection cup- so it didn't need too long to break in like I have read that it might. But I also do not have any additives or conditioners in my water so that probably helped. I did however go with the Maxi 1200 for my 29 gallon which I am just starting to set up.I was talking to joshua, as he was the thread starter. You kind of stole it from him.
fishmamma
Active Member
Hey JD- no need for hostility. I was simply agreeing with you earlier and didn't realize you were talking to the thread starter since he has not replied. Maybe his diatoms went away....regardless I am just trying to learn and chat with dragonfli and teen- that is what these boards are for right?