How can I get rid of SILICA!

[nauticac4]

I have a high silica number (1.21mg/l) according to AWT. I am using RO/DI unit which is fairly new and the TDS out of the unit is 0. I beleive this is the cause of some of the issues in my tank including the crap I am scraping off the glass every day. Any suggestions???

[KDodds]

How new is the tank? Diatom blooms are par for the course in a newer tank and merely require a waiting out period, usually within the first 3-6 months to almost completely die back.

[Loachmaniac]

You're going to have a very hard time controlling it as glass and sand are basically silica.

It should stabilize over time and not be an issue

[nauticac4]

It is an acrylic tank with an argonite (caribsea) substraight. The tank is 6 months old, but everything was taken from established tanks including all of the live rock and a good bit of the water.

[KDodds]

Are these diatoms you're scraping off? Or is it hair/film algae or cyano?

[hahnmeister]

Use an acrylic tank?

[nauticac4]

yes acrylic. I am unsure it is brownish in color and created a slight haze on the glass. I do have cyano but it is going away and only in the sand. What is on the glass is definetly not cyano

[KDodds]

Are you dosing phytoplankton?

[carman9941]

phos pure (sp?) pads imo work great at reducing silicates i had the same problem, I use gfo but i dont think it helps with silicates

[LobsterOfJustice]

Dont worry about it, everyone has been reporting high silica results from AWT.