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View Full Version : Can I stir up the diatoms in my tank?

dpsa98
08/19/2006, 06:32 PM
I am having a brown diatom outbreak in my tank and its getting really bad (switched from smaller to larger tank less than a week ago , I think moving over my substrate caused the outbreak plus the fact that my tank was only 4 months old at the time of the transfer also.....

Anyway can I stir up the top layer of my substrate and blow off the rocks with a turkey baster to stir up the diatoms and help it flow through my overflow into my skimmer in my sump?
ChunksInClemson
08/19/2006, 07:39 PM
Until the water chemistry is right, the diatoms are gonna come right back. I have a little in my tank also but its only 6 months old. I have heard some cases will just go away overnight but this hasn't been the case with me. I dont know how helpful it would be to stir the sand other than physical look.
Avi
08/19/2006, 07:53 PM
Most likely the silicates in the sand having been freed to be in the water column by the changeover fostered the diatom bloom. You might want to test your source water for silicates to see if you're putting more in when you do water changes is maintaining the level of silicates sufficient for the diatoms to maintain themselves so they don't go away quickly as they otherwise might. If your water does have silicates and you don't want to or can't use RO/DI water for the water changes, then you may want to consider getting a reactor and putting Rowaphos or other medium in it that will remove silicates. You can also consider putting a Twinspot Goby in the tank to keep the sand sifted so that the diatoms aren't so unsightly on the substrate.
dpsa98
08/19/2006, 09:47 PM
I agree with you I think the changeover caused this problem. I use the same water all of the time. My LFS sells sea water , my fish and corals love it. My water parameters are usually great. My nitrates shot up a bit after I did the change. They were at 0 prior to the move then after they have been at 10. I think adding a new 20g sump with cheato in it should help soon. I will also see if I cant find a test for silicates tomorrow and test for them in my water. Thank you