How to remove diatoms

MusicTeach · 02/05/2018, 07:51 PM

I've heard there are all kinds of schools of thoughts about this... and I've also heard that every tank is different. However, I would love to hear thoughts from those of you who have had success. Perhaps this isn't the right forum for this thread, if so, please feel free to move it.

ReefkeeperZ · 02/06/2018, 04:51 AM

unless there is fresh silicate being introduced to your tank (through water changes or top off) the diatoms will use up the available silicate and fade out with time. patience is the best way to remove them, simply stirring the sand bed and brushing them off the rocks as you can will help keep their life cycle as fast as possible to burn up the available soluble silica in the water.

MusicTeach · 02/07/2018, 10:09 AM

Interesting - I buy both my ATO RODI water and my mixed salt from my LFS - I'll check with them and see if anything came from their water. Thank you for the heads up!

avery155 · 02/07/2018, 09:48 PM

Anytime you add something new to the tank like changing to a new plastic bucket for mixing salt water in you can get a bloom. I swear I get a bloom every time my pistol shrimp excavates a new burrow.

tlc · 02/08/2018, 10:58 AM

there have been a lot of success stories using yeast

HBtank · 02/08/2018, 11:11 AM

GFO also binds silicate, FWIW.

Tbh though, diatoms are one of the best "problem" algae to have IMO, almost everything eats it, easily vacuumed/removed, generally subsides quickly; if your blooms are restricted to diatoms you are not in a bad spot. Others deal with dyno, cyano, GHA, and other more annoying blooms.

tkeracer619 · 02/08/2018, 11:59 AM

If it is a new tank diatoms are just one of the stages. Like HBtank said, it's an easy one to deal with if necessary.

MusicTeach · 02/12/2018, 10:42 AM

Awesome, thank you all for the suggestions!

Well, it turns out I was wrong, it wasn't diatoms - it is cyano. Time to research more about cyano! (I'm sure I'll start a new thread for this at some point). Thanks!

02/05/2018, 07:51 PM	#1
MusicTeach Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 65	How to remove diatoms I've heard there are all kinds of schools of thoughts about this... and I've also heard that every tank is different. However, I would love to hear thoughts from those of you who have had success. Perhaps this isn't the right forum for this thread, if so, please feel free to move it.

02/06/2018, 04:51 AM	#2
ReefkeeperZ Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 392	unless there is fresh silicate being introduced to your tank (through water changes or top off) the diatoms will use up the available silicate and fade out with time. patience is the best way to remove them, simply stirring the sand bed and brushing them off the rocks as you can will help keep their life cycle as fast as possible to burn up the available soluble silica in the water. __________________ insert witty catchphrase here

02/08/2018, 11:11 AM	#6
HBtank Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 2,957	GFO also binds silicate, FWIW. Tbh though, diatoms are one of the best "problem" algae to have IMO, almost everything eats it, easily vacuumed/removed, generally subsides quickly; if your blooms are restricted to diatoms you are not in a bad spot. Others deal with dyno, cyano, GHA, and other more annoying blooms. __________________ 80g Aiptasia dominated reef tank.. with fish and now a bunch of berghia! Current Tank Info: 80g tank, re-starting a reef after a zoanthid nudibranch plauge, followed by months of steady and unstoppable STN/RTN, crashed; stayed FOWLR for a couple years, currently an aiptasia dominated reef tank with fishies and BERGHIA Last edited by HBtank; 02/08/2018 at 11:19 AM.

02/08/2018, 11:59 AM	#7
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	If it is a new tank diatoms are just one of the stages. Like HBtank said, it's an easy one to deal with if necessary. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

02/07/2018, 10:09 AM	#3
MusicTeach Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 65	Interesting - I buy both my ATO RODI water and my mixed salt from my LFS - I'll check with them and see if anything came from their water. Thank you for the heads up!

02/07/2018, 09:48 PM	#4
avery155 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: South of Pittsburgh Posts: 79	Anytime you add something new to the tank like changing to a new plastic bucket for mixing salt water in you can get a bloom. I swear I get a bloom every time my pistol shrimp excavates a new burrow.

02/08/2018, 10:58 AM	#5
tlc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 918	there have been a lot of success stories using yeast

02/12/2018, 10:42 AM	#8
MusicTeach Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 65	Awesome, thank you all for the suggestions! Well, it turns out I was wrong, it wasn't diatoms - it is cyano. Time to research more about cyano! (I'm sure I'll start a new thread for this at some point). Thanks!