Brown Diatom bloom

[BankerJohn]

I have a deep sand bed and have a brown diatom bloom on the glass in the sand bed. I think it is brown diatom. Not that I am worrying or anything, but wanted to know if there is anything I can do for aesthetic purposes? Is there some type of a snail or worm that feeds on brown diatoms that would help?

Just thinking here. - See everyone this afternoon at Diane's house.

Banker John

 

[reefrubble]

I can't help John,I'm in the too dumb to run a DSB club. Ted

 

[gatorolsen]

BankerJohn,

What has worked for me, my little 12 gal gets a bloom now and then, mainly because I know I overfeed and do not do the water changes as regularly as my bigger tank

1) check temps - I sometimes get a bloom when the weather changes and temps are running warmer than normal

2) check your source water

3) I have has success with lowering my light hours - nothing too drastic - usually by coming on an hour later and going off an hour earlier until I get the upper hand on the bloom

4) increasing flow - I usually aim an extra powerhead on the rocks or where my corals are to keep the bloom off of them

5) when I clean the glass I either vac with a siphon as I go or wipe off the blade with a paper towel to remove some manually, I siphon just the top layer of sand - if you put a piece of netting over the end you can get more gunk without sucking out the sand - I would also shake our your chaeto

Hope this helps

Keri

 

[agrusczak]

I bought a pacific reef cleaner pack from Dr. Mac when my tank had a diatom bloom. Within a week the tank was clean. I'm not sure if it was the black grazer, trochus or cerith snails, but they did a great job and continue to keep the tank nice and clean.

 

[BankerJohn]

Thanks all whom replied. I do not have a bloom in the display on the glass; the bloom is on the glass IN the sandbed below the surface of the sand.

I was only asking because of aesthetics (sp?)

 

[Steven M]

Mix the sand in front. I mix mine from time to time.

 

[robthorn]

ted don't worry this is the third time bare bottom has been around it will go again and come again and go again and you get the picture. it's like underwear some people change them and some people don't.
aren't I sick.

 

[reefrubble]

I didn't need to know all that Rob. (about the underwear I mean)

 

[adnup]

Underwear? who wears underwear?

LOl sorry.......:eek2:

 

[gatorolsen]

oh - you mean a tank bare bottom - LOL

 

[guntercb]

John,

Can you post some pictures? If what you see is between the sand and the glass I don't think it is algae. I know H2S can cause colorations in your sandbed. My sand bed use to have dark "black" spots in it. Good luck.

Chris