Can Diatoms have bubbles? I hope so :( Pics

[sebrofjr]

Im on week 4 of the tank setup. levels have zeroed out except nitrate, still around 10, did one large 30% water change a few days ago, doing another soon.

I believe I am going through my diatom bloom or atleast I hope it is diatoms and not dino's. There are some bubbles attached to what appears to be diatoms on the rocks and sandbed. From what Ive read, dino have bubbles, but havent seen any indication that diatom blooms in a new tank can have bubbles too.

see here:

 

[abulgin]

Welcome to the wonderful world of cyanobacteria.

 

[sebrofjr]

Will this dissipate just like the diatoms will? Im not as scared of cyano as i am dino's.

Another large water change is coming soon (filling RO jugs slowly). Im assuming this will help. If its just diatoms though, Im letting my lights run regularly and hoping that it consumes any silicates that may be in the sand. The water should be good, only use RO water tested with a TDS of 1. The same water Ive used on my 1 year + established tank thats doing great.

 

[terryagi]

The cyano should go away as the tank matures. Increased flow also helps to alleviate the issue, but right now it's natural for you tank to have some cyano.

 

[sebrofjr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15203296#post15203296 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by terryagi
Increased flow also helps to alleviate the issue

2 X MP40w's should keep it down then i suppose

I was mainly concerned about the bubbles though. The are underneath the sand too. I can see them on the edge of the tank. I don't have a deep sandbed, just about 1 1/2 - 2"

 

[stricknine]

Looks like diatoms to me, and yes I did get the bubbles from the diatoms. Not red/purple enough to look like cyano. Throw in a few snails and watch it disappear. The cyano will come later. (when there is occupants and feeding)

 

[sebrofjr]

I added a few more snails from my nano tank this morning and right away they were munching on it. So I'm a little less panicked now and hopefully this will pass as diatoms in a new tank should.

 

[DetectiveTofu]

The bubbles are just a byproduct of the diatoms photosynthesis.

 

[redhanded77]

i dont think that is cyano, looks more like diatoms. they will subside over a few weeks, but adding snails will help speed the process. i just got done with my diatom bloom, and it lasted for about 2 weeks. and yes, i had lots of bubbles in my tank from the diatoms.

 

[abulgin]

Looks like cyano to me. Cyano isn't always blue-green. We'll see. If it's diatoms, it wil go away on it's own. If not, it's cyano fo shizzle.

 

[LetoII]

This thread just saved me from a heart attack!

 

[biecacka]

Diatoms then? Or Dino's?
I have a lil bit in my tank too
Corey

 

[cyruson]

It's Diatoms. I got this after adding new rock and sand. I learned it hard way, I thought it's Cyno so I dropped ChemiClean but it didn't effect it at all.

 

[HumbleFish]

If snails are eating it (and not dying) then it's probably NOT dinos. Diatoms would be my best guess.

 

[whodeydan76]

I have had this in each tank I have had.. it looks like diatom to me.

 

[RickReef28]

for SURE diatoms. It should subside after a little while. Now is a good time to add your clean up crew. Another good way to see if its diatoms is when you siphon it off the sand out of the tank you will see little "sticks" under neath it in the sand. a geat cleaner of diatoms is a Tiger Conch. they love eating them and keeping your sand mixed

 

[keithhays]

reach in an rub it between your fingers; cyano is slimy and diatoms are like sand almost.


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[peligro]

It looks like you have both. And diatom are nothing. If it was cyno I'd worry. Since it means you have low flow in the display and high phosphates. There are dark spots on the diatom. Those bubbles on the dark patches are actually nitrates. The cyno create the bubbles. It's like a reserve food source. And if it's slimy that's what it is. But since your tank is just starting out its normal to see that. Just let the tank run its course and balance out.

Optimus G

 

[Redngold]

Yep normal in a new tank. It should pass or get a few snails for it.

 

[topher3f]

I have the same issue in mine right now. I moved a few months back and the rock had more die off than I thought they would in a few hour period. Plus all that nasty stuff within the sand that got stirred up.

I am performing big water changes, increasing my vodka dosing and monitoring my feeding. Its going away by itself I just have that last little bit hanging on to the last thread.

Like it was said in the earlier thread the bubbles are just part of the photosynthesis process. Get some good aggressive water changes with RO/DI, vacuum that sand bed, and watch your lighting and you should be fine in a few weeks.