Diatom Bloom?

[Stu22]

Hey all,

I'm relatively new to reefing and am in the process of cycling and setting up a Red Sea 130 34 gallon tank that I just bought. I have had live sand and RO/DI water in there for about a week and a half, and I just added live rock a couple of days ago. Protein skimmer running. The problem that i'm seeing is this massive bloom of what I assume to be diatoms (gathered from the research I've been doing-pics attatched). My LFS told me to just wait it out and that it will probably get worse before it gets better, however, I got home from class today and saw that it had increased even more so-starting to grow on my live rock as well as completely covering the sand. Any suggestions or ideas? If this problem will resolve itself, i'm happy with that answer, but I am worried that I am missing something. Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[djbon]

Quite normal with a new tank. Let it cycle completely for a few weeks more. You can help cycling faster by adding bacteria in a bottle sold at local lfs.

 

[Stu22]

djbon, thanks for the quick response. It's great to hear that this is normal. I added a bottle of biospira when I first got water in the tank, so hopefully that is helping it to cycle.

Stu

 

[djbon]

You are welcome. Some people add ammonia source to help cycling, but for me adding bacteria should do the job. Monitor ammonia & nitrite, once zero (if detectable previously) indicates cycling is done. If few test ends with zero, you are good to go. Goodluck

 

[Stu22]

djbon,

Thanks for the info! I will be testing this weekend to make sure I have "0" values for the second time. One more question: If my tank finishes cycling before the diatoms go away, will it be safe to add fish?

Thanks,
Stu

 

[kyle.nagel13]

My diatoms didn't show up until after my cycle was complete and I added my first 2 fish. It's my first salt tank, but diatoms in my fresh setups never lasted long and snails love it.

 

[djbon]

Adding fish after cycling is safe, even if diatoms presents. Cheap & hardy fish of course. Diatoms will appear even on established tank, mostly due to live rock leaching phosphate and silicate. Dont worry, as long as you dont have coral or completely covered by diatoms, just do normal cleaning by siphoning the diatoms before WC.

 

[Stu22]

Kyle,

That's really good to hear! I am crossing my fingers that it won't last long. Usually I get my RODI water from my LFS, but they ran out so I did add some water from Petco, and I suspect it was not RODI as advertised... very frustrating. I am hoping with a few water changes and patience it will clear up sooner rather than later. As of now I don't have any fish or CUC in there, as the tank isn't finished cycling yet.

Stu

 

[Stu22]

djbon,

Ok that seems like a good plan. I'm going to keep on doing regular water changes and monitoring the levels in the tank. I'll post updates this weekend when I do a water change.

Stu

 

[GimpyFin]

If you are using bio spira to start the tank, you generally want to add a fish shortly after adding the bacteria to keep the bacteria going and not dying off. Also, the skimmer should be left off the first couple days after adding the bacteria to help it seed properly and early/immediate water changes should also be avoided. You don't want to counteract what you're trying to get started. When you test the tank, you want no ammonia or nitrite, but you should start to see nitrate. If all three are 0, you might not be cycled.

 

[Stu22]

GimpyFin,

Thanks for the info. I used bio spira, but have not added fish as of yet. The skimmer was off for the first week after adding the bacteria, as well. Also, I have not done any water changes yet, I was planning on doing my first one this weekend which will be the two week mark. I also plan on testing my water this weekend, for the second time. The first test I received all 0 values, all good, but I wanted to wait another week and test again because like you said, I may not have cycled yet. I also have been adding some fish food every couple days to start the breakdown. Does that sound ok?

Stu

 

[ClownFishGuy6]

It's a new tank... That will happen. You should establish a clean up crew and possibly try to add a fish that sifts the sand. You also going to need a clean up crew so I would get maybe an idea of what to get. Just get some of the crew from the popular algae growth on this website https://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide that will tell you all you need to know. And do about a 10% water change every 2 weeks

 

[ClownFishGuy6]

Goodluck!

 

[Stu22]

ClownFishGuy6,

Thanks for the advice! I plan on doing my first water change this weekend, so we'll see if that helps at all. I have a little goby I could put in that moves the sand around and such, but I am sort of worried that my water conditions are not cycled yet.

Stu

 

[GimpyFin]

GimpyFin,

Thanks for the info. I used bio spira, but have not added fish as of yet. The skimmer was off for the first week after adding the bacteria, as well. Also, I have not done any water changes yet, I was planning on doing my first one this weekend which will be the two week mark. I also plan on testing my water this weekend, for the second time. The first test I received all 0 values, all good, but I wanted to wait another week and test again because like you said, I may not have cycled yet. I also have been adding some fish food every couple days to start the breakdown. Does that sound ok?

Stu

Biospira is used to kickstart the bio filter and prevent the big ammonia spike when starting a new tank. Typically, you would either do this, or let the tank cycle normally, not necessarily both at the same time, if that makes sense. If you put in an appropriate dose for your tank size, you are fine to add a fish and maybe some cleaners almost immediately (Especially if you used live sand as well.) Gradually add new stuff slowly and appropriately sized for the tank and you'll be fine. The diatoms go away soon (Snails can help expedite it too.) I've used biospira multiple times and it is a great product.

 

[bonjorno2]

a nice clean up crew will work as mentioned before if your levels are safe enough for them.