diatom bloom

[chewieee]

What are the major causes of a diatom outbreak

 

[kittyj]

water quality

 

[BlazedDiamonds]

From my own 'new' experience and research, it is normal for a new tank. I believe it is due to silicates, phosphates and very much from other excess nutrients in the water causing a bloom of diatoms. Basically over feeding. Those are my opinions cause they are the opinions of many on the internet. My new tank went thru it, then one day, it looked as if it had snowed brown on the live rock as the diatoms died off and settled to the bottom. Few problems since then with those things thank goodness. Good luck.

 

[Fmxmatt]

In new tanks, its all the nutrients balancing out which are part of the cause. As the tank ages and the nutrients become settled so to speak, you'll find less diatoms. I'm about 8 months in and still get them from time to time

 

[Avi]

Diatoms are dependant on silicates that most commonly come into a new marine tank with the sand that's used for a substrate. It can also come into the tank from some water sources. Usually, after a while the diatom problem that's almost always a problem in a new tank will lessen on its own with otherwise good water quality measures. If it takes too long, make sure you use a good water source...shorten the photo-period (diatoms also need light to thrive)...and use a reactor with a good quality phosphate removing medium, which almost always also removes silicates.