Diatom Cures

[Saboral]

Ok I have moved my 90 gallon system over to a 120 gallon system with a new sand bed, same rock. I am having trouble with Diatoms on the sand (not on the rock at all). Here is the list of typical things I have tried;

1. Daily 10% water changes for 2 weeks (Mild improvement noted)
2. An 80 piece reef cleaner package with Narsaius Snails and Scarlets
3. More water changes this time siphoning the sand bed
4. Increasing the lighting cycle on my refugium (containing Cheato)
5. A Phoszorb Fluidized Bed Reactor in the Sump
6. A UV clarifier on one of the two return lines

I am getting ready to change my lighting to new 400w XM 20k bulbs and I am hoping this will help. Now if anyone has any further suggestions please let me know I would kind of like to build this into the ultimate Diatom thread to help with this (new tank syndrome).

 

[Sk8r]

diatom filter is good. Keep stirring it up with a turkey baster while running same. Vortech makes them.
Also some chitons will eat diatoms.

 

[stingythingy45]

Make sure that your RO/DI is reading "0".
Diatoms use silicates.One of the first things that I've heard to escape through used up DI is silicates.

 

[Saboral]

Good input, in my particular case I don't have a TDS meter and my RO (no DI) is probably near the end of its life span so this could very well be part of the problem. My roommate uses the same water though in his 90 system and has no diatoms. So I added the Phoszorb (which also does silicates) to take care of this variable.

 

[stingythingy45]

Interesting how one tank using the same water source would have diatoms and the other not so much.But there could be many varibles that make it easier for the diatoms to populate your tank and not the roomate's.

 

[Saboral]

Yeah that is what I was thinking. Basically the two setups are as follows:

Roommate:
-90 Gallon Corner Tank (Bowfront)
-40 Gallon Sump with misc rock and some cheato lit by JBJ nano cube top
-MR2 Single Beckett Skimmer driven by high flow Little Giant Pump
-Until very recently he was using my crappy old (16+ month) 400w 20k bulb don't even know the manufacturer
-Starting 4 days ago using dual Phoenix 250w 14k
-Chiller keeping tank at or below 78 degrees
-Kalk Dosing Top Off with Aqualifter
-Used Sand (that sat in the hot summer sun for 2+ months)

My Tank
-120 Gallon Dual Corner Overflows
-40 Gallon Sump with a 12 Gallon Refuge Section filled with Rock and cheato lit by a JBJ nano cube top over the sump
-MR3 Dual Beckett Skimmer run by an Iwaki 70
-Fan on top of homemade light canopy keeps tank at or below 78.5
-Dosing Pump Kalk ATO
-New Live Sand (Agro Alive)

Now other things to note is that we have similar amount of rock, but he has more per gallon because I wanted a more open look in this tank. As such I have a lot more exposed sand. He also has more rock than I do in his sump, but keep in mind I have a larger skimmer. Both tanks using the same foods, trace elements, kalk, and top off water. Also because of the size and shape of his tank, he may have more flow.

 

[rivoth]

If the water source is the same for both tanks, then that points right at the new sand. This is probably one you are just going to have to wait out.

Of course there is always the chance that you have a brown cyano bloom, but with new sand I'd say diatoms is much much more likely.

 

[Saboral]

Well after further exploration today, my skimmer wasn't working at nearly what it should have been due to a plumbing error on the part of yours truely. I think things will improve now with the increased skimming.

 

[Virginia Reef]

I saw that you don't have a tds meter. UA usually has them in stock. I'll be dropping by there tomorrow. Want me to pick one up for you? The cost seemed pretty reasonable from what I remember (mid $20s for a 2 sensor system from what I recall).

You can call the store tomorrow when they open (noon) for a price and availability check. I'll be there around 1:00. Let Ben or Sam know if you want me to pick one up. Be glad to front the money.

 

[Saboral]

Thanks Paul I apprieciate it, I borrowed Matt's today so I am good. I don't really want to buy one right yet because I just dropped $250 yesterday on new bulbs and reflectors for my halides.