Diatoms are killing me!!

Meyeronfire!

New member
Ok my tank has been cycling for a month now and i added about 30lbs of live rock each week during cycling. I just added my last 30lbs of LR thsi past wednesday and more and more diatoms are popping up. Checked my water and nitrites are 0 ppm and my nitrates are about 10 ppm. Ammonia 0, and my phosphates about 10. Any suggestions what i can do to get them out! Its so ugly. Or should i just be patient.???
 
I would think that each time you add live rock you are starting your cycle again. Just be patient and the Diatoms will pass.
 
Yep, I had the same problem... I figured out that if I just put them in a seprate tank and let it run,,, add about 5 pounds a week to my DT! You'll still have a little outbreak! BUT NOT A BLOOM!!! And it will also allow you to look for hitchhikers. I was more interested in looking for hitchhikers then I was in my DT for about a month!!
 
lol jaking! Man I wish i would have thought about that! But my stinkin OCD really kicks in when I see those stupid Diatoms! I cant even see my coraline algae!!
 
Patience is key, it can take almost a year before you get Algae under Control (Diatoms, Hair, etc).

My tank is just over a year old and now my tank gets nothing but Coraline Algae, Im still battling Aiptasia though. :(

I would suggest to get TLF Phosban Reactor with Rowaphos as media, phosphates are high.
 
Thanks for the tip drillsar. I was actually looking at that model. What return pump should do the trick for that booger? And also when will I see coraline algae growing?
 
Maxi-Jet 400, you need to just let the rowaphos tumle in th reactor. Do you have any coraline now in tank? I beleive you need some at least for it to grow and keep calcium levels between 400-450
 
yes i do have a small amount of coraline. but i was wondering how long it would take before there really noticeable? thanks again for the tips!
 
As pointed out by drillsar, your phosphates are extremely high at 10 ppm, as the GFO media is rather expensive and to lower that level you will need to replace it almost every week, instead of GFO to use Activated Alumina (Seachem's Phosgard), just rinse it well in RO/DI before usign it as it relases some aluminum that may afect some soft corals but at this point you shall have no issues.
BTW activated alumina is an excellent adsorber of Silicates, removing them will help control Diatoms as a side benefit although I would not be concerned about diatoms but about hair algae that will pop up if you can't get nitrates and phosphates under control.
Once the phosphates are under control and below 0.05 ppm you can switch to GFO (PhosR, Phosban, Rowaphos etc.)

I will suggest making water changes even during the cycle and blow off detritus from the rock by using a powerhead.
The idea is to not only develop bacteria but also end up the cycle with clean rock.
If you are not yet, I will suggest running your skimmer.
Keep in mind that phosphates can attach to the rck and sand and the longer the rock is exposed to it the more difficult will be to control them in the future.
 
great info jdieck! I will work on my phosphates, and getting my nitrates to zero. Im ordering the phosban reactor as we speak and also getting the better media. Thanks again!
 
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