how to treat DIATOMS
- Thread starter lee09
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uncleL
New member
I filter my water 24hrs prior to adding to my RO/DI water salt mix
The best way to deal with a diatom problem is prevention. In order to produce their frustule and live out their lifecycle, diatoms need abundant silicates or silicic acid. Silica sand is a common source, so it is highly recommended that you use a limestone sand or gravel instead. Some commercial salts for mixing marine water will also increase the levels of silicates – be sure to read the labels and know what you are adding to your water.
Water also contains silicic acid, so treat the water with agents designed to reduce the acid to at least 0.5 ppm, since you can never eliminate all of it. Silicate-reducing compounds and specialized filters are readily available from commercial aquarium supply stores. The material used in these filters must be changed more frequently than your regular filter, depending on the size of your tank, the water quality and the consistency of the diatom problem. Check the manufacturer's recommendations for the best results.
When you perform water exchanges, you can reduce the amount of available silicates by filtering the "new" water three to five times through filter sheets that contain compounds that will eliminate silicates. This is especially wise to do if you want to eliminate a persistent problem with silicate levels. As you keep treating the water you will find that diatom growth is slowed to "normal" levels. Test-kits for silicates are available although not really necessary if you keep an eye on your tank for a potential problem. If you have waited too long before taking measures to keep the silicate levels low, you may even have to double the frequency of your water exchanges for a couple of weeks to solve the problem.
Keeping grazing invertebrates such as snails is also a good preventative measure because these species will roam the tank and graze on the algae both on the tank walls and in the rocks, crevices and other hard-to-reach spots in your aquarium.
The best way to deal with a diatom problem is prevention. In order to produce their frustule and live out their lifecycle, diatoms need abundant silicates or silicic acid. Silica sand is a common source, so it is highly recommended that you use a limestone sand or gravel instead. Some commercial salts for mixing marine water will also increase the levels of silicates – be sure to read the labels and know what you are adding to your water.
Water also contains silicic acid, so treat the water with agents designed to reduce the acid to at least 0.5 ppm, since you can never eliminate all of it. Silicate-reducing compounds and specialized filters are readily available from commercial aquarium supply stores. The material used in these filters must be changed more frequently than your regular filter, depending on the size of your tank, the water quality and the consistency of the diatom problem. Check the manufacturer's recommendations for the best results.
When you perform water exchanges, you can reduce the amount of available silicates by filtering the "new" water three to five times through filter sheets that contain compounds that will eliminate silicates. This is especially wise to do if you want to eliminate a persistent problem with silicate levels. As you keep treating the water you will find that diatom growth is slowed to "normal" levels. Test-kits for silicates are available although not really necessary if you keep an eye on your tank for a potential problem. If you have waited too long before taking measures to keep the silicate levels low, you may even have to double the frequency of your water exchanges for a couple of weeks to solve the problem.
Keeping grazing invertebrates such as snails is also a good preventative measure because these species will roam the tank and graze on the algae both on the tank walls and in the rocks, crevices and other hard-to-reach spots in your aquarium.
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