Is this just part of the process??
- Thread starter Elmareefer
- Start date
Elmareefer
Active member
Should I do another 10% water change mid-week?
Elmareefer
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Snails, crabs slugs
Elmareefer
Active member
Ok, Yeah only a month into this. Snails doing a great job on the back glass too.
Here's verbiage from Reef Cleaners website about Diatoms.
Almost sure to appear in a new system, diatoms are some of the most abundant organisms on earth. They usually surface in the aquarium as a brown powdery like substance, within a week or so after a tank finishes its cycle. Diatoms feed on available silicates in your system and will run their course in time. Similarly, because they feed on silicates, anytime you add new sand, rock or something plastic they can pop up.
Manual Removal: Diatoms are easily wiped from the glass with a mag float, a turkey baster or a toothbrush can access other areas of the tank. Be prepared for them to re-establish themselves quickly, they are likely to be able to resettle and have exponential growth rates.
Clean Up Crew: Ceriths, Nerites and Trochus and Astraea snails are effective at removing diatoms, as well as the algae species that usually replace them as the silicates in your system are depleted.
Diatoms
Almost sure to appear in a new system, diatoms are some of the most abundant organisms on earth. They usually surface in the aquarium as a brown powdery like substance, within a week or so after a tank finishes its cycle. Diatoms feed on available silicates in your system and will run their course in time. Similarly, because they feed on silicates, anytime you add new sand, rock or something plastic they can pop up.
Manual Removal: Diatoms are easily wiped from the glass with a mag float, a turkey baster or a toothbrush can access other areas of the tank. Be prepared for them to re-establish themselves quickly, they are likely to be able to resettle and have exponential growth rates.
Clean Up Crew: Ceriths, Nerites and Trochus and Astraea snails are effective at removing diatoms, as well as the algae species that usually replace them as the silicates in your system are depleted.
Elmareefer
Active member
Yeah I have nassarious , astraea Mexican and Florida hermits
It can be helpful to always post your thinking of “ideal” conditions with the most current results of all 7 major players and the trend in each. You’ll have no good trend data yet as it’s so young a system, but actual levels can be helpful.
Chemistry is going to be a moving target for some months to come.
What’s nitrate and phosphate running at?
Too low and you starve the system allowing pest stuff algae’s and bacteria to take hold fast.
Water changes lower the nitrate and phosphate values directly.
Diatoms come and go in all new systems. Keeping parameters pinned for stability and ensuring trace levels of nitrate and phosphate help systems mature as fast as possible warding off more complicated stuff like Dino’s and maybe Cyano.
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Elmareefer
Active member
Nitrates are at 5ppm
Phosphates this morning were .1
Zero nitrites. Nd ammonia
Ph is 8.1
Allk is 9.9
Salinity 35ppt
Phosphates this morning were .1
Zero nitrites. Nd ammonia
Ph is 8.1
Allk is 9.9
Salinity 35ppt
Elmareefer
Active member
Good question
I have t tested the calcium yet since I really don’t have any corals eating it up
Proper Ca and Mg levels can help with a general balance of tank parameters. I think that's where @Uncle99 was going with that.
Elmareefer
Active member
My calcium is 410 I don’t have a magnesium kit
My lights are on 8 hours total
2 hours ramp up 4 hours sun 2 hours ramp down
That’s all I’m doing for now
My lights are on 8 hours total
2 hours ramp up 4 hours sun 2 hours ramp down
That’s all I’m doing for now
Elmareefer
Active member
Should I add cerith snails for the diatoms on the sand bed? I don't think i need to add GFO since my phosphates are fine. My TDS RODI is reading 0 as well
Elmareefer
Active member
I have 6 florida hermits and 10 snails of mixed species there now
They seem to have plenty to eat
Probably overdid it adding the hammer and torch but there was a coral show
Got them for $20 each
They seem to have plenty to eat
Probably overdid it adding the hammer and torch but there was a coral show
Got them for $20 each
