Is this what a diatom bloom looks like?

[Stephany]

This is wierd. As a preventative measure, I put a phosphate filter pad in my tank on Friday.
First time ever.


Since my aquarium temperature has also gotten too warm (from 79 constant to 84) in the past few days, I've noticed brown dusting on some stuff, seemingly preventing polyps from opening.
I am able to baster it off, but it takes quite a bit of flow. Except for my purple very bumpy montipora. I can't baster it off that. Can I take a toothbrush to it or will it die?

I also see a dusting of it on some of my macroalgae near the top of the tank as well.

 

[SkiFletch]

I'd have to say thats cyanobacteria, not diatoms . Too uniform and slimey. Keep that phosphate binder going and wetskim... You might also want to check your RO with a TDS meter if you haven't allready, and/or look for dead livestock, cause somethins fuelin the cyano :eek2:

 

[dalbrecht]

I think it might be diatoms, it's the right shade of brown & looks more like a dusting than a coating to me.

 

[Stephany]

It's more brown rather than red like it shows in the picture. Not slimy to touch....


What do you guys think about getting it off my bumpy montipora?

 

[dalbrecht]

then it's probably diatoms. It's the same general corse of treatment tho. Personally I'd rather have diatoms since they don't add nitrogen to the tank

 

[Stephany]

Thanks for your help.

I have this montipora in the highest flow though and it's not blowing off.
Can I take maybe a wet paper towel to it or... ?

 

[dalbrecht]

I'd try to brush it gently first if you have a soft brush available. What do you have in the way of scavengers. My hermits love the stuff.

 

[Stephany]

heh, I only use snails... and banished all the hermits to my sump. Maybe I'll have a small hermit exodus in the main tank until this goes away.

 

[dalbrecht]

my turbo's graze it as well