Randy: silicate problem again w pics this time
- Thread starter hottuna
- Start date
There are a number of ways to treat rock to remove all organic debris. Bleach can work. So will something that folks call rock cooking where it is just allowed to soak for a long time in a closed container. Muriatic acid may work, but it more designed to remove some of the actual rock (like when contaminate with copper) than is removing organics.
The problem is that if it is being driven by silicate and the problem is diatoms, then you have to wonder where it came from and what might remove it. This is a different issue than ordinary organics material driving algae (although I'm still not convinced that your pest is a diatom. If it is a silicate problem, then perhaps there are dead sponges or sponge skeletons. But whether acid or bleach will remove that is not clear, since neither will dissolve silica very well.
I'd check with other folks using the eco rox before resorting to any of these options.
The problem is that if it is being driven by silicate and the problem is diatoms, then you have to wonder where it came from and what might remove it. This is a different issue than ordinary organics material driving algae (although I'm still not convinced that your pest is a diatom. If it is a silicate problem, then perhaps there are dead sponges or sponge skeletons. But whether acid or bleach will remove that is not clear, since neither will dissolve silica very well.
I'd check with other folks using the eco rox before resorting to any of these options.
I've never seen any comparisons of silicate removers. I'd probably elect to use GFO as it is also very effective on phosphate, which is another appropriate way to reduce problem algae.
Does the silicate binding to the gfo use up the same bindings as phosphate would use?
The reason I ask, I have a somewhat similar problem, although nothing like what the OP has pictured.
It starts off looking a bit like hair algae but seems to turn into what the OP has pictured if the cuc does not go over it in a couple days.
I have some large pieces of marco rock in the tank, one seems particularly loaded with dead material (I’ve blasted some largish pieces of sponge out of the interior of the rock). Even after a 3 day 5:1 water/vinegar soak and a month "curing" in ASW.
I’m running a hefty amount of GFO(500ml rowaphos) but I may not be changing it often enough. I changed it after 3 weeks the other day and 2 days later some of my calurpa turned clear but didn’t have any visible affect on this stuff.
The reason I ask, I have a somewhat similar problem, although nothing like what the OP has pictured.
It starts off looking a bit like hair algae but seems to turn into what the OP has pictured if the cuc does not go over it in a couple days.
I have some large pieces of marco rock in the tank, one seems particularly loaded with dead material (I’ve blasted some largish pieces of sponge out of the interior of the rock). Even after a 3 day 5:1 water/vinegar soak and a month "curing" in ASW.
I’m running a hefty amount of GFO(500ml rowaphos) but I may not be changing it often enough. I changed it after 3 weeks the other day and 2 days later some of my calurpa turned clear but didn’t have any visible affect on this stuff.
Yes, it is likely the same binding sites. You should be able to starve it of phosphate, but whether that happens before or after other organisms (like the Caulerpa) isn't always clear.
