I have an established tank that has a diatom algae problem. I thought a R/O filter with an attached deionization cartridge would filter out silicates, but I have since read that with high silicates in the source water, they aren't very effecient at doing so. I have been doing more and more frequent water changes, but I think I might be adding more silicates with my increased water changes. I don't have any readable nitrates or phosphates, but I'm sure some of that is due to the diatoms already present. An article I read suggested that a silicate only removing compound is the best getting rid of silitcates in the aquarium. All the silicate removing compounds I see also filter out phosphate. Anyone know of a brand of that is made to remove silicates and only silicates?
silicate removal
- Thread starter yakfishin
- Start date
Depending on the RO membrane it will remove from 80-96% of the silicates in tap water. The Thin film composites are far more efficient than the cellulose acetate membranes and remove much more silica.
The solution is to add a DI stage as it will remove 100% of the silica. Remember, the RO stage does the bulk of the work while the DI removes the rest.
The solution is to add a DI stage as it will remove 100% of the silica. Remember, the RO stage does the bulk of the work while the DI removes the rest.
Homeytwist
New member
I'm trying to track this material down as well.
This article http://www.reefs.org/library/aquarium_net/0297/0297_3.html says very specifically that while an RO/DI system will remove silicates it only does so for a very short amount of time, and after that begins passing / leaching the substance.
This article http://www.reefs.org/library/aquarium_net/0297/0297_3.html says very specifically that while an RO/DI system will remove silicates it only does so for a very short amount of time, and after that begins passing / leaching the substance.
dzhuo
Active member
The first thing you need to do is to verify your RO/DI is high in silica. Once confirm, you can look for ways to remove it. Most DI resin will remove silica but adding a second DI is not going to get you very far. There are resin specifically designed to remove silica and those are the ones you want. SpectraPure, for example, sells what they call SilicaBuster resin which would be a much better choice.
invertinoob
New member
here is another article that states that using RO/DI only temporarily removes silicates from your water. does anyone know of any compounds that hell to remove silicates outside of RO/DI water?
MrTuskfish
Team RC
Corallife used to make a silicate remover, some LFS may have some lying around. Don't' some types of substrate release silicates? I can't remember.
Fish lover
Member
I wonder if you had fixed it ? I am starting to have the same issue 
DragRacinGramps
New member
my question is, is there a way to test for silicates specifically in the ro/di water. I don't know of any aquarium hobby test kit for silicates, so if anybody knows how to test for the presence of silicates let me know. I have just a slight diatom issue but my tank is young so I'm going on the premiss that the diatom will use up the silicates and it will take care of itself, I have less diatom now than I did a week ago so it's moving in the right direction. Also my ro/di reads 0ppm TDS on a hand held meter so I am assuming with that reading there are no silicates in the ro/di water that I use for WC.
whosurcaddie
New member
You want a pure anion layer in your di cartridge if your having problems with silicates. http://www.thefilterguys.biz/di_resin.htm The yellow resin.
It works even better if you add an extra DI section and add a full cartridge of anion resin to the first canister. But for most people a single layer will suffice.
It works even better if you add an extra DI section and add a full cartridge of anion resin to the first canister. But for most people a single layer will suffice.
whosurcaddie
New member
There can be silicates in the water even if it reads 0tds in the form of silicic acid. How old is your tank? Diatoms are normal with a new tank but if the problem persists you might need a resin like I mentioned above.
I have never had a silicate test kit but if your going to buy one buy the salifert version.http://www.amazon.com/IceCap-Salifert-Silicate-Test-Kit/dp/B002MB1TNC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418676051&sr=8-1&keywords=salifert+silicate I wouldn't depend on this for an accurate reading though.
Did you actually measure the silicate level?
Silicate is introduced in salt mixes
http://web.archive.org/web/20001215...om/fish2/aqfm/1999/mar/features/1/default.asp
Silicate is introduced in salt mixes
http://web.archive.org/web/20001215...om/fish2/aqfm/1999/mar/features/1/default.asp
DragRacinGramps
New member
whosurcaddie, I do believe my issue is from the age of the tank a little over 3 months, and like I said it seems to be diminishing in the last week or so, slowly. Also thanks for answering the part about silicates still possibly being present with a 0 TDS reading, the anion resin thing is nice to know.
whosurcaddie
New member
At 3 months diatoms can still be present so I would wait a little longer before you take action to remove silicate. Yeah they're ugly but they aren't hurting anything.
whosurcaddie
New member
Yes but that amount is minuscule and wouldn't fuel diatoms. Silicate is required for healthy coral which is why its in salt mix. You just have too much when you start seeing the brown dusting cover your rocks and sand.
Edit: Just want to add If your having diatom growth its not from your salt mix its from your source water.
