Diatoms!!! (cross-posted)

[SkyCatcher]

Hi,

I am troubled by difficult to remove diatoms (algae) in my lake Malawi
setup. This is made worse by the fact that it is a big tank 6ft long 5ft
deep and acrylic!

Anyone any suggestions/tips on shifting these without scratching the
acrylic? I'm currently using a Kent pro scraper/mop but the scraper is
occasionally scratching the acrylic and the mop wont budge the diatoms!

tia,

Sky

[Rick]

"SkyCatcher" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> I am troubled by difficult to remove diatoms (algae) in my lake Malawi
> setup. This is made worse by the fact that it is a big tank 6ft long 5ft
> deep and acrylic!
>
> Anyone any suggestions/tips on shifting these without scratching the
> acrylic? I'm currently using a Kent pro scraper/mop but the scraper is
> occasionally scratching the acrylic and the mop wont budge the diatoms!
>
> tia,
>
> Sky
>
if it is the stuff that is easily removed you could either try one of the
algae magnets but be careful you do not pick up any grit at all or it will
scratch the tank terribly or perhaps a rubber squeegee.

Rick

[Ali Day]

> I am troubled by difficult to remove diatoms (algae) in my lake Malawi
> setup. This is made worse by the fact that it is a big tank 6ft long 5ft
> deep and acrylic!
>
> Anyone any suggestions/tips on shifting these without scratching the
> acrylic? I'm currently using a Kent pro scraper/mop but the scraper is
> occasionally scratching the acrylic and the mop wont budge the diatoms!

Sorry I'm not the best expert, but aren't diatoms the ones that float in the
water, and give you green water, not the ones that coat the tank. Diatoms
can be got rid of by blacking the tank out for four days. Check your
phosphate levels as well. I caused mine a while back by leaving a carbon
pillow in too long, and it leeched loads of phosphates back into the tank.

A

[SkyCatcher]

maybe I got the term wrong but it is the hard difficult to shift ones
attached to the acrylic - not free floating!


"Ali Day" > wrote in message
...
>> I am troubled by difficult to remove diatoms (algae) in my lake Malawi
>> setup. This is made worse by the fact that it is a big tank 6ft long 5ft
>> deep and acrylic!
>>
>> Anyone any suggestions/tips on shifting these without scratching the
>> acrylic? I'm currently using a Kent pro scraper/mop but the scraper is
>> occasionally scratching the acrylic and the mop wont budge the diatoms!
>
> Sorry I'm not the best expert, but aren't diatoms the ones that float in
> the
> water, and give you green water, not the ones that coat the tank. Diatoms
> can be got rid of by blacking the tank out for four days. Check your
> phosphate levels as well. I caused mine a while back by leaving a carbon
> pillow in too long, and it leeched loads of phosphates back into the tank.
>
> A
>
>

[SkyCatcher]

Rick,

Magnets appeal! But I haven't found any in the UK that will work through 1"
acrylic. Can you recommend any UK or US magnets that will work with 1"
acrylic and do a good job?

Sky.

"Rick" > wrote in message
...
>
> "SkyCatcher" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I am troubled by difficult to remove diatoms (algae) in my lake Malawi
>> setup. This is made worse by the fact that it is a big tank 6ft long 5ft
>> deep and acrylic!
>>
>> Anyone any suggestions/tips on shifting these without scratching the
>> acrylic? I'm currently using a Kent pro scraper/mop but the scraper is
>> occasionally scratching the acrylic and the mop wont budge the diatoms!
>>
>> tia,
>>
>> Sky
>>
> if it is the stuff that is easily removed you could either try one of the
> algae magnets but be careful you do not pick up any grit at all or it will
> scratch the tank terribly or perhaps a rubber squeegee.
>
> Rick
>
>

[[email protected]]

On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 16:44:21 -0000, "SkyCatcher" >
wrote:

>Hi,
>
>I am troubled by difficult to remove diatoms (algae) in my lake Malawi
>setup. This is made worse by the fact that it is a big tank 6ft long 5ft
>deep and acrylic!
>

If by Malawi you mean you have Mbuna then they will eat the algae for
you. They need to get hungry so cut the food for a few days.

If that doesn't work get some bristlenose catfish.


Steve
--
EasyNN-plus. The easy way to build neural networks.
http://www.easynn.com

[Margolis]

"Ali Day" > wrote in message
...
>
> Sorry I'm not the best expert, but aren't diatoms the ones that float in
the
> water, and give you green water, not the ones that coat the tank. Diatoms


no, diatoms are the fine brown stuff that grows on things. Looks like a
coating of dust, imo. Too much silicate in the water is one thing that
diatoms thrive on. I am not sure what else causes them.
--

Margolis
http://web.archive.org/web/20030215212142/http://www.agqx.org/faqs/AGQ2FAQ.htm
http://www.unrealtower.org/faq

[Margolis]

> wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 16:44:21 -0000, "SkyCatcher"
>
> If by Malawi you mean you have Mbuna then they will eat the algae for
> you.


not diatoms

--

Margolis
http://web.archive.org/web/20030215212142/http://www.agqx.org/faqs/AGQ2FAQ.htm
http://www.unrealtower.org/faq

[Glenn]

These are pricey, but they are the best:
http://www.aquariumcleaner.com/products.html

Pay attention when you order, as they have pads for both glass and acrylic.


"> Anyone any suggestions/tips on shifting these without scratching the
> acrylic? I'm currently using a Kent pro scraper/mop but the scraper is
> occasionally scratching the acrylic and the mop wont budge the diatoms!
>
> tia,
>
> Sky
>

[Rick]

"SkyCatcher" > wrote in message
...
> maybe I got the term wrong but it is the hard difficult to shift ones
> attached to the acrylic - not free floating!
>
>
> "Ali Day" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> I am troubled by difficult to remove diatoms (algae) in my lake Malawi
> >> setup. This is made worse by the fact that it is a big tank 6ft long
5ft
> >> deep and acrylic!
> >>
> >> Anyone any suggestions/tips on shifting these without scratching the
> >> acrylic? I'm currently using a Kent pro scraper/mop but the scraper is
> >> occasionally scratching the acrylic and the mop wont budge the diatoms!
> >
> > Sorry I'm not the best expert, but aren't diatoms the ones that float in
> > the
> > water, and give you green water, not the ones that coat the tank.
Diatoms
> > can be got rid of by blacking the tank out for four days. Check your
> > phosphate levels as well. I caused mine a while back by leaving a carbon
> > pillow in too long, and it leeched loads of phosphates back into the
tank.
> >
> > A
> >
> >
>

yeah I think I got the drift when you said you were scraping it with a
plastic scraper. I don't know too many people who scrape their water :-) and
sorry I don't know of a magnet that will work through 1: acrylic

Rick
>

[Rick]

> wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 16:44:21 -0000, "SkyCatcher" >
> wrote:
>
> >Hi,
> >
> >I am troubled by difficult to remove diatoms (algae) in my lake Malawi
> >setup. This is made worse by the fact that it is a big tank 6ft long 5ft
> >deep and acrylic!
> >
>
> If by Malawi you mean you have Mbuna then they will eat the algae for
> you. They need to get hungry so cut the food for a few days.
>
> If that doesn't work get some bristlenose catfish.
>
>
> Steve
> --
> EasyNN-plus. The easy way to build neural networks.
> http://www.easynn.com


nothing eats brown diatom that I am aware of and as far as Mbuna's go I
never see mine going up and down the glass eating algae although they will
pick at rocks and such that are covered in it. Everyone recommends people
get plecos of some type or another and of course they help but from my
experience they will do little to eliminate algae completely from glass.

Rick

[[email protected]]

On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 14:27:02 -0600, "Margolis" >
wrote:

> wrote in message
...
>> On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 16:44:21 -0000, "SkyCatcher"
>>
>> If by Malawi you mean you have Mbuna then they will eat the algae for
>> you.
>
>
>not diatoms

Yes, I know that but the OP got the term wrong with diatoms and said
so in an earlier post. It is algae growing on the acrylic.


Steve
--
EasyNN-plus. The easy way to build neural networks.
http://www.easynn.com

[[email protected]]

On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 16:01:47 -0600, "Rick" >
wrote:

>
>
>nothing eats brown diatom that I am aware of and as far as Mbuna's go I
>never see mine going up and down the glass eating algae although they will
>pick at rocks and such that are covered in it. Everyone recommends people
>get plecos of some type or another and of course they help but from my
>experience they will do little to eliminate algae completely from glass.
>

Your Mbuna aren't hungry! Too much food makes them lazy.


Steve
--
EasyNN-plus. The easy way to build neural networks.
http://www.easynn.com

[John >]

Hey, Nice link, I am glad you showed it to me. It is just the thing I am
looking for.

JOhn ><>

"Glenn" > wrote in message
news:wCdId.4888$ry.2062@fed1read05...
> These are pricey, but they are the best:
> http://www.aquariumcleaner.com/products.html
>
> Pay attention when you order, as they have pads for both glass and
> acrylic.
>
>
> "> Anyone any suggestions/tips on shifting these without scratching the
>> acrylic? I'm currently using a Kent pro scraper/mop but the scraper is
>> occasionally scratching the acrylic and the mop wont budge the diatoms!
>>
>> tia,
>>
>> Sky
>>
>
>

[Margolis]

> wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 14:27:02 -0600, "Margolis" >
> Yes, I know that but the OP got the term wrong with diatoms and said
> so in an earlier post. It is algae growing on the acrylic.
>
>


not necessarily. Brown diatom do grow on the acrylic just as described. So
it could be diatoms. Or it could be green spot algae, since the op didn't
include the color. Or some other algae. You are just assuming that it is not
diatoms because somebody else said he got it wrong and the op said he wasn't
sure of the terminology. He did not say that it was definately not diatoms.

--

Margolis
http://web.archive.org/web/20030215212142/http://www.agqx.org/faqs/AGQ2FAQ.htm
http://www.unrealtower.org/faq

[SkyCatcher]

Glenn,
Thanks for your reply...

Is this recommendation from personal experience?

I note that there are also "Mighty Magnets" www.mightymagnets.com
and magnavore http://www.magnavore.com/catalog.html

is the "Great White" the best?

Thanks again,

Sky.

"Glenn" > wrote in message
news:wCdId.4888$ry.2062@fed1read05...
> These are pricey, but they are the best:
> http://www.aquariumcleaner.com/products.html
>
> Pay attention when you order, as they have pads for both glass and
> acrylic.
>
>
> "> Anyone any suggestions/tips on shifting these without scratching the
>> acrylic? I'm currently using a Kent pro scraper/mop but the scraper is
>> occasionally scratching the acrylic and the mop wont budge the diatoms!
>>
>> tia,
>>
>> Sky
>>
>
>

[Rick]

> wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 16:01:47 -0600, "Rick" >
> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> >nothing eats brown diatom that I am aware of and as far as Mbuna's go I
> >never see mine going up and down the glass eating algae although they
will
> >pick at rocks and such that are covered in it. Everyone recommends people
> >get plecos of some type or another and of course they help but from my
> >experience they will do little to eliminate algae completely from glass.
> >
>
> Your Mbuna aren't hungry! Too much food makes them lazy.
>
>
> Steve
> --
> EasyNN-plus. The easy way to build neural networks.
> http://www.easynn.com

[Rick]

> wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 16:01:47 -0600, "Rick" >
> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> >nothing eats brown diatom that I am aware of and as far as Mbuna's go I
> >never see mine going up and down the glass eating algae although they
will
> >pick at rocks and such that are covered in it. Everyone recommends people
> >get plecos of some type or another and of course they help but from my
> >experience they will do little to eliminate algae completely from glass.
> >
>
> Your Mbuna aren't hungry! Too much food makes them lazy.
>
>
> Steve
> --
> EasyNN-plus. The easy way to build neural networks.
> http://www.easynn.com


nah, I think it's more a case that I don't let algae build up enough on my
glass to allow a mbuna to act like a pleco and scrape his lower jaw up and
down the glass to get the algae :-)

Rick

[Wm Hopkins]

Try here - http://www.aquariumcleaner.com/products.html . Pricey but they
work great.


"SkyCatcher" > wrote in message
...
> Rick,
>
> Magnets appeal! But I haven't found any in the UK that will work through
> 1" acrylic. Can you recommend any UK or US magnets that will work with 1"
> acrylic and do a good job?
>
> Sky.

[Gordon James]

get two srong magnets anywhere
place the "wet one" in a ziplock baggie

choose the scrub cloth of your choice for the wet side
Choose a soft cloth for the dry side.

this lets you do it with as big a scrob cloth as you like, and any surface
I like the natural bath sponges
my big tank is only 50 gallon, but the little magnet things are too lame for
me to want to waste time with then



"SkyCatcher" > wrote in message
...
> Rick,
>
> Magnets appeal! But I haven't found any in the UK that will work through
1"
> acrylic. Can you recommend any UK or US magnets that will work with 1"
> acrylic and do a good job?
>
> Sky.
>
> "Rick" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "SkyCatcher" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >> Hi,
> >>
> >> I am troubled by difficult to remove diatoms (algae) in my lake Malawi
> >> setup. This is made worse by the fact that it is a big tank 6ft long
5ft
> >> deep and acrylic!
> >>
> >> Anyone any suggestions/tips on shifting these without scratching the
> >> acrylic? I'm currently using a Kent pro scraper/mop but the scraper is
> >> occasionally scratching the acrylic and the mop wont budge the diatoms!
> >>
> >> tia,
> >>
> >> Sky
> >>
> > if it is the stuff that is easily removed you could either try one of
the
> > algae magnets but be careful you do not pick up any grit at all or it
will
> > scratch the tank terribly or perhaps a rubber squeegee.
> >
> > Rick
> >
> >
>
>

[Gordon James]

some of my Malaysian Trumpet Snails do OK eating the brown stuff on the
glass, but they leave trails of clear and areas untouched




"Rick" > wrote in message
...
>
> > wrote in message
> ...
> > On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 16:44:21 -0000, "SkyCatcher" >
> > wrote:
> >
> > >Hi,
> > >
> > >I am troubled by difficult to remove diatoms (algae) in my lake Malawi
> > >setup. This is made worse by the fact that it is a big tank 6ft long
5ft
> > >deep and acrylic!
> > >
> >
> > If by Malawi you mean you have Mbuna then they will eat the algae for
> > you. They need to get hungry so cut the food for a few days.
> >
> > If that doesn't work get some bristlenose catfish.
> >
> >
> > Steve
> > --
> > EasyNN-plus. The easy way to build neural networks.
> > http://www.easynn.com
>
>
> nothing eats brown diatom that I am aware of and as far as Mbuna's go I
> never see mine going up and down the glass eating algae although they will
> pick at rocks and such that are covered in it. Everyone recommends people
> get plecos of some type or another and of course they help but from my
> experience they will do little to eliminate algae completely from glass.
>
> Rick
>
>

[John >]

Magna Float 1000 will do 1 1/2" acrylic You can get them at your LFS or try
www.BigAlsOnline.com.

JOhn ><>

"Gordon James" > wrote in message
...
> get two srong magnets anywhere
> place the "wet one" in a ziplock baggie
>
> choose the scrub cloth of your choice for the wet side
> Choose a soft cloth for the dry side.
>
> this lets you do it with as big a scrob cloth as you like, and any surface
> I like the natural bath sponges
> my big tank is only 50 gallon, but the little magnet things are too lame
> for
> me to want to waste time with then
>
>
>
> "SkyCatcher" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Rick,
>>
>> Magnets appeal! But I haven't found any in the UK that will work through
> 1"
>> acrylic. Can you recommend any UK or US magnets that will work with 1"
>> acrylic and do a good job?
>>
>> Sky.
>>
>> "Rick" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> >
>> > "SkyCatcher" > wrote in message
>> > ...
>> >> Hi,
>> >>
>> >> I am troubled by difficult to remove diatoms (algae) in my lake Malawi
>> >> setup. This is made worse by the fact that it is a big tank 6ft long
> 5ft
>> >> deep and acrylic!
>> >>
>> >> Anyone any suggestions/tips on shifting these without scratching the
>> >> acrylic? I'm currently using a Kent pro scraper/mop but the scraper is
>> >> occasionally scratching the acrylic and the mop wont budge the
>> >> diatoms!
>> >>
>> >> tia,
>> >>
>> >> Sky
>> >>
>> > if it is the stuff that is easily removed you could either try one of
> the
>> > algae magnets but be careful you do not pick up any grit at all or it
> will
>> > scratch the tank terribly or perhaps a rubber squeegee.
>> >
>> > Rick
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>
>