Diatom Growth

[KurtG]

I have a really bad case of diatoms (or algae) growing. I added the
lights and 30# of rock a few weeks ago.

I was expecting my nitrates to be off the map, but they aren't bad.
Maybe about 30 ppm which isn't good, but good for me.

I switched to using distilled water until I get my RO/DI filter setup.
So, I don't think that it's silicates, but I have no way of testing for
that.

Last water change was two weeks ago, so I'll go ahead and mix up some
water.

My phosphates are better. Not great, but I've been using phosphate
beads and the levels have been settling.

I also have lots of bubble formation. I assume this is O2 from
photosynthesis.

So, how do I curb the growth?

--Kurt

[Tristan]

I usually always get a growth of Diatoms any time I add a substantial
amount of liverock to a tank.......even if rock is cured and removed
form one tank to the other, I still get diatoms to appear shortly
there after. I no longer get concerned with diatoms, as they never
seem to hang around very long anyhow.

What do yu have for nitrate export? Macro Algae? Xenia?

On Mon, 29 Jan 2007 14:09:02 -0500, KurtG
> wrote:

<<>>
<<>>I have a really bad case of diatoms (or algae) growing. I added the
<<>>lights and 30# of rock a few weeks ago.
<<>>
<<>>I was expecting my nitrates to be off the map, but they aren't bad.
<<>>Maybe about 30 ppm which isn't good, but good for me.
<<>>
<<>>I switched to using distilled water until I get my RO/DI filter setup.
<<>>So, I don't think that it's silicates, but I have no way of testing for
<<>>that.
<<>>
<<>>Last water change was two weeks ago, so I'll go ahead and mix up some
<<>>water.
<<>>
<<>>My phosphates are better. Not great, but I've been using phosphate
<<>>beads and the levels have been settling.
<<>>
<<>>I also have lots of bubble formation. I assume this is O2 from
<<>>photosynthesis.
<<>>
<<>>So, how do I curb the growth?
<<>>
<<>>--Kurt



-------
I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!

[Tristan]

Calurpea does pretty good in a fuge. YOu may be able to add a small
power head to create more current if needed. My favorite is Chaeto
Morphia. (sp?)...Not much eats it, and it grows great.......no worry
of it spreading, and its easy to control and harvest or remove when
needed. I even toss chaeto in the display tank and allow it to settle
down in a corner or somewhere that its not obscurring the corals etc.,
and it does fine in there just like that.......

On Mon, 29 Jan 2007 15:40:19 -0500, KurtG
> wrote:

<<>>Tristan wrote:
<<>>> What do yu have for nitrate export? Macro Algae? Xenia?
<<>>
<<>>I've been trying to get a Macro Algae to grow in a fug, but that hasn't
<<>>been going so well. I'm starting to think that my fug doesn't have
<<>>enough water flow and that's why my pods died out.
<<>>
<<>>Basically, I have nothing right now except for any anaerobic bacteria in
<<>>the rock/sand. Hence, my surprise when that the nitrate levels were lower.
<<>>
<<>>It's really quite bad.
<<>>
<<>>--Kurt
<<>>
<<>>
<<>>
<<>>
<<>>>
<<>>> On Mon, 29 Jan 2007 14:09:02 -0500, KurtG
<<>>> > wrote:
<<>>>
<<>>> <<>>
<<>>> <<>>I have a really bad case of diatoms (or algae) growing. I added the
<<>>> <<>>lights and 30# of rock a few weeks ago.
<<>>> <<>>
<<>>> <<>>I was expecting my nitrates to be off the map, but they aren't bad.
<<>>> <<>>Maybe about 30 ppm which isn't good, but good for me.
<<>>> <<>>
<<>>> <<>>I switched to using distilled water until I get my RO/DI filter setup.
<<>>> <<>>So, I don't think that it's silicates, but I have no way of testing for
<<>>> <<>>that.
<<>>> <<>>
<<>>> <<>>Last water change was two weeks ago, so I'll go ahead and mix up some
<<>>> <<>>water.
<<>>> <<>>
<<>>> <<>>My phosphates are better. Not great, but I've been using phosphate
<<>>> <<>>beads and the levels have been settling.
<<>>> <<>>
<<>>> <<>>I also have lots of bubble formation. I assume this is O2 from
<<>>> <<>>photosynthesis.
<<>>> <<>>
<<>>> <<>>So, how do I curb the growth?
<<>>> <<>>
<<>>> <<>>--Kurt
<<>>>
<<>>>
<<>>>
<<>>> -------
<<>>> I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!



-------
I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!

[KurtG]

Tristan wrote:
> What do yu have for nitrate export? Macro Algae? Xenia?

I've been trying to get a Macro Algae to grow in a fug, but that hasn't
been going so well. I'm starting to think that my fug doesn't have
enough water flow and that's why my pods died out.

Basically, I have nothing right now except for any anaerobic bacteria in
the rock/sand. Hence, my surprise when that the nitrate levels were lower.

It's really quite bad.

--Kurt




>
> On Mon, 29 Jan 2007 14:09:02 -0500, KurtG
> > wrote:
>
> <<>>
> <<>>I have a really bad case of diatoms (or algae) growing. I added the
> <<>>lights and 30# of rock a few weeks ago.
> <<>>
> <<>>I was expecting my nitrates to be off the map, but they aren't bad.
> <<>>Maybe about 30 ppm which isn't good, but good for me.
> <<>>
> <<>>I switched to using distilled water until I get my RO/DI filter setup.
> <<>>So, I don't think that it's silicates, but I have no way of testing for
> <<>>that.
> <<>>
> <<>>Last water change was two weeks ago, so I'll go ahead and mix up some
> <<>>water.
> <<>>
> <<>>My phosphates are better. Not great, but I've been using phosphate
> <<>>beads and the levels have been settling.
> <<>>
> <<>>I also have lots of bubble formation. I assume this is O2 from
> <<>>photosynthesis.
> <<>>
> <<>>So, how do I curb the growth?
> <<>>
> <<>>--Kurt
>
>
>
> -------
> I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!

[KurtG]

I do have Calurpea also. I put a second light on it to see if I could
get it to start growing better/faster.

I guess I'll cut back on my lighting and see if I can soak up more
phosphates.

A reef tank is good character building.

--Kurt




Tristan wrote:
>
> Calurpea does pretty good in a fuge. YOu may be able to add a small
> power head to create more current if needed. My favorite is Chaeto
> Morphia. (sp?)...Not much eats it, and it grows great.......no worry
> of it spreading, and its easy to control and harvest or remove when
> needed. I even toss chaeto in the display tank and allow it to settle
> down in a corner or somewhere that its not obscurring the corals etc.,
> and it does fine in there just like that.......
>
> On Mon, 29 Jan 2007 15:40:19 -0500, KurtG
> > wrote:
>
> <<>>Tristan wrote:
> <<>>> What do yu have for nitrate export? Macro Algae? Xenia?
> <<>>
> <<>>I've been trying to get a Macro Algae to grow in a fug, but that hasn't
> <<>>been going so well. I'm starting to think that my fug doesn't have
> <<>>enough water flow and that's why my pods died out.
> <<>>
> <<>>Basically, I have nothing right now except for any anaerobic bacteria in
> <<>>the rock/sand. Hence, my surprise when that the nitrate levels were lower.
> <<>>
> <<>>It's really quite bad.
> <<>>
> <<>>--Kurt
> <<>>
> <<>>
> <<>>
> <<>>
> <<>>>
> <<>>> On Mon, 29 Jan 2007 14:09:02 -0500, KurtG
> <<>>> > wrote:
> <<>>>
> <<>>> <<>>
> <<>>> <<>>I have a really bad case of diatoms (or algae) growing. I added the
> <<>>> <<>>lights and 30# of rock a few weeks ago.
> <<>>> <<>>
> <<>>> <<>>I was expecting my nitrates to be off the map, but they aren't bad.
> <<>>> <<>>Maybe about 30 ppm which isn't good, but good for me.
> <<>>> <<>>
> <<>>> <<>>I switched to using distilled water until I get my RO/DI filter setup.
> <<>>> <<>>So, I don't think that it's silicates, but I have no way of testing for
> <<>>> <<>>that.
> <<>>> <<>>
> <<>>> <<>>Last water change was two weeks ago, so I'll go ahead and mix up some
> <<>>> <<>>water.
> <<>>> <<>>
> <<>>> <<>>My phosphates are better. Not great, but I've been using phosphate
> <<>>> <<>>beads and the levels have been settling.
> <<>>> <<>>
> <<>>> <<>>I also have lots of bubble formation. I assume this is O2 from
> <<>>> <<>>photosynthesis.
> <<>>> <<>>
> <<>>> <<>>So, how do I curb the growth?
> <<>>> <<>>
> <<>>> <<>>--Kurt
> <<>>>
> <<>>>
> <<>>>
> <<>>> -------
> <<>>> I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!
>
>
>
> -------
> I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!

[Add Homonym]

KurtG wrote:
>
> I have a really bad case of diatoms (or algae) growing. I added the
> lights and 30# of rock a few weeks ago.
>
> I was expecting my nitrates to be off the map, but they aren't bad.
> Maybe about 30 ppm which isn't good, but good for me.
>
> I switched to using distilled water until I get my RO/DI filter setup.
> So, I don't think that it's silicates, but I have no way of testing for
> that.
>
> Last water change was two weeks ago, so I'll go ahead and mix up some
> water.
>
> My phosphates are better. Not great, but I've been using phosphate
> beads and the levels have been settling.
>
> I also have lots of bubble formation. I assume this is O2 from
> photosynthesis.
>
> So, how do I curb the growth?
>
> --Kurt

If there are lot of bubbles sticking to/embedded in a coating of brown,
it might be brown cyano bacteria as well.

Had the exact same issue - but for me, nitrates were 0, phosphates 0,
and had a decent skimmer so I don't think disolved organics was an issue.

I think what was driving it was deritus on my rock and sand. I added 1
conch and about 5 cerith snails to my 20 gal nano and the problem was
solved. No more diatoms or cyano.

[KurtG]

Add Homonym wrote:
> If there are lot of bubbles sticking to/embedded in a coating of brown,
> it might be brown cyano bacteria as well.

I was just cleaning my glass hoping to get more junk caught in the
skimmer. At least, I figured out one nitrogen export that works. :-)

And, I noticed exactly what you're talking about above. I bought 3
conchs awhile back and never saw them again. I do have one oversized
hermit that seems to be evil to snails, perhaps I should move him to my
new tank and add more clean up crew.

It's time for another purchase.

--Kurt

[KurtG]

Add Homonym wrote:
> If there are lot of bubbles sticking to/embedded in a coating of brown,
> it might be brown cyano bacteria as well.

I suppose I should have anticipated this. With extra lighting, I'm
going to have more algae, and I'm going to need more clean up crew. It
makes sense now, but then again, my aquarium looks awful. Oh well, help
on the way.

--Kurt

[KurtG]

I backed off the lighting and stepped up the phosphate removal. It
seems better already as if the growth had burned itself out or at least
giving more time for the clean up crew to work.

I'm now able to use the magnet cleaner to sweep the glass clean where
before I had to use a razor blade to chisel it off. So, the growth is
not nearly as robust as it was.

I was also able to find sulphur beads for a nitrate reactor. I should
have it setup in a week or two and then it takes several weeks to
culture the bacteria. I should have the nitrate beat in another month
or so even if the 100#'s of live rock doesn't do it.

--Kurt



KurtG wrote:
>
> I have a really bad case of diatoms (or algae) growing. I added the
> lights and 30# of rock a few weeks ago.
>
> I was expecting my nitrates to be off the map, but they aren't bad.
> Maybe about 30 ppm which isn't good, but good for me.
>
> I switched to using distilled water until I get my RO/DI filter setup.
> So, I don't think that it's silicates, but I have no way of testing for
> that.
>
> Last water change was two weeks ago, so I'll go ahead and mix up some
> water.
>
> My phosphates are better. Not great, but I've been using phosphate
> beads and the levels have been settling.
>
> I also have lots of bubble formation. I assume this is O2 from
> photosynthesis.
>
> So, how do I curb the growth?
>
> --Kurt

[swarvegorilla]

"KurtG" > wrote in message
news:9Brvh.2908$ch1.2549@bigfe9...
>
> I have a really bad case of diatoms (or algae) growing. I added the
> lights and 30# of rock a few weeks ago.
>
> I was expecting my nitrates to be off the map, but they aren't bad. Maybe
> about 30 ppm which isn't good, but good for me.
>
> I switched to using distilled water until I get my RO/DI filter setup. So,
> I don't think that it's silicates, but I have no way of testing for that.
>
> Last water change was two weeks ago, so I'll go ahead and mix up some
> water.
>
> My phosphates are better. Not great, but I've been using phosphate beads
> and the levels have been settling.
>
> I also have lots of bubble formation. I assume this is O2 from
> photosynthesis.
>
> So, how do I curb the growth?
>
> --Kurt

Just give it time
diatomes are a pioneer species
with time others will build ecosystems on top of the diatomes