Diatoms

Can anyone explain to me in simple terms what Diatoms are. I tried to
google it, but the site are all checical this or chemcal that. Its beyond
what I know.
Thanks
"rtk" wrote in message
...
I've developed a nasty case of brownies. I think it's just a
coincidence that I opened a new bag of salt, same company.
No new anything in the tank. I tried an inch of fine sand on
top of the old, but that didn't stop anything. I change 6
gallons of water per week from the 55 gallon tank. Here's a
pic with a few details:

http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/...wSal****er/Sal
****erID.html
I'd appreciate any suggestions. It is seriously ugly.

rtk

single cell algae.

http://www.indiana.edu/~diatom/diatom.html

Diatoms are unicellular algae generally placed in the family
Bacillariophyceae. The cell walls of these organisms are made of silica,
and the varied shapes and beautiful ornamentation of these walls made
the study of the diatoms and related siliceous organisms a favored
pursuit of the microscopical pioneers.


Peter Pan wrote:
Can anyone explain to me in simple terms what Diatoms are. I tried to
google it, but the site are all checical this or chemcal that. Its beyond
what I know.
Thanks
"rtk" wrote in message
...
I've developed a nasty case of brownies. I think it's just a
coincidence that I opened a new bag of salt, same company.
No new anything in the tank. I tried an inch of fine sand on
top of the old, but that didn't stop anything. I change 6
gallons of water per week from the 55 gallon tank. Here's a
pic with a few details:

http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/...wSal****er/Sal
****erID.html
I'd appreciate any suggestions. It is seriously ugly.

rtk

I found this site when I looked it up, and it I didn't understand it. I
wanted to know more specifically what it looks like how do you know if you
have it and why is it bad.




http://www.indiana.edu/~diatom/diatom.html

Peter Pan wrote:
Can anyone explain to me in simple terms what Diatoms are. I tried to
google it, but the site are all checical this or chemcal that. Its
beyond
what I know.
Thanks

Don't you get Brown algae on your glass? I need to clean mine almost
daily. It's not really algae, but diatoms.

http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/alg...algaediato.htm

--Kurt



Peter Pan wrote:
I found this site when I looked it up, and it I didn't understand it. I
wanted to know more specifically what it looks like how do you know if you
have it and why is it bad.



http://www.indiana.edu/~diatom/diatom.html

Peter Pan wrote:
Can anyone explain to me in simple terms what Diatoms are. I tried to
google it, but the site are all checical this or chemcal that. Its
beyond
what I know.
Thanks

I have some but not a lot. I need to clean it about once a month or so. I
never knew what it was, I always thought is was a bi-product of over
feeding.
Other then an eye sore, is it harmful to the tank?
"KurtG" wrote in message
...

Don't you get Brown algae on your glass? I need to clean mine almost
daily. It's not really algae, but diatoms.

http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/alg...algaediato.htm

--Kurt



Peter Pan wrote:
I found this site when I looked it up, and it I didn't understand it. I
wanted to know more specifically what it looks like how do you know if
you
have it and why is it bad.



http://www.indiana.edu/~diatom/diatom.html

Peter Pan wrote:
Can anyone explain to me in simple terms what Diatoms are. I tried to
google it, but the site are all checical this or chemcal that. Its
beyond
what I know.
Thanks

Peter Pan wrote:
Other then an eye sore, is it harmful to the tank?

I don't think so, but then again I'm a newbie. :-)

Peter Pan wrote:
I have some but not a lot. I need to clean it about once a month or so. I
never knew what it was, I always thought is was a bi-product of over
feeding.
Other then an eye sore, is it harmful to the tank?


Actually diatoms are a good food source for your pods. Most algeas are
not harmful to the tank unless they are overgrowing your other creatures.

Kim

kim gross wrote:


Actually diatoms are a good food source for your pods. Most algeas are
not harmful to the tank unless they are overgrowing your other creatures.

Kim


Sometimes it can be problematic. I have had issues with the diatoms in
my tank lately sneaking out at night, signing up for a german news
provider, and then trolling rec.ponds pretending to be tristan. I never
knew diatoms knew how to forge headers.

If you have a lot of diatoms, make sure your tank is not too close to
your computer.