Can washing powerheads/returns in citric acid increase diatoms?

JoJosReef

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Using citric acid to wash the gyre and the return nozzles, and I'm noticing that they get dusted with brown growth more than anywhere else in the tank. I've seen both dinos and diatoms on them by microscopy. Just wondering if the citric acid baths make the plastic a more hospitable environment, because I didn't have this problem before--problem was always too much coraline. Of course, new tank, new problems, so who knows?

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Propane

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Perhaps the competing bacteria was removed allowing space for other things to grow.
 

stoney7713

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I use to notice the same thing on any new surface in my aquarium. It went through a quick mini cycle on it. Diatoms or dinos and gone in a few days. I'm sure it's the same here, it just takes a bit of time for the right bacteria to build up again on those surfaces.
 

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