Diatoms: When do they go away?

[Breakthecycle2]

My tank is around 5 weeks old, give or take a few days. I have recently gotten hit with diatoms. It started out small, now almost everything is getting covered. I know they tend to go away when the silicates are used up, but is there anything I could do to speed it up?

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Never! :)

Usually for me it's a few weeks after the cycle is complete and IMO it's best to let it run it's course.

Thanks!

 

[SaltAddict89]

Doing water changes i heard helps. Correct me if im wrong.

 

[hejjo]

Mine went away after about 2-3 weeks. Once it started collecting quite a bit I'd blow the rocks and sand with a turkey baster to make it look a lil nicer until they went away. Jus part of starting a new tank.

 

[cloak]

Like mentioned above, "Silicates." It might be time to replace those filters on that RO/DI unit..

Feature Article: Silica In Reef Aquariums ? Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog

 

[Reefing Madness]

Once they've eaten all the silicates out of your system they will die off.

 

[maroun.c]

I'd let it run it's course, Fe weeks is not an issue as you'll have Hair alga and other algae for some more time as well...

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Like mentioned above, "Silicates." It might be time to replace those filters on that RO/DI unit..

Feature Article: Silica In Reef Aquariums ? Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog

I just replaced then in November, but never used it again until a few months ago, when I was planning on my new tank. Iv'e probable made 250-300 gallons on the new filters. I am going to replace the whole unit though. Looking for suggestions.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

How do I know if they are diatoms or Dinoflagellates?

 

[FL_Reefer]

How do I know if they are diatoms or Dinoflagellates?

Have any or your snails died?

 

[FL_Reefer]

Have any pics?

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Have any or your snails died?

No they haven't. I Can try, but its like a golden brown on the sand bed. Its all over the rocks and the walls.

 

[FL_Reefer]

Sounds to me that it's diatoms that will go away eventually. Good indicated of dinos is snail death, just a fyi lol

 

[Breakthecycle2]

I didn't know that. Why does it kill snails?

 

[FL_Reefer]

They eat it thinking its algae and bam, dead. Not sure why it kills them but I does. I just went through a really bad case of dinos and it sucked but I got rid of them

 

[Mgoc]

I believe I had dinos but none of my snails died. If it wasn't dinos what could it have been?

 

[FL_Reefer]

The first pic looks like diatoms and the second looks like cyano bacteria. More flow, less phosphates and your good to go. Sounds way easier than it is, lol

 

[Breakthecycle2]

That first picture resembles what I have. I do have a question though, how come these "diatoms" are only in my display tank and not in my sump?

 

[FL_Reefer]

Is there any light in your sump? They are a type of algae which feed mostly from silica if I remember correctly and from my personal experience they don't show in a cycle until light it added.

 

[Mgoc]

If it is diatoms in the first picture, would it be normal for them to show up now that the tank is 2 years old?