Diatoms

[Trenton0115]

What could be causing diatoms in an established reef tank? I have 5 nass. Snails and I can’t seem to get the diatoms out of my sand.

 

[hoffmeyerz]

High silicates are the usual cause for diatoms. Are you sure it's not cyano?

 

[Reeflix]

now, instead of cyano, could it be dinos? i have dinos in my sand bed that looks so much like diatoms, i was fooled for awhile.

 

[Trenton0115]

High silicates are the usual cause for diatoms. Are you sure it's not cyano?

I’m not 100% sure at all, this is what It looks like

 

[Trenton0115]

 

[hoffmeyerz]

now, instead of cyano, could it be dinos? i have dinos in my sand bed that looks so much like diatoms, i was fooled for awhile.

Good point! Maybe test for silicates or if the op can get a microscope take a peek under magnification to nail it down.

 

[Reeflix]

I’m not 100% sure at all, this is what It looks like

I am fairly certain that this is Dino’s, but check under the microscope to be certain, this is what mine look like

 

[hoffmeyerz]

Do you know the water parameters? Dinos typically show up when nutrients bottom out and cyano when they're higher.