Diatoms.

[dennism]

Just started new tank 55gal. Most chemical levels are good ph is right at 7.9 it could go up a hair. Daughter over fed the 2 clown fish and now I'm stuck with Diatoms. Currently I am using a protien skimmer and a cascade canister rated for 100 gallon until I can get $$$ later to buy a sump then introduce corals. I have reduced light to 5 hours a day then made 2 10% waterchanges in 2 weeks and changed the media in the filter once. The phosphate level was a hairhigh and has since dropped back down.
I have an
Emerald crab
2 small clowns
5 turbo 1.25" snails
And 2 Astria snails( they dont fo crud but hide in the sand).
It seems to be going away but it has a slight green hue at an angle but is not slimy to touch.
It's working it's way out. Wondering if anyone has a suggestion or will it just take some patience.

 

[ScottR]

Just started new tank 55gal. Most chemical levels are good ph is right at 7.9 it could go up a hair. Daughter over fed the 2 clown fish and now I'm stuck with Diatoms. Currently I am using a protien skimmer and a cascade canister rated for 100 gallon until I can get $$$ later to buy a sump then introduce corals. I have reduced light to 5 hours a day then made 2 10% waterchanges in 2 weeks and changed the media in the filter once. The phosphate level was a hairhigh and has since dropped back down.
I have an
Emerald crab
2 small clowns
5 turbo 1.25" snails
And 2 Astria snails( they dont fo crud but hide in the sand).
It seems to be going away but it has a slight green hue at an angle but is not slimy to touch.
It's working it's way out. Wondering if anyone has a suggestion or will it just take some patience.

The thing about diatoms is you don’t want to restrict them. Control them yes, but they’ll always be there if you have silicates in your tank. Sand contains silicates which diatoms use to build their shell. Once they use up all of the silicates, they die off and you'll never see them again. Some exceptions however: if you don’t use RODI, your water may be adding some back in and they’ll theoretically never go away. Or your rock could contain silicates and that’ll just prolong them. It’s all part of cycling a new tank.

When I was cycling my first tank, I blasted my lights to help them get through their life cycle before adding in livestock.