Dose silicates or just use tapwater in ATO to fight dinos

[bkwonnn]

Hi guys,

in the middle of a battle with dinos.
I read about dosing silicates to give other algae a chance to fight the dinos.
at the moment also GHA is growing.
should I dose silicates, and if so, is it possible just to use tapwater in the ato for that or is that overkill ?
better to go controlled with only silicate dosing?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Do you actually know the level of silicates in your tap water?
I wouldn't use tap unless in an extreme emergency since there are so many unknowns...

 

[exnisstech]

How old is the tank? I find that dinos usually fade over time without intervention. At least that has been my exierience.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

How old is the tank? I find that dinos usually fade over time without intervention. At least that has been my exierience.

^^^ Very good point!

 

[bkwonnn]

How old is the tank? I find that dinos usually fade over time without intervention. At least that has been my exierience.

About a year! I’m getting more knowledge everyday so think im on the right track and you are probably right because of this

 

[bkwonnn]

Do you actually know the level of silicates in your tap water?
I wouldn't use tap unless in an extreme emergency since there are so many unknowns...

No I don’t really, good point

 

[Max93]

Your RODI probably already has silicates in it - ever sent your RO to get ICP tested?

If you don’t have a specific silicate buster unit you have some.

 

[Stang67]

Depends on the type of dinos you have. Dosing silicate would only be advisable for certain types.
Have you confirmed strain with microscope?

 

[Miami Reef]

Unless you live in the very few places that have very clean tap water, don’t use it.

Most tap water allows a lot of copper. You can add a lot of heavy metals that can kill your livestock.

You can easily buy sodium silicate on Amazon.

 

[ptrick21186]

About a year! I’m getting more knowledge everyday so think im on the right track and you are probably right because of this

How did you start your tank? Dry rock only? The reason I ask is this is a common problem for tanks started this way. I have a 14 month old tank that I am also battling Dinos with currently. I just got 8lbs of ocean rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater. Gonna try to add some diversity to the tank. +1 on letting the tank mature naturally. I'd just be patient over adding all sort of chemicals. Especially if you aren't testing for them anyways.

 

[Tired]

Was the tank started with dry rock, rock-that-sat-in-a-bin-for-a-bit style live rock, or ocean-harvested live rock? If it's anything but the last, adding a small package of ocean live rock is the best way to fight dinos, as biodiversity is the best solution for them.

Either way, no, don't put tap water in your ATO. It might give you worse problems than the dinos.

 

[bkwonnn]

Your RODI probably already has silicates in it - ever sent your RO to get ICP tested?

If you don’t have a specific silicate buster unit you have some.

Thanks there is a resin filter attached and 0 ppm comes out so I hope no silicate

 

[bkwonnn]

No don’t have one yet but I feel I need to get one

 

[bkwonnn]

How did you start your tank? Dry rock only? The reason I ask is this is a common problem for tanks started this way. I have a 14 month old tank that I am also battling Dinos with currently. I just got 8lbs of ocean rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater. Gonna try to add some diversity to the tank. +1 on letting the tank mature naturally. I'd just be patient over adding all sort of chemicals. Especially if you aren't testing for them anyways.

I started mine with live rock and live sand. Amen on the no chemicals

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Thanks there is a resin filter attached and 0 ppm comes out so I hope no silicate

I would not assume this

 

[Tired]

What kind of live rock? Ocean live, or something else?

 

[nano reef]

I killed my dinos dosing MB7 and vibrant! I also used a Uv sterilizer! It took a while but they finally left the building!

 

[Max93]

Thanks there is a resin filter attached and 0 ppm comes out so I hope no silicate

TDS doesn’t detect silicates.

 

[bkwonnn]

What kind of live rock? Ocean live, or something else?

Not sure. The LFS told me live rock, didn’t know there is variation in this

 

[ptrick21186]

Not sure. The LFS told me live rock, didn’t know there is variation in this

There's the stuff you can get from an LFS which is basically rock that has only been in fish tanks. Then there's direct from the ocean live rock.