Massive diatom bloom

[VexedTomb792]

Hi all, over the past 3 weeks I’ve had a massive problem with diatoms, to the point that I’m blowing them off the rocks/corals/nems daily with a powerhead and scraping them off the glass. After the water clears I’m changing the polishing pad and removing the brown mess. The fish as you can imagine don’t care, they are healthy and happy but the nems and soft corals/zoas are really hating it. I’ve kept up with tank maint as I’ve done for years (tank running since Covid), current tests (nitrate/phosphate/PH with Hanna, other elements by marine labs test kit, SG by refractometer, results pasted here) the only thing I did at all different before this outbreak was clean the Protein skimmer (HOB bubble Magus) and replace the piece of filter sponge that traps micro bubbles to a new dawn (make) piece. I only strip down and completely clean the skimmer once a year, everything else I do maint wise is weekly and as I said, I’ve done nothing different. I make my own RO water with the same TMC Vpure 100 that I always have, TDS is always less than 3 and I’m using the same salt (reef crystals) that I always have and I’m in the middle of a batch (not a new one) I really am losing the will to live and I have no idea what I’ve done to cause this outbreak. Water quality has been stable for months, no spikes of anything. In an attempt to combat the diatoms I’ve been adding live copepods and I’ve added more snails. Any help would be massively appreciated as I want and the inverts need this outbreak gone.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Diatoms are usually a phase in new tanks as they feed on the silicates in new sand, once the silicates supply is consumed the diatoms die off themselves, usually in a week or two.

The only time I ever got diatoms in my established tank is when I didn't change my rodi filters out. Once I changed the filter, the diatoms soon disappeared.

What you are describing sounds more like dino's than diatoms. Can you post a picture to identify?

 

[VexedTomb792]

Diatoms are usually a phase in new tanks as they feed on the silicates in new sand, once the silicates supply is consumed the diatoms die off themselves, usually in a week or two.

The only time I ever got diatoms in my established tank is when I didn't change my rodi filters out. Once I changed the filter, the diatoms soon disappeared.

What you are describing sounds more like dino's than diatoms. Can you post a picture to identify

Hey Mojo, they blow off like dust, I’ve had them before just as you describe when the tank was new but that was years ago and only for a couple of weeks (again as you describe) there is no effort to removing them just that they constantly come back. I haven’t changed out anything in my RO unit, maybe I need to? I hadn’t even thought about the RO unit being exhausted because the TDS is still low. I have 4 6000lph wave pumps in the tank, the 1000lph juwel outflow and an Eheim 750lph canister outflow as well as the skimmer turning the tank over so there is a lot of flow, I forgot to mention that any coral sand, rock or anything directly in the flow of a wave maker has stayed clear. I can get a photo later when the lights are on but I’m 99% sure it’s diatoms

 

[VexedTomb792]

Diatoms are usually a phase in new tanks as they feed on the silicates in new sand, once the silicates supply is consumed the diatoms die off themselves, usually in a week or two.

The only time I ever got diatoms in my established tank is when I didn't change my rodi filters out. Once I changed the filter, the diatoms soon disappeared.

What you are describing sounds more like dino's than diatoms. Can you post a picture to identify?

Got some photos, you can see where I’ve ’blown’ the sand with a powerhead because it’s white and where I haven’t it’s still covered

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi all, over the past 3 weeks I’ve had a massive problem with diatoms, to the point that I’m blowing them off the rocks/corals/nems daily with a powerhead and scraping them off the glass. After the water clears I’m changing the polishing pad and removing the brown mess. The fish as you can imagine don’t care, they are healthy and happy but the nems and soft corals/zoas are really hating it. I’ve kept up with tank maint as I’ve done for years (tank running since Covid), current tests (nitrate/phosphate/PH with Hanna, other elements by marine labs test kit, SG by refractometer, results pasted here) the only thing I did at all different before this outbreak was clean the Protein skimmer (HOB bubble Magus) and replace the piece of filter sponge that traps micro bubbles to a new dawn (make) piece. I only strip down and completely clean the skimmer once a year, everything else I do maint wise is weekly and as I said, I’ve done nothing different. I make my own RO water with the same TMC Vpure 100 that I always have, TDS is always less than 3 and I’m using the same salt (reef crystals) that I always have and I’m in the middle of a batch (not a new one) I really am losing the will to live and I have no idea what I’ve done to cause this outbreak. Water quality has been stable for months, no spikes of anything. In an attempt to combat the diatoms I’ve been adding live copepods and I’ve added more snails. Any help would be massively appreciated as I want and the inverts need this outbreak gone.

Diatoms are a brown algae that typically appear in a tank which has just completed its cycle but they can also appear in an well established reef tank and looks ugly but in most cases are harmless and feed mainly off of silicates as well as dissolved organic compounds, phosphate and nitrates. Tap water can contain silicates and is a good way to get a bloom if you use it to mix salt or to replace water that evaporated from the tank. Using an RODI unit helps, although you can still get diatoms with an RODI unit if the cartridge that removes silicates becomes expired.
Diatoms are typically harmless and can be beaten once their food source is gone.
For major outbreaks you may want to consider a three day blackout. They are easily wiped from the glass with a mag float, a turkey baster or a toothbrush can cover other areas of the tank. Be prepared for them to re-establish themselves quickly after a cleaning as they are likely to be able to reappear and have re-growth rates.
To prevent their return, do regular water changes, keep the bedding clean, don’t overfeed tank, ensure your skimmer is running at an optimal level and keep filter socks and sponges clean on a regular basis.
Some cleaner crew to help control it are : Cerith snails, Nerite snails and Trochus snails and also Astraea snails are effective at removing diatoms.

 

[VexedTomb792]

Hi all, over the past 3 weeks I’ve had a massive problem with diatoms, to the point that I’m blowing them off the rocks/corals/nems daily with a powerhead and scraping them off the glass. After the water clears I’m changing the polishing pad and removing the brown mess. The fish as you can imagine don’t care, they are healthy and happy but the nems and soft corals/zoas are really hating it. I’ve kept up with tank maint as I’ve done for years (tank running since Covid), current tests (nitrate/phosphate/PH with Hanna, other elements by marine labs test kit, SG by refractometer, results pasted here) the only thing I did at all different before this outbreak was clean the Protein skimmer (HOB bubble Magus) and replace the piece of filter sponge that traps micro bubbles to a new dawn (make) piece. I only strip down and completely clean the skimmer once a year, everything else I do maint wise is weekly and as I said, I’ve done nothing different. I make my own RO water with the same TMC Vpure 100 that I always have, TDS is always less than 3 and I’m using the same salt (reef crystals) that I always have and I’m in the middle of a batch (not a new one) I really am losing the will to live and I have no idea what I’ve done to cause this outbreak. Water quality has been stable for months, no spikes of anything. In an attempt to combat the diatoms I’ve been adding live copepods and I’ve added more snails. Any help would be massively appreciated as I want and the inverts need this outbreak gone.

Diatoms are a brown algae that typically appear in a tank which has just completed its cycle but they can also appear in an well established reef tank and looks ugly but in most cases are harmless and feed mainly off of silicates as well as dissolved organic compounds, phosphate and nitrates. Tap water can contain silicates and is a good way to get a bloom if you use it to mix salt or to replace water that evaporated from the tank. Using an RODI unit helps, although you can still get diatoms with an RODI unit if the cartridge that removes silicates becomes expired.
Diatoms are typically harmless and can be beaten once their food source is gone.
For major outbreaks you may want to consider a three day blackout. They are easily wiped from the glass with a mag float, a turkey baster or a toothbrush can cover other areas of the tank. Be prepared for them to re-establish themselves quickly after a cleaning as they are likely to be able to reappear and have re-growth rates.
To prevent their return, do regular water changes, keep the bedding clean, don’t overfeed tank, ensure your skimmer is running at an optimal level and keep filter socks and sponges clean on a regular basis.
Some cleaner crew to help control it are : Cerith snails, Nerite snails and Trochus snails and also Astraea snails are effective at removing diatoms.

That’s what I don’t understand my phosphate and nitrates have been under control for ages, they are never high, phosphate is currently 0.03 and nitrate is 8.9. So it must be silicates right?

 

[vetteguy53081]

That’s what I don’t understand my phosphate and nitrates have been under control for ages, they are never high, phosphate is currently 0.03 and nitrate is 8.9. So it must be silicates right?

Likely especially if new rock or sand were added. Also, assure RODI cartridges are not expired

 

[VexedTomb792]

Nothing new has been added except that ‘new dawn’ sponge in the skimmer outlet to catch errant micro bubbles. It can’t be a sponge can it?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Nothing new has been added except that ‘new dawn’ sponge in the skimmer outlet to catch errant micro bubbles. It can’t be a sponge can it?

I highly doubt sponge