Silicate Dosing for Reef Tanks

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

FWIW, exact doses are not critical. Diatoms will just use however much is available and drive the levels back down. :)

 

[slingfox]

I use canister filters on a temporary basis for about an hour. I connect the filter to a gravel vacuum and suck the sand. For rock, I will scrub with a toothbrush and vacuum algae. This allows hours of work and removal that would be limited if done with water change. WC or blowing /scrubbing is not very effective for controlling algae unless physical removal is included.

Ah okay makes sense. I will look into this since I like to vacuum my sand periodically. Do you have a recommended gravel vac?

 

[Fishfinder]

FWIW, exact doses are not critical. Diatoms will just use however much is available and drive the levels back down. :)

Makes sense, thank you.

 

[Fishfinder]

These calculations are based on quite a few assumptions, maybe you want to still use a smaller dose first and increase step by step.

I assume your tank is struggling with dinoflagellates? Maybe you can open a thread and the community might be able to access the proplem in greater detail. I see you had a thread a year ago, but it's still worth a try I suppose.

I really just wanted a second opinion on the dose. I appreciate the help. I am dealing with some Dino’s. Not the horrible take over the tank kind. Just the brown sand kind. I’m just tired of looking at them after 5 months. Going to hit them with silica, sand UV, and some bacteria dosing combined. Hopefully that will do it

 

[CHSUB]

Ah okay makes sense. I will look into this since I like to vacuum my sand periodically. Do you have a recommended gravel vac?

No, I just use the one I have. I did buy a connector at the hardware store for the different sized hoses. Yes, it’s fairly basic but very useful. I don’t go at all deep, just the surface of the sand because I don’t want to remove worms and good stuff only algae and detritus.