What is this stuff?!!!

[JACKS REEF]

Can someone please help me and tell me why diatoms keep reappearing in my 30 gallon they won’t stop. I constantly do water changes once every two weeks. When I dosed chemiclean the diatoms seemed to go away for a bit because I did 2 water changes in one day. But two weeks later they come back. My tank is 10 months old and I have a fake plastic rock that could be fueling the diatoms also maybe my distilled top off water from the store. My parameters are all on point. Can someone please help me because no one ever responds to my threads.

 

[Bryknicks]

Do you actually test? Not trying to be rude but saying all parameter are "on point" does not give any information for people to help. Further more parameters you think are on point may not be appropriate for your tank. The picture of the rock is concerning with the bubbles as that could be a case of dino's. What are nitrate and phosphate levels?

 

[SMSREEF]

My suggestion is to get a microscope to get a pic of what you have and post it for a definitive ID.

What is your Nitrate an Phosphate level?
Did you use live rock or dead rock?
How old is tank?

Treatment really needs to be based on what you have and what kind microbe you have based on microscope ID.

 

[JACKS REEF]

Do you actually test? Not trying to be rude but saying all parameter are "on point" does not give any information for people to help. Further more parameters you think are on point may not be appropriate for your tank. The picture of the rock is concerning with the bubbles as that could be a case of dino's. What are nitrate and phosphate levels?

My nitrates are 5 ppm phosphates 0.05

 

[JACKS REEF]

My suggestion is to get a microscope to get a pic of what you have and post it for a definitive ID.

What is your Nitrate an Phosphate level?
Did you use live rock or dead rock?
How old is tank?

Treatment really needs to be based on what you have and what kind microbe you have based on microscope ID.

No I don’t have any live rock in my tank my main rock is a cheap plastic rock from the pet store.

 

[JACKS REEF]

My suggestion is to get a microscope to get a pic of what you have and post it for a definitive ID.

What is your Nitrate an Phosphate level?
Did you use live rock or dead rock?
How old is tank?

Treatment really needs to be based on what you have and what kind microbe you have based on microscope ID.

Tank is 10 months old

 

[YMRreefer]

Do you use RODI?

 

[JACKS REEF]

Do you use RODI?

No

 

[JACKS REEF]

No

I use distiled

 

[andrewey]

This isn't the question you asked, but without trying to poo poo your fish choices, I fear you might have a tank emergency looming (of the ich variety) if you keep that yellow tang in the 30 gallon for long.

 

[YMRreefer]

Assuming it is a diatom issue... I would get a proper ID for sure... I think you’re onto something with source water and plastic scape. I’d increase cleanup crew and change source water to see if that helps. If not - switch out your rocks.

 

[anth]

Do you have other forms of bio filtration eg, ceramic rings or such?

 

[JACKS REEF]

This isn't the question you asked, but without trying to poo poo your fish choices, I fear you might have a tank emergency looming (of the ich variety) if you keep that yellow tang in the 30 gallon for long.

This isn't the question you asked, but without trying to poo poo your fish choices, I fear you might have a tank emergency looming (of the ich variety) if you keep that yellow tang in the 30 gallon for long.

I have had that tang In there for 6 months and he is doing very well no sights of stress I also have a 50 gallon tank as well for when he gets big.

 

[JACKS REEF]

Do you have other forms of bio filtration eg, ceramic rings or such?

Yes I am running carbon and biological media as well as a protein skimmer.

 

[anth]

Also how much are you feeding as a yellow tangs diet may be too much for the system especially with poor filtration

 

[JACKS REEF]

My suggestion is to get a microscope to get a pic of what you have and post it for a definitive ID.

What is your Nitrate an Phosphate level?
Did you use live rock or dead rock?
How old is tank?

Treatment really needs to be based on what you have and what kind microbe you have based on microscope ID.

How should I ID them

 

[JACKS REEF]

Also how much are you feeding as a yellow tangs diet may be too much for the system especially with poor filtration

i feed Once a day a small sliver of frozen

 

[JACKS REEF]

i feed Once a day a small sliver of frozen
[/QUO

 

[anth]

I recently had dino’s and was a nightmare to get rid of. If this is dino i would double check your nitrate level using a different kit as mine were nearly bottomed out and raising it really did the trick.
Can u get a pic in white light?

 

[SMSREEF]

How should I ID them

If you get a cheap microscope, take a pic of what you see and start a thread with the pic.
There are some amazing microbiologists on here that will help you ID.