What is your go to Silicate test kit?

[Reef Jedi]

As the title suggests, what is your preferred silicate test kit and why?

I am wondering if my 7 stage rodi is not pulling all silicates from the water. My tds meter reads 0 going into the mixing bin however I have this weird feeling silicates are getting in some how. I’ve never ordered a silicate test kit before and want your guidance.

Thank you

 

[PoseidonsReef]

Salifert has a silicate test kit

 

[Reef Jedi]

Salifert has a silicate test kit

I saw that on Amazon but after reading the reviews. Someone reviewed it saying people on reef2reef said to stay away from it, that it’s not accurate and not a preferred kit.

 

[PoseidonsReef]

Salifert has a silicate test kit

I saw that on Amazon but after reading the reviews. Someone reviewed it saying people on reef2reef said to stay away from it, that it’s not accurate and not a preferred kit.

Ive never used it but its the only silicate test kit on the market as far as i know , everyone recomends salifert test kits for everything so its suspicious that it would be accurate for everything but silicates , wont hurt to try it and will only run you $20 in . I did my research and it suggests that a phosphate remover will remove silicates the same way it removes phosphates, after a week i would clean the filter to remove the built up silicates in the filter sponges

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

As the title suggests, what is your preferred silicate test kit and why?

I am wondering if my 7 stage rodi is not pulling all silicates from the water. My tds meter reads 0 going into the mixing bin however I have this weird feeling silicates are getting in some how. I’ve never ordered a silicate test kit before and want your guidance.

Thank you

Are you having diatom problems?

 

[Reef Jedi]

Are you having diatom problems?

Not exactly but let me explain.

I’ll back up to 9 years ago when we first moved out to this new area. For 20 years prior to moving I never had algae issues in Boulder CO with that water. The second we moved out to Frederick 9 years ago, I started having algae issues. It got really bad and ultimately I took down that tank when my son was born.

We bought a house 5 miles away in another town called Firestone and it has the same water source.

Fast forward from 8 years ago to last year when I started this new Red Sea p500. Using a brand new 7 stage rodi from BRS, the diatom bloom in this new build was something fierce. Started with pukani dry rock however with in 2 months ordered a bunch of tbs live rock and switched it all out. Since diatoms this tank has had them come and go over the last year and with in the last 6 months I’ve been getting a new red hair algae problem that is exactly like my old tank from 9 years ago. I swear there is something in the water and the rodi isn’t able to pull it out possibly? I get 0 tds on the meter however there has to be something fueling this weird red hair algae problem. I’ve never experienced this type of red hair algae in my 25 years of reef keeping. So it really leads me to believe there’s something else in the source water. My LFS who is 1 block down the road I see the same red hair algae in their sumps and they said they can’t get rid of it.

So I’m kinda on a mission to see if it’s possible silicates fueling it?

Current test as of today

Alk 9.4
Ca 415
Salt 35
Temp 78
Nitrates 6.9
Phos .1

 

[MeganV]

Can we get some pictures of the red hair algae you are dealing with? Even better, under a microscope, if you have one available.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Not exactly but let me explain.

I’ll back up to 9 years ago when we first moved out to this new area. For 20 years prior to moving I never had algae issues in Boulder CO with that water. The second we moved out to Frederick 9 years ago, I started having algae issues. It got really bad and ultimately I took down that tank when my son was born.

We bought a house 5 miles away in another town called Firestone and it has the same water source.

Fast forward from 8 years ago to last year when I started this new Red Sea p500. Using a brand new 7 stage rodi from BRS, the diatom bloom in this new build was something fierce. Started with pukani dry rock however with in 2 months ordered a bunch of tbs live rock and switched it all out. Since diatoms this tank has had them come and go over the last year and with in the last 6 months I’ve been getting a new red hair algae problem that is exactly like my old tank from 9 years ago. I swear there is something in the water and the rodi isn’t able to pull it out possibly? I get 0 tds on the meter however there has to be something fueling this weird red hair algae problem. I’ve never experienced this type of red hair algae in my 25 years of reef keeping. So it really leads me to believe there’s something else in the source water. My LFS who is 1 block down the road I see the same red hair algae in their sumps and they said they can’t get rid of it.

So I’m kinda on a mission to see if it’s possible silicates fueling it?

Current test as of today

Alk 9.4
Ca 415
Salt 35
Temp 78
Nitrates 6.9
Phos .1

Diatoms are not red nor hair like that I have heard of (they are golden brown, usually encrusting), so I expect its not worth pursuing silicate.