Where Does All My Silica Go?

[Obriy]

I've been dosing sodium silicate for last two months to get diatoms help me with LCA. Unfortunately, Dinos count in any given sample from the tank substrate beats diatoms count 10 to 1, though it's still not too bad, just some dust in the sand. However, the silica levels drop very fast. I've had drops from 11ppm to 2 ppm in 7 days (according to my Hanna HR tester) and that wasn't a unique occurrence. There are no visible sponges anywhere and I don't know what else can consume silica at that rate...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How much of what are you dosing to what size tank?

Growth on the glass is green or golden brown?

 

[Obriy]

Sorry, duplicate.

 

[Obriy]

I

How much of what are you dosing to what size tank?

Growth on the glass is green or golden brown?

I'm dosing about 1ml of 40% LYNN Sodium Silicate diluted in RODI twice/week in 50-gallon system. The rate and coloration of the growth on the glass haven't noticeably changed since before I started dosing (I clean the glass every other day). It's more green than gold/brown.
I also dose Algae Barn's phytoplankton every other day.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I

I'm dosing about 1ml of 40% LYNN Sodium Silicate diluted in RODI twice/week in 50-gallon system. The rate and coloration of the growth on the glass haven't noticeably changed since before I started dosing (I clean the glass every other day). It's more green than gold/brown.
I also dose Algae Barn's phytoplankton every other day.

That sounds like enough. But doubling the dose or frequency is a fine plan.

 

[Obriy]

That sounds like enough. But doubling the dose or frequency is a fine plan.

Is Sodium Silicate diluted in RODI stable enough to be kept in a bottle for automated dosing?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is Sodium Silicate diluted in RODI stable enough to be kept in a bottle for automated dosing?

Yes.