Diatoms in tank

[Ken_ng]

Dear reefers

Anyone able to advice in what or how to manage / get rid of diatoms both on the sand and rocks?

I heard of Sand dollar but without substantial food, it would die.

Turbo Snails?

Any other forms? Advice please

Many thanks

[erikokelf]

You can try getting nassarius snail to help flip your sand. It's commonly seen on ah beng.

As for your rock, turbo snail will be a good choice but you may also look into Astraea Turbo Snail as they all smaller in size if you think the regular turbo snail is too big.

Try to mix a number of different cleaning crew to yield the best possible result. Just go google and search for reef tank cleaning crew you should be able to get a rough idea on the options available for you.

[Ken_ng]

Thanks erikokelf!

[ASHWIN]

Astreae Snails Are Good!.

[erikokelf]

Astreae Snails Are Good!.

Yeah very hardworking bugger inside my tank. Only difference between turbo and this fellow is price.

[ASHWIN]

Yeah very hardworking bugger inside my tank. Only difference between turbo and this fellow is price.

bro Any LFS got it available now?..i need about 10

[Ken_ng]

Are these snails very expensive?

Roughly about how much for one?

[erikokelf]

Price is about 3-5 times more then the regular turbo snail depending on where you bought it.

Haven been going to LFS so got no idea which one have in stock.

[james72]

Try the 3 days blackout method.

[ASHWIN]

Before Doing The Black Out Method

What type of corals do you keep?

I find That some SPS Bleach off due to stress of the blackout..but if you have LPS All System Go!..

And Is Your System new?

Cheers bro!";)

[erikokelf]

But i reckon blackout will only solve the issue temporary where the key will be proper nutrient export and maintenance.

[julius]

The only effective method is get rid of silicate in tap water before using it. Without silicate, diatom will never form

[ASHWIN]

Rowa Will Help With Silicate+Phosphate Removal..

[Ken_ng]

Bro ashwin!

Yes tank is still very new. Been cycling only a month as of last week. This week added a guitar organ and a red zoa.

Zoas have opened up but not as nice as yours! Haha..

Planning to keep LPS and softies..

Staying away from sps for the time being.. But I really like the Montis lol..

Bro erikokelf

Yeah agreed with you most important is nutrient export.. Nitrates and phosphates.

My nitrates are sitting at about 20ppm..phosphates are at about 0.5-1.0? The seachem test kit is so hard to use..

Bro James

Yes I think it's the light as well.. Cause previously I cycled my tank for 3 weeks without the light.. No problem.. Last 2 weeks of cycling I turned on the lights.. And problem came..

Bro Julius

I'm using bottled DI water from ntuc no tap water.. Heard many new reefers making that mistake so I didn't take my chances..

Thanks all for your valuable inputs!

I will be getting some nerites and trochus snails.also a peppermint shrimp to battle this out

[Saeight Abdul Rahman]

Hi bro. just to share. i just had my tank cycled too. its been running about three months now. for the first month, diatoms was blooming like fireworks. so this is what i did.

Got a pair of sand dollar for the sands.

Gotten three turbo snails for the live rock and glass.

On every other day, i regularly brush the diatoms off using a toothbrush.

I realised that the more the light is on, the more the diatoms will grow. So i decided to do a water change and the diatoms are gone. well, not 100% gone, but atleast i would say theres a decrease of atleast 80% of diatoms in the tank.

Well, this was based on my experience. Not sure if it will apply to everyone in particular.

[ASHWIN]

Bro ashwin!

Yes tank is still very new. Been cycling only a month as of last week. This week added a guitar organ and a red zoa.

Zoas have opened up but not as nice as yours! Haha..

Planning to keep LPS and softies..

Staying away from sps for the time being.. But I really like the Montis lol..

Bro erikokelf

Yeah agreed with you most important is nutrient export.. Nitrates and phosphates.

My nitrates are sitting at about 20ppm..phosphates are at about 0.5-1.0? The seachem test kit is so hard to use..

Bro James

Yes I think it's the light as well.. Cause previously I cycled my tank for 3 weeks without the light.. No problem.. Last 2 weeks of cycling I turned on the lights.. And problem came..

Bro Julius

I'm using bottled DI water from ntuc no tap water.. Heard many new reefers making that mistake so I didn't take my chances..

Thanks all for your valuable inputs!

I will be getting some nerites and trochus snails.also a peppermint shrimp to battle this out

Thanks Bro! can pass you frags!..For A New Tank Is normak for Diatoms like a stage..Since you only hv zoas cutting light hours+Stating no3 and p04 readings.Will help..Nass Snails too.

[james72]

After blsckout, do s 30% wster change and control thrpugh less feeding and the use of nutrients export like refugoum or good skimming or use carbon / phosphate removal (rowaphos) to maintain good water quality so diatoms wont come back.

[jket88]

After blsckout, do s 30% wster change and control thrpugh less feeding and the use of nutrients export like refugoum or good skimming or use carbon / phosphate removal (rowaphos) to maintain good water quality so diatoms wont come back.

Agree on you

[Ken_ng]

Thank you very much bro ashwin! Waiting on your frags! Lol.. Just kidding..

Yes. Planning to run rowaphos.

What about goodbye po4? Is it effective?

I'm upgrading to a sump! Stupid canister giving me too much headache.