Me vs diatoms! Diatoms winning...

[andrewttw]

Hi guys, need help on tackling my war on diatoms.

Added seachem seagel two weeks back to remove silicates and phosphates, added nitraguard original 1 week ago (not the titanium version), added a handful of caulerpa plus par 38 8w 4b at 3wts per LED running 12 hrs per day (reduced from 15 hrs) 3 weeks ago.

Currently using tap water for water changes once a week. I got no space for a ro/di unit and haven't really considered getting distilled water from the supermarket. Trying to keep the cost cheap and don't really want to be lugging water around. 12litres change for a 100litre tank. Done this water change every week for a few months.

Major water change about 2 months ago after tank crash.

Nitrate levels currently still more than 50ppm. Can't seem to reduce it even after the major tank crash water change.

The stuff I added and algae didn't even budge the nitrate reading.

Diatoms have been more or less manageable till about last week. And now the diatoms that used to be isolated in my display has spread to my refugium with a major vengeance! Water in the refugium smells abit foul. Display tank smells ok.

Only 1 snail died but promptly removed in the past 3 weeks. 2 snails added last week.

Other livestock:

2 clownfish

1 pink skunk clownfish

1 bicolor blenny

2 mandarin fish

1 red scooter dragonet

1 doctor shrimp

1 watchman goby

2 snails

2 small hermit crabs

1 sand sifting starfish

Feeding 1-2 times daily on frozen brine shrimp and prawns. Very little wastage.

I suspect it blooms in the tank because of the par38. But I have already done so much to reduce the nutrients it needs so I thought it would be ok! Anything else that I can add specifically to get rid of diatoms? I'm at a loss. Thanks guys.

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[andrewttw]

Currently also topping up about 2.5 liters a day due to evaporation.

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[FuEl]

Diatoms need silicates for growth. Silicates are found in tapwater. If you are feeding your diatoms weekly why should'nt they be growing? Ability of media claiming to remove silicates is never advertised to be 100% absorption. Stop using tapwater & you will solve your problem.

[andrewttw]

Sigh. Wish I could but both hands won't be able to carry anything heavy for next 3 months due surgery.

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[Firestarter]

Tap water is the issue here bro.

For a start, you can try topping up with distilled water.

Otherwise, there is another method whereby you run your tap water with DI resins to remove silicates and reduce your TDS.

[mitlancer]

IMO, the lighting is also another contributing factor. Is 12 hrs required? Are you having highly photosynthetic corals that require long lightings? If not, still can reduce. I am having an average of 8 hrs lighting per day, 4hrs in the morning and 4 hours in the evening (for my viewing pleasure after work) with soft corals/LPS.

To get rid of the diatoms, apart from the silicate, try to off the light for at least 3-5 days to starve out the light source.

If your hand cannot carry heavy load, spread out the purchase of the distill water from supermarket. I used to get like 4 bottles each visit (2 bottles per hand).

Cheers and dun give up.

[diki88]

Ur LR could also be an issue here besides the tapwater problem that other bros has highlighted.

It could possibly be leeching many things now, having absorbed it from ur last tank crash. Its almost like a reverse osmosis problem. While ur water had high Po4 n No3, the LR didn't leech much; but when u start introducing things to reduce nutrient levels in the water, that higher potential of nutrients in the LR will be leeched to a lower potential in ur water. This is my alternative theory. But biggest cause will be silicates from the tapwater. HTH

[LittleBurger]

Hi guys, need help on tackling my war on diatoms. Added seachem seagel two weeks back to remove silicates and phosphates, added nitraguard original 1 week ago (not the titanium version), added a handful of caulerpa plus par 38 8w 4b at 3wts per LED running 12 hrs per day (reduced from 15 hrs) 3 weeks ago.Currently using tap water for water changes once a week. I got no space for a ro/di unit and haven't really considered getting distilled water from the supermarket. Trying to keep the cost cheap and don't really want to be lugging water around. 12litres change for a 100litre tank. Done this water change every week for a few months.Major water change about 2 months ago after tank crash.Nitrate levels currently still more than 50ppm. Can't seem to reduce it even after the major tank crash water change. The stuff I added and algae didn't even budge the nitrate reading.Diatoms have been more or less manageable till about last week. And now the diatoms that used to be isolated in my display has spread to my refugium with a major vengeance! Water in the refugium smells abit foul. Display tank smells ok.Only 1 snail died but promptly removed in the past 3 weeks. 2 snails added last week. Other livestock:2 clownfish1 pink skunk clownfish1 bicolor blenny2 mandarin fish1 red scooter dragonet1 doctor shrimp1 watchman goby2 snails2 small hermit crabs1 sand sifting starfishFeeding 1-2 times daily on frozen brine shrimp and prawns. Very little wastage.I suspect it blooms in the tank because of the par38. But I have already done so much to reduce the nutrients it needs so I thought it would be ok! Anything else that I can add specifically to get rid of diatoms? I'm at a loss. Thanks guys.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

u not keeping corals? Then dun need so frequent water change le. If only fishes n invertebrates, can consult pple who are in fowlr.

[RockyBoy]

Increase KH might help.

[Jameshong]

Increase KH might help.

KH reduce diatom?

[julius]

Hi guys, need help on tackling my war on diatoms.

Added seachem seagel two weeks back to remove silicates and phosphates, added nitraguard original 1 week ago (not the titanium version), added a handful of caulerpa plus par 38 8w 4b at 3wts per LED running 12 hrs per day (reduced from 15 hrs) 3 weeks ago.

Currently using tap water for water changes once a week. I got no space for a ro/di unit and haven't really considered getting distilled water from the supermarket. Trying to keep the cost cheap and don't really want to be lugging water around. 12litres change for a 100litre tank. Done this water change every week for a few months.

Major water change about 2 months ago after tank crash.

Nitrate levels currently still more than 50ppm. Can't seem to reduce it even after the major tank crash water change.

The stuff I added and algae didn't even budge the nitrate reading.

Diatoms have been more or less manageable till about last week. And now the diatoms that used to be isolated in my display has spread to my refugium with a major vengeance! Water in the refugium smells abit foul. Display tank smells ok.

Only 1 snail died but promptly removed in the past 3 weeks. 2 snails added last week.

Other livestock:

2 clownfish

1 pink skunk clownfish

1 bicolor blenny

2 mandarin fish

1 red scooter dragonet

1 doctor shrimp

1 watchman goby

2 snails

2 small hermit crabs

1 sand sifting starfish

Feeding 1-2 times daily on frozen brine shrimp and prawns. Very little wastage.

I suspect it blooms in the tank because of the par38. But I have already done so much to reduce the nutrients it needs so I thought it would be ok! Anything else that I can add specifically to get rid of diatoms? I'm at a loss. Thanks guys.

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Immerse the seagel in the tapwater for a period before using the water.

[andrewttw]

Ok I'll try that with the soaking. Thanks.

Anyone have cheap places to get bottled distilled water? Realise if I use distilled water to do water top up it'll cost me $60 a month. Abit too ex

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[woyeng**]

I thot diatoms come out at the start of new tank cycle ? If old tank then should be algae... In any case, my diatoms disappeared about 6 months into tank cycling

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[nooraqilemo]

I thot diatoms come out at the start of new tank cycle ? If old tank then should be algae... In any case, my diatoms disappeared about 6 months into tank cycling

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[artxakis]

how long your tank setup already bro? u got use anchlorine treatment?

[Martian]

how long your tank setup already bro? u got use anchlorine treatment?

Use Anti Chlorine can reduce diatoms?

[hammy]

Hi to reduce your diatom in your tank, you need to starve them.

• Employ phosphate and silicate remover such as Rowaphos will help you win 50% of the battle.
• Next is to invest in a good and efficient skimmer to remove organic before it builds up to a level that can feed them, a good skimmer will also help in the reduction of nitrate level which in turn translate into a healthier tank
• Using RO/DI water/distilled might be cheaper in the long run, a nano DI unit from madpetz does not require a lot of space and is capable of producing 0 TDS water which is gd enough for any reef tank anytime. Not to mention there is no need to lug water container everywhere anymore.
• If you find that you have already done all the above, activated carbon such as ROWAcarbon may help you further by absorbing the rest of the organic.
• Last but not least, ask yourself a few questions: What kinda of food you feed to your fishes (frozen mysis is known to contain high level of phoshate), did you used a reliable test kits? Do all your fishes finished up all the food you feed?

P/S Water change using tap water will fuel your problem to a bigger pproblem

just some sharing

[diki88]

Ok I'll try that with the soaking. Thanks.

Anyone have cheap places to get bottled distilled water? Realise if I use distilled water to do water top up it'll cost me $60 a month. Abit too ex

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since you mentioned about lugging it around and you have no space for ro/di unit + you would want to get distilled water, try ntuc home delivery. they have their inhouse Life brand which is distilled water.

just a rough calculation for you :

you change 12liters a week. 48 liters a month. 48 liters = 32x 1.5L bottle.

1 carton(12 bottles) = $5.514 before GST

You need 3 cartons (36 bottles) for water change with excess 4 bottles for topup or even for your own drinking consumption which equates to $16.542 before GST.

Add $10 for delivery charges and 7% for GST ($1.8579), you get a grand total of $28.40.

That is just a little below of half of your current planned expenditure of $60 for distilled water. Plus they deliver straight to your doorstep, no need to lug around bottles of distilled water. You could even order more one shot and save a little bit on delivery. Hope this is helpful for you.

Anyways just to clarify, DI in RO/DI is not distilled. Its deionisation. A different process altogether.

Lastly, here's a rather old thread on sgreef where bros here discuss about distilled water delivery.

[diki88]

Apologies, double post.

Edited March 21, 2014 by bombom

[xiggie]

How bout using the goodbye po4 on the salt mix with tap water? It removes phosphate too ... Just need to have a skimmer in the tub before water change ... Cheaper?? Need like 5 ml for 100ltrs of water?

[Martian]

How bout using the goodbye po4 on the salt mix with tap water? It removes phosphate too ... Just need to have a skimmer in the tub before water change ... Cheaper?? Need like 5 ml for 100ltrs of water?

Where can I find Goodbye PO4? How much is a bottle? I've been to C328 but they dun carry them...

[xiggie]

Go to car park opposite clementi florist carpark the shophouse behind the mosque..

Marine life

[Martian]

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/topic/82743-goodbye-po4/page-3#entry1163539'>http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/topic/82743-goodbye-po4/page-3#entry1163539 Go to car park opposite clementi florist carpark the shophouse behind the mosque.. Marine life

Thanks bro...

[xiggie]

When using goodbye po4 .. Or most likely lanthanum ... It's a must to have a very good skimmer .. Run it wet , and/or a 10micron filter sock ... Dose slowly and not dump the whole recommended amount into the tank ... Best dosed right at the skimmer intake or before the socks.. Water will turn cloudy ... Try at best to make sure the main tank doesn't cloud .. So confine the cloudiness In the sump ,

My yellow tang was affected when I dosed too fast , heavy breading and looks like it's gonna climb the ' stairway to heaven ' anytime .. But ... He survived !! Lol

[xiggie]

Now ... Who knows where I can get a 10micon sock?