I cannot seem to kill off the diatoms in my aquarium or control them. They kill all my plants off and grow in this film on my glass that is darn near impossible to scrape off. So I increased my filter amount and water flow and even got a UV sterilizer, which has helped but the stuff still kills my plants. I even for long periods of time I turn my lights to a Red spectrum, but as soon as the full spectrum comes back on the stuff starts to bloom. My substrate is sand though and I know that provides a food source for them and my glass is acrylic so that is also a another food source. Any recommendations to help?
I do not have a CO2 injector yet, I will get one soon after I get a few pay checks from my summer job though. I also cannot get an algae eating fish since I have a False African Upside down Catfish and he kills every single bottom feeding fish I put in there and I love him to much to get rid of him.
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Also interested in what co2 kits you would recommend as well.
I am not aware of a chemical means to dispose of diatoms and water changes don't seem to help. The two methods I know are a) physically removing diatoms from glass, leaves, substrate or 2) purchase cute Otocinclus catfish and let them eat the diatoms (they go after it like a kid to candy). Typically I use one (1) Otocinclus per 10-20 gallons of tank volume. If you run out of diatoms and the Otocinclus starts to look skinny, put 1/2 of an algae wafer in the tank a two or thee times a week just before lights out. Otherwise learn to love diatoms.
I always use a few ramshorn snails.I always have plenty.They can overpopulate,and I know a lot of people hate them,but they make quick work of brown diatoms.I get it a lot when starting new tanks.
Another approach is to add some fast growing nutrient hogging stem plants to out-compete for nutrients. But CO2 will enable all of your plants to better compete for nutrients with any variety of algae so consider that, maybe some excel in the interim to give your plants a little leg-up in that department.
best way to deal with diatoms IMO is use a ton of easy, fast growing plants and keep your lighting in check. if you use too much light then diatoms are going to take over no matter what you do.
I am assuming this is a newer tank? if so then keep light at reasonable levels (not too much) and wait it out until they totally disappear. then you can safely scape your tank with plants you want
depends on your budget. a $25 fluval mini co2 kit can accomplish 90% of what a $100-$300 co2 system. simply adding fizzys to the water and the plants will turn a brighter lush green color.
So the tank has been going strong for 11 years and I only had the diatoms issue when I changed to sand. If I got an Otto I would have to wait for jackass, the false upside down catfish, to die of age.
I do a light decrease as well, go to a Red spectrum for some weeks, but as soon as it goes back on the diatoms bloom.
My budget would be probably about 200. I was thinking of doing a DIY build for my CO2 injector, but if any kits out there are great for that same price range I would do that as well.
Sounds like there might be silicates in your new sand.It's been said diatoms are cause by silicates in the water.One would think when the silicates are exhausted,the diatoms would go.
Yep too many silicates.. There are ways to remove them from the water..
Phosgard ect.. Unfortunately most of these (obviously) remove phosphates as well.
There is silicate specific material (just removes silicates) but only have seen it at European web sites..
Why it is soo hard to find "stateside" is beyond me..
Best media for removing Silicates hands down is a product called Silicarbon from Germany that is available from Aquarium Specialty.
Diatoms themselves ARE silicate filters. They are removing the silicates from the water. You simply need to stay on top of removing the Diatoms. Every time you remove a lot of Diatoms you are also removing a lot of silicates.
New glass tanks and sand substrate are high in silicates and can load the water so much that Diatoms will thrive for a month or two in a new set up. The more frequently you remove them the more silicate you are removing from the system. If you let the Diatoms die the silicate is recycled into new diatoms.
As proof and a cautionary tale (some do not believe "sand" is a problem)
Running Silicate Remover
We placed a bag of Sera Silicate Clear in the sump of this tank and then waited a month. Low and behold no more silicate. At least not enough to even register on the Sera test kit.
Other Sources of Silicates
While we didn't test other sources of silicates I will mention some places where they are found. First, and foremost, your entire glass aquarium is SiO2. These silicates are virtually insoluble according to the MSDS listings. While not soluble, glass itself can react with some of the testing methods for silicates. If a specific dye or reagent is used to bind to a silicone molecule that could effect testing- which is why some testing methods require the water to be tested in plastic vials. Anyway another source (or really non-source) of silicates is silicate sand. A rumor ran round back in the days that silicate sand (a type of quartz sand) would dissolve and leach silicates into the aquarium. Again, this is simply not the case.
One area where silicates could be introduced is in the rockwork. Some types of ceramic rock will not only release silicates but will continue to leach silicates for a long time. One of the biggest obstacles to overcome in making artificial rock is in finding a proper clay that will not leach into the water. This is why it is important for these companies to test their products and to find long term effects of their rock in reef systems. As a hobbyist it is important to buy rock that has been well tested and shown to be reef safe
Otos will eat that [censored][censored][censored][censored] like candy. Add a bunch and watch them go to town over the week.
Could also try a blackout, 0 light 3 days. Cover that tank with stuff and add an airstone. Fish should be fine, just water change after.
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