Diatoms?

AUAV8R · 02-06-2013, 05:11 PM

My tank has been up for 6 months and I've tried reducing light, increasing light and I can not get rid of this algae. I think it's diatoms but it doesn't come off of the leaves easily like I've heard. I'm not really sure what this is and any help would be greatly appreciated.

AUAV8R · 02-06-2013, 05:12 PM

More pics

AUAV8R · 02-06-2013, 05:15 PM

More

AUAV8R · 02-06-2013, 05:16 PM

Again

**msawdey** · 02-06-2013, 05:20 PM

looks like diatoms or brown algae to me.

Best fix... Otos hands down. Also if your bulbs are old then that may also be the issue. in the words of Tom Barr. "if you grow the plants, you wont have an algae problem"

I try to follow this. If i focus on growing the plants, ie providing enough co2, ferts, proper light cycle, then algae will disappear

AUAV8R · 02-06-2013, 05:26 PM

Will doing a blackout help with this?

Peccator · 02-06-2013, 06:45 PM

A blackout won't help, this kind of algae thrives in lower light.

**msawdey** · 02-06-2013, 10:21 PM

How long are your lights on for currently. How old are the bulbs? Are you dosing ferts? Co2? Any algae eating fauna currently? RO/DI or tap for water changes?

WestHaven · 02-10-2013, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msawdey

How long are your lights on for currently. How old are the bulbs? Are you dosing ferts? Co2? Any algae eating fauna currently? RO/DI or tap for water changes?

I'm glad I found this thread, because I just started having the same problem. My lights are 2x24 watter T5s, on for 12 hours a day, the bulbs are about 8 months old, I dose a capful of Excel every 3 days, and no algae-eating fauna. I use tap water for water changes. I did a 20% change today. What should I do?

AUAV8R · 02-07-2013, 01:35 AM

Lights are on for 7 hours, bulbs are 6 months old, no CO2, osmocote plus root tabs, 2 ottos and 1 Siamese algae eater, tap water, standard 75 gallon using two 48" T5HO bulbs 8 inches above the surface.

**msawdey** · 02-07-2013, 01:56 AM

hmmm.. I truly think this is a no co2 issue. Try dosing with excel if you dont want to dive into the world of CO2, but I can tell you from experience, CO2 is the best algae control

zackariah · 02-07-2013, 03:47 AM

I've got the same problem. What is excel.

**msawdey** · 02-07-2013, 03:48 AM

excel is glutaraldehyde... Think of it as CO2 in liquid form.... but nothing beats a full co2 system

AUAV8R · 02-07-2013, 08:14 PM

I have paintball CO2, I just got tired of having to refill every two weeks. I bought an electronic solenoid to be able to turn it off at night but i didnt realize that i had to have a way to regulate the 800psi from the tank, down to whatever the solenoid requires.

DarKfish · 02-08-2013, 06:35 AM

For diatoms, you can make use of Siamese algae eater and RO water change.
Another fact that you must take into account is the presence of GSA (Green sport algae) that emerges in low phosphate condition. you can add some K2Po4 (potassium phosphate)

02-06-2013, 05:11 PM	#1
AUAV8R Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Birmingham, Alabama Posts: 100	Diatoms? My tank has been up for 6 months and I've tried reducing light, increasing light and I can not get rid of this algae. I think it's diatoms but it doesn't come off of the leaves easily like I've heard. I'm not really sure what this is and any help would be greatly appreciated. Attached Thumbnails

02-06-2013, 05:12 PM	#2
AUAV8R Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Birmingham, Alabama Posts: 100	More pics Attached Thumbnails

02-06-2013, 05:15 PM	#3
AUAV8R Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Birmingham, Alabama Posts: 100	More Attached Thumbnails

02-06-2013, 05:16 PM	#4
AUAV8R Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Birmingham, Alabama Posts: 100	Again Attached Thumbnails

02-06-2013, 05:20 PM	#5
msawdey Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 972	looks like diatoms or brown algae to me. Best fix... Otos hands down. Also if your bulbs are old then that may also be the issue. in the words of Tom Barr. "if you grow the plants, you wont have an algae problem" I try to follow this. If i focus on growing the plants, ie providing enough co2, ferts, proper light cycle, then algae will disappear __________________ msawdey -Just another day in paradise-

02-06-2013, 05:26 PM	#6
AUAV8R Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Birmingham, Alabama Posts: 100	Will doing a blackout help with this?

02-06-2013, 06:45 PM	#7
Peccator Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dubuque, Iowa Posts: 42	A blackout won't help, this kind of algae thrives in lower light.

02-06-2013, 10:21 PM	#8
msawdey Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 972	How long are your lights on for currently. How old are the bulbs? Are you dosing ferts? Co2? Any algae eating fauna currently? RO/DI or tap for water changes? __________________ msawdey -Just another day in paradise-

02-07-2013, 01:35 AM	#10
AUAV8R Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Birmingham, Alabama Posts: 100	Lights are on for 7 hours, bulbs are 6 months old, no CO2, osmocote plus root tabs, 2 ottos and 1 Siamese algae eater, tap water, standard 75 gallon using two 48" T5HO bulbs 8 inches above the surface.

02-07-2013, 01:56 AM	#11
msawdey Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 972	hmmm.. I truly think this is a no co2 issue. Try dosing with excel if you dont want to dive into the world of CO2, but I can tell you from experience, CO2 is the best algae control __________________ msawdey -Just another day in paradise-

02-07-2013, 03:47 AM	#12
zackariah Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: el paso Posts: 206	I've got the same problem. What is excel.

02-07-2013, 03:48 AM	#13
msawdey Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 972	excel is glutaraldehyde... Think of it as CO2 in liquid form.... but nothing beats a full co2 system __________________ msawdey -Just another day in paradise-

02-07-2013, 08:14 PM	#14
AUAV8R Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Birmingham, Alabama Posts: 100	I have paintball CO2, I just got tired of having to refill every two weeks. I bought an electronic solenoid to be able to turn it off at night but i didnt realize that i had to have a way to regulate the 800psi from the tank, down to whatever the solenoid requires.

02-08-2013, 06:35 AM	#15
DarKfish Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Earth Posts: 13	For diatoms, you can make use of Siamese algae eater and RO water change. Another fact that you must take into account is the presence of GSA (Green sport algae) that emerges in low phosphate condition. you can add some K2Po4 (potassium phosphate)

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