nyc water and brown diatom algae

jonathan · 01-19-2013, 01:15 PM

Im cycling a tank and noticing quite a significant amount of brown diatom algae. I notice it especially on ei water change day making me think our water might be high in silicates. I dont know how to confirm this though.

In your experience is this normal or do you think it could be another factor ? I've had them for at least two weeks and they dont seem to go away.

I cant add ottos yet.

chibikaie · 01-19-2013, 06:34 PM

I'm an hour out from NYC, water is not quite as soft - have lots of brown diatoms. They get edged out by green algae (dust? not sure of the type) after a while. I am fairly certain that I need better plant growth. Couldn't tell you anything else, unfortunately.

Monster Fish · 01-19-2013, 09:12 PM

They should go away after your tank is established. If not, a couple of otos usually makes quick work of them.

jonathan · 01-20-2013, 12:20 AM

This algae is very unattractive

chibikaie · 01-20-2013, 12:29 AM

Yeah, totally with you there. I now have a fuzzy brown carpet. I am contemplating dropping some snails into the tank, to see if they eat the algae.

furnfins · 01-20-2013, 10:17 AM

I used nerites in one tank that had algae on rocks,heater etc. they cleared it up in 24 hours, I was amazed.

Adam T · 01-21-2013, 09:25 PM

I'm in westchester and we have the same resevoirs so its pretty much the same water as nyc. When i first set up my tank the diatoms were a mess for about 2 weeks. It was almost to the point where i thought I bit off more than I could chew with a hi tec planted tank and was about to scrap the tank. A friend of mine interceded and told me to start adding potassium and to double the amount of excel I was using. Literally the next day all of the diatom was gone... I mean 100% like it never existed, completely gone. Unfortunately I changed more than one thing so I cant point to any one and say it fixed it.

I added ottos and japonica to the tank and although they did eat the diatoms they were not solving the problem. At its peak, the entire tank was covered. It was a complete mess, and I didnt think it was ever going to get better.

NYC and the surrounding suburbs has some of the best tap water in the country and although there are silicates in it, its great water. I'm a little obsessive when it comes to water changes (atleast 5 gallons a day in a 65 gallon tank). I use tap with some conditioner and 1/2 teaspoon of discus buffer and the plants and fish seem to love it. My plants actually turn more red right after major water changes which makes me think theres something good in the tap water that Im not adding otherwise.

If you hang tight the diatom will disappear, even if its so bad you think there is no way its ever going to clear up.

Good luck and hang in there!

01-19-2013, 01:15 PM	#1
jonathan Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Brooklyn NYC Posts: 121	nyc water and brown diatom algae Im cycling a tank and noticing quite a significant amount of brown diatom algae. I notice it especially on ei water change day making me think our water might be high in silicates. I dont know how to confirm this though. In your experience is this normal or do you think it could be another factor ? I've had them for at least two weeks and they dont seem to go away. I cant add ottos yet.

01-19-2013, 09:12 PM	#3
Monster Fish Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (24/100%) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 1,833	They should go away after your tank is established. If not, a couple of otos usually makes quick work of them. __________________ 5.5 gallon grass tank\|5.5 gallon Rili tank RAOK Club #77\|*The Fraternity of Dirt #112*

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01-19-2013, 06:34 PM	#2
chibikaie Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 509	I'm an hour out from NYC, water is not quite as soft - have lots of brown diatoms. They get edged out by green algae (dust? not sure of the type) after a while. I am fairly certain that I need better plant growth. Couldn't tell you anything else, unfortunately.

01-20-2013, 12:20 AM	#4
jonathan Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Brooklyn NYC Posts: 121	This algae is very unattractive

01-20-2013, 12:29 AM	#5
chibikaie Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 509	Yeah, totally with you there. I now have a fuzzy brown carpet. I am contemplating dropping some snails into the tank, to see if they eat the algae.

01-20-2013, 10:17 AM	#6
furnfins Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Brooklyn,NY Posts: 416	I used nerites in one tank that had algae on rocks,heater etc. they cleared it up in 24 hours, I was amazed.

01-21-2013, 09:25 PM	#7
Adam T Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: New York Posts: 49	I'm in westchester and we have the same resevoirs so its pretty much the same water as nyc. When i first set up my tank the diatoms were a mess for about 2 weeks. It was almost to the point where i thought I bit off more than I could chew with a hi tec planted tank and was about to scrap the tank. A friend of mine interceded and told me to start adding potassium and to double the amount of excel I was using. Literally the next day all of the diatom was gone... I mean 100% like it never existed, completely gone. Unfortunately I changed more than one thing so I cant point to any one and say it fixed it. I added ottos and japonica to the tank and although they did eat the diatoms they were not solving the problem. At its peak, the entire tank was covered. It was a complete mess, and I didnt think it was ever going to get better. NYC and the surrounding suburbs has some of the best tap water in the country and although there are silicates in it, its great water. I'm a little obsessive when it comes to water changes (atleast 5 gallons a day in a 65 gallon tank). I use tap with some conditioner and 1/2 teaspoon of discus buffer and the plants and fish seem to love it. My plants actually turn more red right after major water changes which makes me think theres something good in the tap water that Im not adding otherwise. If you hang tight the diatom will disappear, even if its so bad you think there is no way its ever going to clear up. Good luck and hang in there!