Latest Infestation: Diatoms?

[karatekid14]

My tank has been running for well over a year now and I am still suffering from algae. My latest fight is with diatom algae. I had heard that diatoms besides being caused by new tank syndrome, are often associated with too high of nutrient levels.

I have manually been pulling it out and lowered the water level to help oxygenate. I also have a pump to help with any dead spots and oxygenate.

Tank Specs
2x24W T5 HO ~8 hours a day
Co2 ~20 ppm
50% water change every week

Ferts 3x a week
Plantex CSM+B, KNO3, KH2PO4, K2SO4

PPM
Plantex CSM+B: Fe 0.5ppm
KNO3: K~ 6.13ppm N~ 2.196ppm NO3~ 9.723ppm
KH2PO4: K~ 0.184ppm P~ 0.146ppm PO4~ 0.448ppm
K2SO4: K~ 1.989ppm S~ 0.815ppm

Sorry if my info is confusing, I figured I should give it all. If you have any questions about the ferts please ask because I don't know if I gave relevant info.

Here is what it looked like Saturday and today. I can't keep up!





It is the thickest in the hair grass, although the pics don't show it.

[l8nite]

I don't know enough to give you specific help, but I wanted to say:

1) Your tank looks awesome, even with the algae
2) Don't give up the fight, you'll get it under control with some patience and the advice from other folks here.

[karce87]

It might be Rhizoclonium. I had it before. Just siphon it out as much as possible. lower the light period. increase CO2. That did the job for me.

[karatekid14]

I looked up Rhizoclonium and I don't think I have it. It looks very green and whatever algae I have is brown. I spent over 2 hours today pulling it out so now it looks like the photo from last Saturday. I am worried that by next Saturday it will look like the infested pictures.

[Jeffww]

I have it. I have it EVERY time I start a new tank. It goes away on its own. In the meant time keep your co2 and circulation up. Siphon out what you can. I use a tooth brush and twirl it around. Eventually it goes away and never comes back.

It's a form of diatoms btw.

[xiaoxiy]

Originally Posted by Jeffww

I have it. I have it EVERY time I start a new tank. It goes away on its own. In the meant time keep your co2 and circulation up. Siphon out what you can. I use a tooth brush and twirl it around. Eventually it goes away and never comes back.

It's a form of diatoms btw.

How long does it usually stay around for? I'm running into a diatom bloom in my new tank too. Been doing every 3 day water changes and scrubbing all my hardscape like crazy during the water changes.

[Jeffww]

Give it a month. It's frustrating I know and you will probably have plants die on your while it happens. Just let it happen and when it's done it's done.

[sjb1987]

Originally Posted by Jeffww

Give it a month. It's frustrating I know and you will probably have plants die on your while it happens. Just let it happen and when it's done it's done.

+1 very true.... Try not disturb your substrate either... It'll just make it worse

[karatekid14]

So the best option may be to let it run its' course, but what would be the cause of diatoms in an established tank? Unless I know what I did wrong I will have lots of frustrations. Also when people talk about ppm do they add the whole weeks amount of say K and say Xppm of K? Or are those levels the amount K you should dose each day. If it is each day then I have been doing things seriously wrong.

[latchdan]

I'm having the same problem in an established tank. I just moved my tank and had to drain it and re-fill. Hope it goes away for me too I'm just removing it with a tooth brush but doesn't seem to slow it down. I also tried adden a couple fast growing plants to see if that will help as well.

[Jeffww]

It comes from silicates. This can be from a change in your tap water, a change in substrate or just moving stuff around in the tank. The stuff's pretty bullet proof so I like to just use an old toothbrush with really messed up bristles to entangle everything and get rid of it.

[zzrguy]

I had diatom a added Otto's and they ate it then it came ba k i added shrimp they ate it it came back I added a snail he ate it it came back
. I now have Otto's Amanio shrimp and one little rams horn and the algae is under control.

[AirstoND]

nerites

[karatekid14]

Originally Posted by Jeffww

It comes from silicates. This can be from a change in your tap water, a change in substrate or just moving stuff around in the tank. The stuff's pretty bullet proof so I like to just use an old toothbrush with really messed up bristles to entangle everything and get rid of it.

I should get a silicate test kit and see if that is the problem. If it is I could get PhosGuard to remove the silicates, but that would also remove my phosphates. If I dosed higher phosphates would that counteract the PhosGuard or cause it to deplete faster?

As for otos and shrimp they won't touch the the algae. I would gets some nerites to clean the glass but I had a snail problem so there are still a few assassins left.

[latchdan]

Originally Posted by karatekid14

I should get a silicate test kit and see if that is the problem. If it is I could get PhosGuard to remove the silicates, but that would also remove my phosphates. If I dosed higher phosphates would that counteract the PhosGuard or cause it to deplete faster?

As for otos and shrimp they won't touch the the algae. I would gets some nerites to clean the glass but I had a snail problem so there are still a few assassins left.

I have a few nerites and from what I've seen haven't touched the algae. Althought they mainly stay on the glass and driftwood. I don't see them climbing the more delicate plants (which are most infested). Heck, the diatoms are growing on the snails shells.