Diatom invasion

OrangeAugust · 03-05-2013, 06:13 PM

I have brown algae in my tank, which I believe is diatoms. It rubs off easily, but it is on every surface! My 3 nerite snails can hardly keep up with it. It's annoying when I have to rub algae off my camboba (or myriophyllum.. idk which one it is) every 3 days.
The tank has been running for almost 3 months.

10 gallon tank, divided for 3 bettas
gravel substrate
no ferts or CO2
LED lights
photoperiod- about 12 hours+
plants: amazon sword, rosette sword, and what Petsmart calls "Frill" (I think it's either Camboba AKA fanwort, or Myriophyllum pinnatum).
Ammonia and nitrites are 0. My kit didn't come with a bottle to test nitrates.

inhabitants are 3 bettas, 3 nerite snails, a pond snail, and some tiny ramshorn snails that I hardly ever see (my fish may have eaten them).

GreenBliss · 03-05-2013, 07:19 PM

12 hours+ is a lot of light. I would cut it down to 8 hours. Get a test for nitrates and see how high your levels are.

Fuze · 03-05-2013, 07:57 PM

Get some ottos, I had diatoms on my glass and 2 of them in a 55 gallon keep the glass completely clear of it.

OrangeAugust · 03-05-2013, 08:03 PM

I can't get Otos because it's a divided tank so I'd only be able to put one in each section. They wouldn't be happy without buddies. My snails do ok, but they can't eat the algae off the floating fanwort and they haven't really done much on my plants- just the glass and dividers, mainly.
I'll try to shorten the photoperiod.

BruceF · 03-05-2013, 08:16 PM

What are you using for a filter?

kochman · 03-05-2013, 08:37 PM

in my experience at the petstore i work at it will happen if nitrates get to high. On feeder goldfish tanks etc.... where there is high bio load we see it. i have also heard from so sources that green is too much light and brown is too little. I think in your case i would look at nitrates. Filtering also can be issue . Just IMHO

OrangeAugust · 03-06-2013, 03:05 AM

I'm using the Tetra Whisper 10i as a filter...

I will get another test kit that includes nitrates. Is it possible that my tank isn't fully cycled yet even though it has been running for 3 months and I used a filter cartridge and gravel from another established tank? My nitrites and ammonia have never been above 0.

03-05-2013, 06:13 PM	#1
OrangeAugust Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 83	Diatom invasion I have brown algae in my tank, which I believe is diatoms. It rubs off easily, but it is on every surface! My 3 nerite snails can hardly keep up with it. It's annoying when I have to rub algae off my camboba (or myriophyllum.. idk which one it is) every 3 days. The tank has been running for almost 3 months. 10 gallon tank, divided for 3 bettas gravel substrate no ferts or CO2 LED lights photoperiod- about 12 hours+ plants: amazon sword, rosette sword, and what Petsmart calls "Frill" (I think it's either Camboba AKA fanwort, or Myriophyllum pinnatum). Ammonia and nitrites are 0. My kit didn't come with a bottle to test nitrates. inhabitants are 3 bettas, 3 nerite snails, a pond snail, and some tiny ramshorn snails that I hardly ever see (my fish may have eaten them).

03-05-2013, 07:19 PM	#2
GreenBliss Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: WCH Ohio Posts: 299	12 hours+ is a lot of light. I would cut it down to 8 hours. Get a test for nitrates and see how high your levels are. __________________ DBP Club 18G (Red Cherry Neo Shrimp \| Malawa Shrimp) 7.5G (Yellow Neo Shrimp) 3.2G (Pumpkin Neo Shrimp)

03-05-2013, 07:57 PM	#3
Fuze Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: NYC Posts: 240	Get some ottos, I had diatoms on my glass and 2 of them in a 55 gallon keep the glass completely clear of it. __________________ 55 Gallon "Nature's Strife" http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...354&highlight=

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03-05-2013, 08:03 PM	#4
OrangeAugust Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 83	I can't get Otos because it's a divided tank so I'd only be able to put one in each section. They wouldn't be happy without buddies. My snails do ok, but they can't eat the algae off the floating fanwort and they haven't really done much on my plants- just the glass and dividers, mainly. I'll try to shorten the photoperiod.

03-05-2013, 08:16 PM	#5
BruceF Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Centennial,Co Posts: 557	What are you using for a filter?

03-05-2013, 08:37 PM	#6
kochman Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: canada Posts: 51	in my experience at the petstore i work at it will happen if nitrates get to high. On feeder goldfish tanks etc.... where there is high bio load we see it. i have also heard from so sources that green is too much light and brown is too little. I think in your case i would look at nitrates. Filtering also can be issue . Just IMHO

03-06-2013, 03:05 AM	#7
OrangeAugust Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 83	I'm using the Tetra Whisper 10i as a filter... I will get another test kit that includes nitrates. Is it possible that my tank isn't fully cycled yet even though it has been running for 3 months and I used a filter cartridge and gravel from another established tank? My nitrites and ammonia have never been above 0.