New member here. Please take a look and leave some advice!

946 Views 15 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Kayak83, May 3, 2017

Kayak83

Discussion Starter · Apr 21, 2017

3

I've been reading these forums for a while now and decided it's time to join and discuss....and get some help.

Here's my 29g setup, which is a few months old now and wasn't properly cycled from the get go, resulting in a constant battle with the brown stuff...diatoms. I dose 4ml excel daily (might need to cut back on that) and 5ml flourish 2x/week. Recently added Flourish tabs to my substrate and the Planted+ 24/7 so I can actually GROW plants (planted + is a week old). I had previously bought the Stingray which I quickly learned wouldn't grow anything in a 29g tank. Light is on max all day and off at night.

I've moved some things around between the first (new) and second (current) picture. While the moneywart is growing, it's a stark contrast of healthy GREEN vs....brown. And I'm afraid whatever that plant in the front left is...is near death. Especially after looking at the before/after now that I see it. Are the diatoms suffocating the plants by now allowing them to adsorb from the leaves properly?

It's filtered with a Fluval 206 canister. Stock media that came in the box + I've added a bag of Purigen on top that needing recharging this weekend I think. Phosguard is on the way and should be delivered today, thinking maybe silicates are the issue.

Honestly, I'm ready to start over and wash the substrate. Maybe put in a proper layer of planted substrate for the plants while I'm at it. I just like the white look, which is obviously very hard to keep up...especially for a novice.

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MtAnimals

· #2 · Apr 21, 2017

Many tanks go through a diatom phase..be patient,it's just a phase.Personally,I toss in a few mini ramshorns to clean it up.Adding ferts to the water column will help the plants tremendously,especially the ones without root systems.

Most of what I've seen says diatoms are caused by silicates in the water.I think you want some phosphate for the plants to use.

Nice looking angel BTW.

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Kayak83

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 21, 2017

MtAnimals said:
Many tanks go through a diatom phase..be patient,it's just a phase.Personally,I toss in a few mini ramshorns to clean it up.Adding ferts to the water column will help the plants tremendously,especially the ones without root systems.

Most of what I've seen says diatoms are caused by silicates in the water.I think you want some phosphate for the plants to use.

Nice looking angel BTW.

I've got Seachem Phosguard delivered today. From what I've learned, the moneywart along the back will respond best to the ferts in the watercolumn. I'm just worried the diatoms will never wash off the plants and they'll always be brown.

The anglelfish pictured is a Platinum we've named Gandalf. There's another smaller silver angelfish in there also that we named "little G". The Planted + really shows off the blue dots on the platinum's fins I didn't see before.

Will the diatoms die off eventually and vanish or will I need to scrub things clean?

MtAnimals

· #4 · Apr 21, 2017

Kayak83 said:
I've got Seachem Phosguard delivered today. From what I've learned, the moneywart along the back will respond best to the ferts in the watercolumn. I'm just worried the diatoms will never wash off the plants and they'll always be brown.

The anglelfish pictured is a Platinum we've named Gandalf. There's another smaller silver angelfish in there also that we named "little G". The Planted + really shows off the blue dots on the platinum's fins I didn't see before.

Will the diatoms die off eventually and vanish or will I need to scrub things clean?

IME,the diatoms will go away eventually.They're kinda wierd,I had a diatom phase in 2 of my tanks,the others skipped it.All my outdoor stock tanks get them though.

The last tank that got them,I dropped in 5 ramshorn snails,and I began seeing tracks through it by the end of that day.2 days later diatoms were gone.

Kayak83

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 21, 2017

MtAnimals said:
IME,the diatoms will go away eventually.They're kinda wierd,I had a diatom phase in 2 of my tanks,the others skipped it.All my outdoor stock tanks get them though.

The last tank that got them,I dropped in 5 ramshorn snails,and I began seeing tracks through it by the end of that day.2 days later diatoms were gone.

I'm hesitant for snails. I don't need a snail outbreak. I had one batch of plants from Petco once that came with some baggage...

But I'm nearly up for trying anything.

awesometim1

· #6 · Apr 21, 2017

Kayak83 said:
I'm hesitant for snails. I don't need a snail outbreak. I had one batch of plants from Petco once that came with some baggage...

But I'm nearly up for trying anything.

AMANO SHRIMPS AND OTTOS
Best clean up crew.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Kayak83

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 21, 2017

awesometim1 said:
AMANO SHRIMPS AND OTTOS
Best clean up crew.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Otto's are a possibility. I'm thinking my Yoyo Loach might be territorial to them though. It's really claimed the bottom floor of the tank haha. I've got some ghost shrimp but could go for a few more. They're always busy somewhere in there, which i like. I also have a tiny red shrimp but it's not very active.

Alf2Frankie

· #8 · Apr 21, 2017

Go for the Ottos they work well for the diatoms. I think they would be fine with the Yoyo loach, but keep an eye on them at first. If you want some more info on it read this - Brown Algae, Diatoms In Freshwater Tanks

Good luck!

Kayak83

Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 21, 2017

Alf2Frankie said:
Go for the Ottos they work well for the diatoms. I think they would be fine with the Yoyo loach, but keep an eye on them at first. If you want some more info on it read this - Brown Algae, Diatoms In Freshwater Tanks

Good luck!

My local Petco has Cory Cat's and ghost shrimp in stock. Some quick research says cory's are hit and miss on diatoms. any experience with them? Or else I might need a special order or take a trip to another (better) fish store I like.

I also keep my water at 78-80 degrees which seems warm for cats.

awesometim1

· #10 · Apr 21, 2017

Kayak83 said:
My local Petco has Cory Cat's and ghost shrimp in stock. Some quick research says cory's are hit and miss on diatoms. any experience with them? Or else I might need a special order or take a trip to another (better) fish store I like.

I also keep my water at 78-80 degrees which seems warm for cats.

Cory cats do not eat diatoms as part of their main diet. Ottocinclus catfish do. Also, ghost shrimp are not usually effective in getting rid of algae. I would consider ordering amano shrimp online.

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MtAnimals

· #11 · Apr 21, 2017

the oto's are great for removing the brown diatoms,but then they have to be fed something after the diatoms are gone.Also,the oto's I can get here only come from a box store,and they never live long.

I use pink ramshorn,and remove excess with cucumber,or I have used romaine lettuce.I usually remove them now with leftover zuchinni that doesn't get eaten the day before,I put in zuchinni every day for my bn plecs and their fry.

Snail outbreaks are usually caused by excess leftover food in the tank.thier population adjusts to the available food.

Reactions: 1

Kayak83

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 21, 2017

MtAnimals said:
the oto's are great for removing the brown diatoms,but then they have to be fed something after the diatoms are gone.Also,the oto's I can get here only come from a box store,and they never live long.

I use pink ramshorn,and remove excess with cucumber,or I have used romaine lettuce.I usually remove them now with leftover zuchinni that doesn't get eaten the day before,I put in zuchinni every day for my bn plecs and their fry.

Snail outbreaks are usually caused by excess leftover food in the tank.thier population adjusts to the available food.

Algae wafers I assume would suffice? My (now deceased) pleco used to enjoy them. And the shrimp certainly take to them. I usually broke off half a tab every few days.

I used Cobalt Aquatics Algae Grazers.

Alf2Frankie

· #13 · Apr 21, 2017 (Edited)

I agree with awesometim1. I don't think the cories would make a big dent in the diatoms, and definitely recommend the Amano's over ghost shrimp for this.

Kayak83

Discussion Starter · #14 · Apr 21, 2017

You guys are great!

I called my favorite shop and they have some albino cory's, which are neat, but she said they are hit and miss on diatom's. They might get some otto's in today but apparently it's a mystery when will be in the delivery. I'd rather not spend $40 on shipping for a few $3 otto's online.

You think 2 otto's would be good for a well stocked 29g? That's ~4" of fish assuming they get 2" each. My Yoyo is probably full sized and seems large.

somewhatshocked

· #15 · Apr 21, 2017

Welcome to the forum!

Hope you'll consider starting a tank journal in the journals section so we can all follow along.

Kayak83

Discussion Starter · #16 · May 3, 2017

Picked up two Otto's and a bag of Phosguard. Left the Phosguard in for 4 days and removed it and it really did an awesome job! I think I understood the packaging correctly that it shouldn't always be in, right? I know plants need some phosphates as part of their nutrient requirement. I have a phosphate test kit on it's way in the mail. Shame to throw away a bag like that...

Also took a water change opportunity to redo the tank a bit. And added in a neat piece of driftwood I found off the beach (boiled thoroughly and soaked).

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