Algae Takin-Ova

Diatoms

 

looks like diatoms to me also

you just ignore them and they go away

Steve

 

so today i thought i should just turn on my actinics, should i keep on with this or should i turn the daylights back on?

 

any answer

 

Sorry el sillo - time zone - I had to go to work

many people just run actinics during the cycle period , but lighting is of no consequence regarding diatoms - they come, they go, irrespective of lighting

Steve

 

o ok so i will run my daylights also, so my lights will run now from 12 to 8 actinics and 1 to 7 daylights is this ok?

 

diatoms. your problem is bio-available silica so it is not showing up on tests b/c you aren't testing for it. ceriths, nerites,time take care of it. Plastics pic this up, my guess is maybe something new and plastic went in the tank, or was sued in mixing....silica isn't one of those normal nutrients that just builds up like nitrate or phos...large water change?

 

oh I should have read to the 2nd page.

 

so the only thing i can do is wait? i am really a clean freak! and i dont even like when my tank turns on because its all brown and cloudy! its starting to be a pain just watching it, one month ago it was perfect! now i bought a maxi-jet 600 because my LFS told me better current would help! please someone give me a tip or is it just patience

 

Diatoms are most responsive to silca/silicates, but DOCs (Dissolved Organic Compounds), nitrates, and phosphates are food sources as well.

If the source of the diatoms is exclusively based off of the silcates then, they will starve to death over time. And keep in mind when it does starve out, if you have a large amount of animals that are used for eatting these, their foodsource will dry up and they will die.

Also Low water flow or movement throughout the aquarium produces carbon dioxide (CO2), which algae consume. So adding the powerhead could help.

Just keep in mind that what you've got in there is a piece of nature.... and like pieces of nature, at times someone will just get a cold or flu. No real way to cure it, just rest and time. Just make sure that your problem is limited to the silicates and find out how they got in there, otherwise you could just be adding to the problem.