Diatom Help

[dan2x38]

First I cannot do RO/DI at this time. This was not an issue before the upgrade on the 33g that ran for 6 months. I run a phosphate removal pad in the baffles of my sump. Added some GFO in a mesh bag to the sump in the baffles. Also have lots of circulation, have a great skimmer, today did first 10% WC after upgrade a week ago and do not over feed. I know this is likely silicia is that right? if so how do I remove it better without RO/DI.

It started to show a little on the glass then a little more and now starting to show on substrate. I turned off daytime lights just have on two tubes the atinics. Just started that this evening. Have a pretty good CuC even added some nerites and bumble bees.

What can I do to prevent this getting out of control?

[Bob P]

If you are sure it's diatom, pretty much nothing you can do.
As far as I know, you let it run it's course till it uses up all the
silica in the salt mix. It'll go away eventually.

[dan2x38]

Should I just keep on the atinics? That is what I am running since yesterday. I am sure it is diatoms.

D'OH it occurs to me sitting here staring at the tank what the biggest issue likely is. I said there was issue with the other setup & there wasn't. In fact there was a 4' 6 bulb Tek Light over a 30" tank. The photo period was 10 hours for atinics & 8 hours the rest of the tubes. Well I did the switch over which included replacing the substrate. So I should cut back the photo period right?

Is it possible that full photo period if the issue and I should go back to shorter period and slowly increase?

[Bob P]

When I set up my 75 a few years back, I had no lights on.
Still waited for diatom to come and go.
So not sure lights will make much difference

[dan2x38]

By cutting back the photo period of my daylights, adding a PO4 reactor, adding 5 nerites & 5 bumble bee snails, changed fuge lighting to 24/7 and doing a WC was able to curb the diatoms from a bloom. Cleaned the glass and a pump that was covered in brown in diatoms. Pretty pleased with the results.

Doing the 2nd WC on the setup tomorrow will be using RO/DI water complements of Ottawa Inverts - Thanks Pat this should also help a great deal.