The diatoms are back

gingerinaustin

gingerinaustin

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Apr 11, 2007
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The diatoms in my 55 gallon had finally disappeared before I converted the tank to live plants a month ago. Now they are back with a vengeance. Why?? Aren't the plants supposed to be eating the nitrates?

I started dosing the tank with KNO3 and KCl last week; 1/4 teaspoon every other day to bring the nitrates to 5 ppm and the KCl to probably around 10 ppm per Chuck Gadd's calculator. API test kit indicates 5 ppm nitrates (some leftover test strips indicate the nitrates are much higher but the API test is more accurate--right??) I'm still dosing Excel every day. I dosed iron once with the last water change. I haven't started dosing phosphates as the tank water has .5 ppm. I haven't started traces.

Another problem is that my amazon sword is getting that lacy-leaf look. I'm sure that's some deficiency but of what? I put a Seachem Flourish root tab in the Eco-Complete underneath the sword two weeks ago, also one under the sag, they both still look crummy.

Any suggestions?

:angryfire: I hate diatoms. :angryfire:
 
I would continue to lay off the phosphates as diatoms seem to love them... Are you over feeding? Are you suuuuure you aren't over feeding?

Also, what sort of lighting do you have? How old are the bulbs?
 
New tank? Glass or Acrylic?

Basically Diatoms are persitant for about the 1st year in new tanks.

Harmless and easy to remove manually, but unsightly. Otos work great on this, as will your Platies/Mollies (the snails will get to them also).

Alos, increasing the light will tend to help as well, but this can eaisly casue other issues such as algae.

How did you rid yourself of it in the past (it never really goes away BTW)?

Here's a Great Starter page for info: http://www.plantgeek.net/article_viewer.php?id=9
 
:iagree: silicates seem to be one of the most important factors.
if the tank is glass and relatively new this problem tends to be more common.

as the tank mautures and you start dropping silicates then there may be less diatoms.

silicates can also come from the water source and or substrate.
 
-just a side question, because I'm trying to learn all of this plant talk.. lol


What is KCL?? Potassium Chloride???????
What does this do for plants?? Just wondering, like I said, I'm trying to educate myself because soon I will be dosing my tank... Trying to fill my head with knowledge first. ;)
 
1st Q Yes, you are correct
2nd Q, Potassium is found in leaves prodominatly (and a root too I think), and a good indicator of a potassium depleated plant is one that looses it's leaves or develops whole in mature leaves. This compounds aids in enzyme exchange and leaf functions. Again, in aquatic plants I think it also plays a factor in roots as well.

Hope that helps!

Also, I would simply do a Google on Planted Aquariums or Tanks. There is a lot of good info! I'll link 2 of my favorites in a minute

Here: http://www.plantgeek.net/ and http://rexgrigg.com/

ENJOY! ;)
 
ct-death said:
1st Q Yes, you are correct
2nd Q, Potassium is found in leaves prodominatly (and a root too I think), and a good indicator of a potassium depleated plant is one that looses it's leaves or develops whole in mature leaves. This compounds aids in enzyme exchange and leaf functions. Again, in aquatic plants I think it also plays a factor in roots as well.

Hope that helps!

Also, I would simply do a Google on Planted Aquariums or Tanks. There is a lot of good info! I'll link 2 of my favorites in a minute

Here: http://www.plantgeek.net/ and http://rexgrigg.com/

ENJOY! ;)
Click to expand...
Thanks :)
 
I have a bad problem with brown diatoms in my tank also. It is a new tank, about 5 months old. The diatoms weren't to bad, and I could go two or three weeks before cleaning them. Since I've added a better a light, plants, DIY CO2, and ferts, the population has exploded. I have to clean them every 5 days or so now. I went from about .7 watts/gallon to 2.5 watts/gallon with the new light.

I think it's either the plastic rock I had in my tank, or the 'gravel'. I got the gravel at PetsMart and I don't think it's real gravel, though it looks like it. I'll have to go back and see what it's made of. I've removed the plastic rock recently. Although it was made for aquariums, I'll see if that helps any. If that doesn't, I might be replacing the substrate :(
 
Diatoms go away on their own right?? I know that in many setups they can appear on the decor and the glass. So far, my tank has been up for about 3 months or so, and I have diatoms on my glass. I wiped most of them away execpt on my back glass, becuase it was hard to get to.... I can just leave them be and they will go away on their own right??? They dont bother me...

No harm in leaving them right?
 
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