View Full Version : Diatoms Covering all of my Plants
I have had my 55 gallon tank up and going for about 14 months and I have changed over from plastic to real plants. I have 120 watts over it right now and I am contemplating reducing it to 80 watts because some of my low light plants are struggling. In addition to this I have a reoccurring problem with brown algae covering the substrate, artificial rock, and the leaves of my plants. I have scrubbed it off, cleaned the filter, vacuumed the gravel, and even lightly brushed it off my plants but it always come back.
I was running my lights for about 12 hours a day but I am going to push it back to 8 hrs a day at 120 watts for a couple of days to see if that helps. If not I will reduce the watts to 80 to see if maybe I am giving too much light during the photo period. I dose Seachem Flourish once a week with no ferts or CO2.
Alot of the threads that I have read about diatoms say that they eventually just vanish. I do a 25% water change about every 5-7 days. Will this stuff hurt my plants?
MrGoodbytes
09-25-2008, 5:59 PM
With the light you have, you're in the low end of the range where you want to add CO2. I have a feeling that this is the factor limiting your plant growth. What is your aquarium stocked with? What are your nitrates measuring at? You seem to have enough for the algae but your plants can't out-compete them for nutrients. Keep in mind that plants (and many animals for that matter) can only grow as fast as the minimum source of fuel/nutrients allows (much like the limiting reagent in chemistry experiments).
Brown algae thats coats all surfaces are called Diatoms, they are usually rampant in new aquariums and usually leave on their own after awhile. But I've seen them rampant on slow growing plants with broad-leaves and photo-periods that are too long.
Good call on reducing your photo-period already, also if you have the room, Otocinclus love diatoms as well.
Fordtrannyman
09-25-2008, 7:28 PM
Diatoms are usually brought on by silicates or Not Enough Light.
What type of lighting and Kelvin rating(s) are your bulbs?
Have you recently introduced anything new, like a piece of man made aquarium decor?
What is your flora and fauna load?
I have 3 x 40 watt T12 6700K flourescent lights over the tank. I might cut it down to two of the bulbs if I continue to have problems. I have attached some photos of my struggling plants. I wonder if I should up my dosage of Flourish to two times a week? Would that help them outcompete the algae? Also, the anubias I have up on the rock........are they too high in the water column? Thanks.
My tank stock is:
15 neon tetras (would like to up it to 25.....waiting for my quarantine tank to finish cycling though.....last five that I added had ick)
6 Peppered Corys
2 Cherry Barbs
3 Ivory Mystery Snails
I would also like to eventually add a pair of Bolivian Rams but I definitely want to get my plant situation straightened out.
grannylvsfish
09-25-2008, 10:31 PM
ugh, I can not tell you how I hated that on my 55 to. it was maddning since the tank was up over a year and still producing it. all over the place and I hated to have to clean it 2 times a week. I found out 2 things.... when I took away the filters that were made for my back filters ( the ones with the charcoal in them) my brown algae went away, and all of a sudden so did this green algae that carpeted my drift wood and tank disapear. relieve was awsome!!! I buy the thick blue pad stuff on ebay I cut to fit the cartridges :)
Phyroath
09-26-2008, 12:50 AM
Yeah you got the same diatom problem as i did 3 months ago. Did all the possible means but could not get rid of it. Fordtrannyman found what I did to my tank with a piece of metal used for PVC connection. Highlight and algae eater have helped me a lot - pleco likes Brown algae but it is too big. I got China eaters every efficient in cleaning everything but they are very aggressive to other fish.
Arakkis
09-26-2008, 3:40 AM
nerites snails would love to eat them
grannylvsfish mentioned that the diatoms in her tank were cleared up by changing the filter media........has anyone else had the same success? would you suggest filter floss? should I use activated carbon or ammo chips?
DominionDesign
09-26-2008, 10:07 AM
Brown algae/diatoms cant grow without silicates. 2 common sources are the tap water being used and having silica sand in the tank. I saw in the pics you have gravel, by any chance is there sand under it? If it is your source water a deionization filter will remove it.
Hungriee
09-26-2008, 10:11 AM
Otos cats are the way to go to clean the diatoms up. They come for a little over a dollar @ most fish stores.
Squawkbert
09-26-2008, 10:22 AM
Otos cats are the way to go to clean the diatoms up. They come for a little over a dollar @ most fish stores.
Yup, Otos, Caradina or Neocaradina shrimp (Amano, RCS, CRS...), most snails - all big time diatom eaters.
There isn't any sand under it, so I get I need to check my tap. Is there any way to measure silicates?
Oh yeah, and BTW what are silicates exactly?
Star_Rider
09-26-2008, 1:26 PM
silicates(simple explanation) is the main mineral making up rock forming minerals.
they are a component in glass and it is common for new glass tanks as silicates may leach from the glass. usually in 1-2 years the levels drop to a point where diatoms become a non-issue.
they can also be found in water and in substrates:eek:
usually tho after the tank matures the problem goes away.
in the mean time.. depending on stocking levels.. Otocinclus will thrive in a tank with diatoms..very cool small armored catfish ;) put three of those in the tank and the diatoms will be history. but you will probably need to teach the otos to eat other foods.
I'd have them in my tanks (as they tend to be for their size ..one of the most ravenous of the algae eating catfishes.(sucker mouth catfish).
some snails and shrimp are also known to consume diatoms.
I definitely have room for them but it might change my original stocking plans. Could I wash out the substrate? Maybe that would help?
Also, will diatoms kill my plants or are they turning yellow for other reasons? I have a little over 2 watts per gallon so I wonder if I should think about DIY CO2......would that clear them up?
I was just thinking........I have root tabs in the substrate and dose Flourish Complete once to twice a week............do my plants (crypts, anubias, java fern, & amazon sword) really need these ferts? Maybe too many ferts killing the plants?
So how many ottos should I get?
I have 2 x topfin 60 filters on my tank and I am wanting to stock my tank up to:
25 neons
6 peppered cories
2 Cherry Barbs
2 Bolivian Rams
3 Mystery Snails
? ottos
Would I be overstocked for my 55 with my filtration?
1oooop
09-30-2008, 3:57 AM
I definitely have room for them but it might change my original stocking plans. Could I wash out the substrate? Maybe that would help?
Also, will diatoms kill my plants or are they turning yellow for other reasons? I have a little over 2 watts per gallon so I wonder if I should think about DIY CO2......would that clear them up?
same with me, I think plants should be okay, I had my brown algae for quite a while now... I think they are yellow, not the plants... It seems as tho it is a great food source for my lil shrimps