Anyone ever try to grow diatoms intionally?

James0816

James0816

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Feb 14, 2007
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Just a thought here. I know silica is the main ingredient for these little buggers. So....has anyone ever tried to grow them on purpose in a well established tank?

I'm thinking of adding maybe a cup of silca pool sand to a tank with SMS substrate. I'm wondering if that would be enough to encourage growth?

Any thoughts on this?

Thx

J.
 
why do u want to grow it?
 
Or fish...aka otos.

I've used silica based pool sand and never had diatoms longer than 6-8 months. I found this in a post from here...http://www.reefland.com/forum/diy/23923-quickrete-premium-play-sand-yes-no.html

Quartz (SiO2) is considered "totally insoluble" in water according to the US MSDS. Yes, it is true that everything is soluble in water over time but the rate of dissolution of quartz in water is so miniscule as to be unmeasurable. If your silica sand contains a significant amount of impurities (e.g., feldspar), these impurities may be more soluble than pure quartz.
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You'd have to be adding silica in another form.
 
Pappy is right, quartz sand is essentially inert for your purposes.

You could try putting some aquarium silicon on a glass/plastic plate. A thin film of it should be enough, run a comb over it for added surface area.

However, I recall reading somewhere that silica is in fact not the limiting factor for diatoms in freshwater aquariums anyway though. I tried looking for it again, but I can't find it.
 
Glue some aquarium pebbles with a silicone sealant, put them in the tank and reduce light intensity (i.e., use lower wattage bulbs). You'll probably get a diatom bloom.
 
i didnt realize that otos ate diatoms, i didnt think anything did......
 
I didn't think they preferred diatoms, just that they ate them. I was certain they preferred green algae like everybody else, or zukes and cukes of course...
 
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