Culturing Diatoms?

colinsk

colinsk

On the fringe...
Dec 18, 2008
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www.designerinlight.com
SO the other thread got me thinking. Since diatoms grow quickly and easily under the right conditions and Nerites like them so much perhaps there is a way to set up the tank to create a diatom bloom. The nice thing would be since it goes away easily and since the Nerites can clean almost every surface it is a reversible feeding method.

In my tank I got a diatom bloom right at the end of cycling. This appears to be common. So one would think that you need a nitrogen source and a silica source. Since it appears at the end of cycling I am assuming that Nitrate is the nitrogen source. The silica source is orthosilicic acid. This can easily be created by diluting waterglass and adding acid. If fact CO2 may be enough to acidify the waterglass.

I was able to find a reference citing 11mg/l as a high concentration of silicon in a natural lake. That works out to .04 grams/gallon.

This company sells waterglass in a 40% dilution:

http://www.cqconcepts.com/chem_sodiumsilicate.php

The molar mass of Silicon is about 28 and Sodium Silicate is about 128 (Na2SiO3). So, about 20% of the molecule is silicon. So, 1 gram of 40% waterglass contains about .08 grams of silicon (40%x20%). So if we dosed a test tank with .5 grams/gallon making sure we had nitrates we could see if we grow diatoms.

We don't know the purity of this waterglass so we would not risk an animal yet. But, it is used to protect egg shells.

Thoughts? Takers?

:read:
 
Hmmm....

I would think you could make a controlled solution with the right ingredients. Hard part would be trying to keep any stray algae strains from outcompeting the diatoms for nutrients.

Maybe try making a solution, potassium nitrate, phosphate and waterglass in the right quantities and put in a container with a powerhead and some light source. Maybe? Just a shot in the dark.
 
That is what I am thinking. Like a 1 gallon glass jug. It would rub off easily and be able to be dropped into a tank as food. If it really works the nutrients could be dosed into a tank. So in my tank I was getting phosphorus from my fish food? I was not adding any fertilizers.
 
Its kinda late for me but I think you can get phosphate from Fleet brand enemas. If you do a google search Im sure you can find more info.
 
colinsk said:
SO the other thread got me thinking. Since diatoms grow quickly and easily under the right conditions and Nerites like them so much perhaps there is a way to set up the tank to create a diatom bloom. The nice thing would be since it goes away easily and since the Nerites can clean almost every surface it is a reversible feeding method.

In my tank I got a diatom bloom right at the end of cycling. This appears to be common. So one would think that you need a nitrogen source and a silica source. Since it appears at the end of cycling I am assuming that Nitrate is the nitrogen source. The silica source is orthosilicic acid. This can easily be created by diluting waterglass and adding acid. If fact CO2 may be enough to acidify the waterglass.

I was able to find a reference citing 11mg/l as a high concentration of silicon in a natural lake. That works out to .04 grams/gallon.

This company sells waterglass in a 40% dilution:

http://www.cqconcepts.com/chem_sodiumsilicate.php

The molar mass of Silicon is about 28 and Sodium Silicate is about 128 (Na2SiO3). So, about 20% of the molecule is silicon. So, 1 gram of 40% waterglass contains about .08 grams of silicon (40%x20%). So if we dosed a test tank with .5 grams/gallon making sure we had nitrates we could see if we grow diatoms.

We don't know the purity of this waterglass so we would not risk an animal yet. But, it is used to protect egg shells.

Thoughts? Takers?

:read:
Click to expand...

Why not just keep a few tanks cycling? I can't get rid of my diatoms, I'll scrape 'em off and send 'em your way! :-)
 
I can also get phosphate from phosphoric acid. I keep phosphoric acid at work. If I were to acidify the waterglass with phosphoric acid before diluting it I think I would end up with both phosphates and orthosilicic acid. I will have to work an a balanced equation for that reaction.
 
wendamus said:
Why not just keep a few tanks cycling? I can't get rid of my diatoms, I'll scrape 'em off and send 'em your way! :-)
Click to expand...

I wish I could just keep adding tanks but that is not an option right now. I may just be able to get one more 29 gallon but then I have my apartment maxed out.

I may need a source of diatoms to use as a seed. I just might be posting a request for some.
 
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