Diatoms

[vegasadam]

I know this has been addressed already but a little more help is needed. I have diatoms on only one side of my tank and it is a lite dusting but has grown steadily for about 2-3 weeks. I must admit that i havent been as regular with my water changes because our new 142 gallon will be finished next weekend. I think my water flow pattern in our 55gallon (current tank, 2 damsels and a royal gramma, FOLR) might be a problem on that side of the tank. I have one maxi-jet1200, emperor 400 and a skilter250. The maxi jet is moving mostly water on the surface and is positioned above where the out break is. This tank will be broken down when the new one comes, but we will transfer as much water, LS and the little LR we have. My water quality is great ammonia,nitrites,nitrates are all 0 and ph is 8.4. I dont know what my phosphate levels are because i have never tested but I will start I use R/O for topoff but the R/O has a ph of7.4 could this be also contributing? We have invested a lot of time and money for this and your help doesnt go unnoticed in our house.
Adam

 

[Max]

It's your water I'm afraid to say. Your probably adding a load of phosphate and other elments when ever you do a water change. Quite literly diluted fertaliser to your water. If you start useing the R.O. water it will fade in time. I used to live in Phoenix and our water came out of the tap with a ph of about 8 and loads of phosphate, nitrates and other organic compounds. I'd think though that there would be algae growing everywhere though? Is it growing on your rocks , sand etc as well? You alos didn't mention your clean up crew you have snails, hermits, ? What's your fish load ? If everything else is in line I'd say it's your water .
hth
Chris

 

[vegasadam]

Thanks for the reply Chris, my cleanup crew is very light only 3 hermits and 3 snails. Also there isn't any diatoms on the sand just on some fake corals (its a FOLR tank) and on the power head. Does the low Ph of 7.4 of the R/O water help contribute? I will be adding a larger more appropriate cleanup crew into the new tank, I just want to try and not have this problem when we get the new tank up and running. Thanks again
Adam

 

[vegasadam]

One more question, is there anything I can put into the water to take all that bad stuff out? Lake Mead/ Colorado River water no wonder everyone here uses bottled or R/O for drinking water.
Adam

 

[Max]

The algae will take most of it out in time. I would do my water changes with ro water or you can buy it pretty cheap per gallon with a lot of services. When I lived in Phoenix ,"also Colorado river water and atresian water", I had about 30 gallons a week delivered to my door for $40 a month. That encluded a cooler ! Pretty good deal I know that if you left a glass of tap water outside for a day the lime would etch the glass!
Hth
chris
p.s. if your doing a reef for your next tank the bad from the other stuff will out do the good from the calcium carbonate.