Diatoms* Getting Very Irritating. - Aquarium Advice

Marconis · 05-03-2007, 07:25 PM

About 2 months ago, my tank started developing diatoms. Everything in my tank began to turn brown, even after about two days of scrubbing it off. It's really starting to annoy me. I have rocks in my tank that are beige/white. I sprayed one with the hose on Monday and got all the brown gunk off. Within two days, it turned brown again! The walls of my tank get fuzzy green algae on it daily. I keep my light on for 8-10 hrs a day, and have a 40W bulb. Do I have too much light or something? Do diatoms last this long?

Jchillin · 05-03-2007, 08:21 PM

I would guess that you have a lot of silicates that are being energized by a lack of light. Try keeping your lights on for 12 hours and see if that helps. It is posited that diatoms are the result of insufficient lighting and a healthy amount of silicates.

Marconis · 05-03-2007, 09:09 PM

Hm, alright. I'll give it a go.

Bubble_B0y · 05-04-2007, 08:11 AM

check your nitrates
Brown algae is caused by high nitrates (over 50)

Marconis · 05-04-2007, 10:58 AM

I did test, my nitrates are in between 5-10.

kickeralpine · 05-05-2007, 12:26 PM

they dont last to long and ottos will clean up brown aleg real good mine cleaned my tank free of diatoms with in days of putting them in there

gu2high · 05-05-2007, 02:39 PM

buy ottos, 1 otto/per 10gal, it will clean your tank within 3 days.

tropicfishman · 05-06-2007, 01:48 AM

diatoms are cuased by too little lgihting, could that be your problem?

aquariumnoob · 05-06-2007, 11:42 AM

although one oto would clean a 10 gal in 3 days, I would recommend getting 2-3, I have 3 in my 10 gal, because they really enjoy the company. It just means that you'll need to put in some supplemental food once the algae is gone, such as algae wafers and/or zucchini.

Marconis · 05-06-2007, 07:17 PM

Well, I have been keeping my light on for 12hrs daily now and I haven't seen any change. It may have gotten worse. Ill consider buying an otto.

05-03-2007, 07:25 PM	#1
Marconis Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 848 Images: 4	*Diatoms Getting Very Irritating. About 2 months ago, my tank started developing diatoms. Everything in my tank began to turn brown, even after about two days of scrubbing it off. It's really starting to annoy me. I have rocks in my tank that are beige/white. I sprayed one with the hose on Monday and got all the brown gunk off. Within two days, it turned brown again! The walls of my tank get fuzzy green algae on it daily. I keep my light on for 8-10 hrs a day, and have a 40W bulb. Do I have too much light or something? Do diatoms last this long? __________________ Lower your head modestly while passing, and you will harvest bananas.**

05-03-2007, 08:21 PM	#2
Jchillin Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New York, NY (The Big Apple) Posts: 12,976 Images: 47	I would guess that you have a lot of silicates that are being energized by a lack of light. Try keeping your lights on for 12 hours and see if that helps. It is posited that diatoms are the result of insufficient lighting and a healthy amount of silicates. __________________ _________________________________

05-03-2007, 09:09 PM	#3
Marconis Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 848 Images: 4	Hm, alright. I'll give it a go. __________________ Lower your head modestly while passing, and you will harvest bananas.

05-04-2007, 10:58 AM	#5
Marconis Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 848 Images: 4	I did test, my nitrates are in between 5-10. __________________ Lower your head modestly while passing, and you will harvest bananas.

05-06-2007, 01:48 AM	#8
tropicfishman Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ashland KY Posts: 1,890	diatoms are cuased by too little lgihting, could that be your problem? __________________ I love my clown loaches and red tail shark!!! lol

05-04-2007, 08:11 AM	#4
Bubble_B0y Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 762	check your nitrates Brown algae is caused by high nitrates (over 50)

05-05-2007, 12:26 PM	#6
kickeralpine Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: port charlotte florida Posts: 138	they dont last to long and ottos will clean up brown aleg real good mine cleaned my tank free of diatoms with in days of putting them in there

05-05-2007, 02:39 PM	#7
gu2high Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Central NJ Posts: 356	buy ottos, 1 otto/per 10gal, it will clean your tank within 3 days.

05-06-2007, 11:42 AM	#9
aquariumnoob Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 66	although one oto would clean a 10 gal in 3 days, I would recommend getting 2-3, I have 3 in my 10 gal, because they really enjoy the company. It just means that you'll need to put in some supplemental food once the algae is gone, such as algae wafers and/or zucchini.

05-06-2007, 07:17 PM	#10
Marconis Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 848 Images: 4	Well, I have been keeping my light on for 12hrs daily now and I haven't seen any change. It may have gotten worse. Ill consider buying an otto. __________________ Lower your head modestly while passing, and you will harvest bananas.

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