Id this stuff please

[Lucasb625]

What is this yellow stuff on my live rock

 

[Mrc8858]

Diatoms

 

[Lucasb625]

Aren't those good

 

[Mrc8858]

Signs of excess silicates which is common in new tanks. How long has it been running?

 

[Lucasb625]

About a month

 

[demotaz7]

Thats normal for that new of a tank

 

[Lucasb625]

What are siicates

 

[Mrc8858]

Just another nutrient like phosphates kinda. And sorry for the typo I fixed it. (silicates) New sand and rock tend to leach these types of nutrients which is part of establishing a mature reef tank and very common.

 

[Lucasb625]

Will they go away eventually

 

[amanda_marie]

Will they go away eventually

Yes they will once the silicates are used up, as long as you're not adding silicates to the water by way of water changes or similar.

Do you use RO/DI?

My tank is about 4 months old and my diatoms have almost disappeared. Thankfully my outbreak wasn't too bad and mainly on my rocks with just a spot here and there on the glass.

You can get out some through water changes by siphoning, especially if you wipe it off the surfaces beforehand and its floating in the water column during the siphoning out of the water.

I wouldn't spend a whole lot of time trying to siphon/wipe it all, just get what you can as it will run its course.

The diatoms aggravated me but its part of a new tank unfortunately.

 

[Lucasb625]

K thx and i use RO water