jcarlilesiu
Aquarium Advice Addict
My 56 gallon tank has been up and running for almost a year. Recently there has been evidence of what appears to be diatoms covering some of my older plant leafs and my driftwood (at least these are the only place I can find it). The brown easily wipes off with just rubbing between my forefinger and tumb. The reason why I am asking this question is... isn't diatoms typically only in new setups?
This stuff started showing its face when I was conducting 2 -3 50% water changes a week due to housing discus. When this problem of diatoms first came up, and while talking to the trustworthy LFS, they stated it was most likely the effects of a new setup due to the pristine quality of the water. They also stated that these farm raised Discus would do fine in less water changes, and that should cause the diatoms to disappear.
I have since cut back my water changes to 50% per week, upped the pressurized CO2, added root tabs, and monitored my levels as well as concentrated on dosing. What ever this brown stuff is just won't go away.
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 10-20ppm (depending on where tested vs. water change schedule)
pressurized CO2 to about 35-40 ppm
dosing pottasium (1 tsp dry fert weekly)
CSM+B every other day
and phosphates as required for 2-3 ppm
lighting = 30" dual 65 W currentUSA compact fixture with (1) 6700/10000 and (1) 10000/atinic
Any clues what this is or how to make it go away?
This stuff started showing its face when I was conducting 2 -3 50% water changes a week due to housing discus. When this problem of diatoms first came up, and while talking to the trustworthy LFS, they stated it was most likely the effects of a new setup due to the pristine quality of the water. They also stated that these farm raised Discus would do fine in less water changes, and that should cause the diatoms to disappear.
I have since cut back my water changes to 50% per week, upped the pressurized CO2, added root tabs, and monitored my levels as well as concentrated on dosing. What ever this brown stuff is just won't go away.
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 10-20ppm (depending on where tested vs. water change schedule)
pressurized CO2 to about 35-40 ppm
dosing pottasium (1 tsp dry fert weekly)
CSM+B every other day
and phosphates as required for 2-3 ppm
lighting = 30" dual 65 W currentUSA compact fixture with (1) 6700/10000 and (1) 10000/atinic
Any clues what this is or how to make it go away?