20 gallon build

[jjh302]

How the heck do you get rid of diatoms? My tank has been running for three months and it's still all over my glass.

[Tobykourtney]

I was under the impression they were just a part of cycling. I think if you still have them it maybe excessive nutrients in your tank.

[BigRedsReefs10]

Originally Posted by jjh302

How the heck do you get rid of diatoms? My tank has been running for three months and it's still all over my glass.

What kind if sand did you use?

[jjh302]

I don't know honestly. I bought my setup used. It's not super fine sand. If it's crushed coral then it's super fine crushed coral.

[BigRedsReefs10]

I don't see any diatoms there, that's just what a sand bed looks like after a while. Take a picture of what you mean, and some people will look at it and throw out some ideas for you.

[Tobykourtney]

This is what mine looks like. I'm gonna say its diatoms.

[BigRedsReefs10]

That's the start of a bloom for sure, but that's normal for your new tank.

[jjh302]

Originally Posted by BigRedsReefs10

I don't see any diatoms there, that's just what a sand bed looks like after a while. Take a picture of what you mean, and some people will look at it and throw out some ideas for you.

It's heavy on the back glass, where the sand meets the glass in front, and it's yellow/browning my rock.

[Tobykourtney]

That's looks like Cyanobacteria in the 3rd pic to me man.

[jjh302]

Originally Posted by Tobykourtney

That's looks like Cyanobacteria in the 3rd pic to me man.

The green stuff??

[Tobykourtney]

Yea I'm no saltwater expert but in the freshwater world it's Cyanobacteria caused by low water circulation/low oxygen levels.

[jjh302]

Odd. It gets decent flow there. But it's odd that it's way below the sand. Any idea what the brown stuff is?

[jjh302]

Might my sand bed be too deep?

[Tobykourtney]

No clue man I'm sure someone else will reply. Like I said I'm new to saltwater.

[BigRedsReefs10]

That's all pretty normal algae, not sure on the name but I call it film algae. I scrape it off the glass every couple days. My guess for the green stuff in the sand would be caused by the former owner heavily feeding, I would just siphon it out during your next wc. Your po4 and nitrate levels may be a little high as well. For the algae on the rocks maybe try a couple extra snails or increase the flow or point a ph directly at the rock work

[jjh302]

It all just showed up. I had the same thought as you...point the power head at the rock. I did that a week ago and has not helped. Grrrrrr

[BigRedsReefs10]

Have you tested po4 and nitrate? Are you using t5 lighting? And your using ro right?

[jjh302]

Po4? Nitrates are 10ppm. Yes I use ro/di. My BRS 75gpd ro/di system was the best investment I've made. I was buying 30 gallons a week of distilled water before I got it. That was getting old real fast. I change out 15 gallons a week out of about 95 gallons of actual water volume.

[jjh302]

I use 2 150w metal halides and 2 460nm t5's

[BigRedsReefs10]

Originally Posted by jjh302

Po4? Nitrates are 10ppm. Yes I use ro/di. My BRS 75gpd ro/di system was the best investment I've made. I was buying 30 gallons a week of distilled water before I got it. That was getting old real fast. I change out 15 gallons a week out of about 95 gallons of actual water volume.

Po4= phosphate sorry, and I was pretty sure you were using ro. Was that a no on the t5s?