Diatom bloom!

[Polkadots]

I'm pretty sure they're diatoms. I attached a few pictures.







I noticed the diatoms about month ago, and assumed they would go away by itself. It's not a new tank- it's been running for more than a year. I'm not sure what caused it. The plants are fake (although I have been meaning to get live plants sooner or later), the water conditions are alright. I've been doing the same cleaning routine- pwc every week, until the diatoms started showing up. I replaced the filter for a fluval aquaclear 50, but that didn't help. They make cleaning a pain, and they come back faster then I can get rid off them. One change I have made was not turning on the light as long as I used to- could that be the reason? Also, I don't know if this is relevant but I noticed the Cory cats have been laying more eggs than usual after every pwc. What could be causing it, how can I get rid of them (I've been brushing them off with a toothbrush), and how can I prevent them from coming back?

Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Fatboyfish]

tough to say what to do but here's some things you could try

cut down on amount of food fed: (try once a day as much as the fish can eat in 1 min) (they'll be fine I promise)
vigorous cleaning of the tank: (not with tap water... items inside a bucket with tanks water using a clean paper towel) (move all decorations around tank and siphon whole sandbed) (siphoning sand can be a pain, as you siphon take your other hand and pinch the hose as you siphon to minimize sand loss by lowering the flow)
increase surface agitation to reduce available co2

 

[mrvincent]

Is this a new tank ? If the tank is less than 5 months old, this is new tank algae syndrome. Your algae is diatoms.

Test water for nitrate and phosphates, reduce lighting, increase water changes, test tap water for NO3/PO4, do good gravel vaccum, clean windows with a sponge, this is an easy to remove algae from windows.

Also reduce feeding if you're following the instructions on the food containers

 

[Polkadots]

The tank has been running for more than a year. I cleaned most of the diatoms off, did a water change, and cleaned the sand bed. I also reduced the lighting and amount of food the get. I can't increase surface agitation as I have a betta in there, and he's getting old. Hopefully this works, thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[AbsurdAj]

If it persists get a few Nettie's. They are algae eating monsters and will eat it off anything


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Polkadots]

Kind of a stupid question but I want to be sure: Nettie's=nerite snails, right?


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[AbsurdAj]

Yeah nerite sorry.my phone did autocorrect

 

[Polkadots]

I'm probably going to get one or two nerites tomorrow. The diatoms keep coming back!


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice