sand diatoms

[nyumpa]

the system is 25aga with 15 sump(90% full) 150w Sunpod, mag 7 return,
reomra pro(mag3), 3 power heads (AC #50, #30, #30), plenty of flow

1 1/2 years old.... 1 year with sump

pack most with LPS and 3 small montis, snails, crabs, 2 yellow tail damsels

NO3= trace, PO4=O, Ca= 380, dKH= 9.0, Mg= 1400, Ph= 8.2, 1.026
for a year
i have diatoms on the sand, about 6 weeks i went from 14k bulb to 20k.
change 9 gallons every two weeks along with a new filter sock.

feed= every other day fish, few pellets
coral= every other day, cyoeze(pinch), chrom max(drop), algea waffer(1/2)...i did two 9 gallon water changes last week..it is worst
lightng change ? too much food?
help me

 

[Deanos]

Is the 20k bulb new? Old bulbs often cause diatoms in my systems.

 

[nyumpa]

the bulb is a new XM 20k

 

[scarf_ace1981]

my 175w bulbs are having the same effect on my sand bed. looks really ugly. i just got another bulb from a member, only time will tell

 

[nyumpa]

the cheap 14k did not do that, but is was harder on the LPS, the color
is better but the sand is ulgy. maybe a better brand 14k ?

 

[House of Laughter]

Umpa,

also note that changes to smaller sized systems have a quicker impact - new bulbs from old can do that and having old bulbs period can do that.

Also, what are you using to do your water changes? RO/DI I assume? whens the last time you checked your TDS?? What salt are you using? Oceanic had some alleged phosphate problems about a year ago - maybe you got an old batch from a store that had it sitting there?

What kind of fish do you have? seems a trace of nitrates is not uncommon, but a trace compared to 100ppm is alot when compared to a trace on a system who is used to having .05ppm.

What are you holding your mix water in? when's the last time you checked the pump mixing it? Rusted? etc - lots of possibilities.

A little more info to help diagnise would be good.

House

 

[tomzpc]

Have you tested for silicates in your system water and make-up water? Excessive silicates are the likely culprit when it comes to diatom blooms.

 

[nyumpa]

water is 4 stage ro/di tested at 0 ppm with unit meter and also hand held.
storage is commerical rubbermade, mixing 13 gallon white rubbermade
with AC # 20 PH (new), reef crystals

 

[Domboski]

I know you mentioend the diatoms are all over the sand but is it really? Could it be some of the food is getting caught in an area and breaking down in the tank? I had that happen in one of my tanks where there seemed to be one spot where some of the food would settle and there was algae in that spot only. Cyclopeeze is small and can easily find "dead" spots of flow.

I am questioning the algae waffer too but I have no direct experience using them in a marine tank.

 

[duke62]

my hermits and snails take care of that prob for me and my water flow

 

[nyumpa]

maybe.....
when i feed i turn off the main pump for 20 min, is that too long?
maybe some stuff is find is way to the sand, also is there no much room on the sand bed because of the rock, the main rock(20lbs) is sitting on pvc couplings. maybe i should get a tunze 6025 for more mid\low flow
i do have one the AC # 30 in the back 1/3 from bottom.
and # 50 runs on timer/cycle

 

[Domboski]

If I had to bet based on the information provided, I would go with food being trapped or finding a place to settle on the sand bed or near the bottom of the rocks.

Sometimes it takes some time tinkering with the flow to get it just right

 

[tosiek]

When did the diatoms start? If you never had it before the lamp change.....

 

[Quang]

Not sure if rust will spark diatom blooms, but since we're talking about your tank's health, might as well check out the Mag drives. The screws used inside tend to rust.

 

[nyumpa]

mostly after the lighting change from 14k to 20k, but i also only left the main pump for 10 min verus now 20 min, in addition change the direction of 2 powerheads.

next week going to replace one with a tunze 6025 and leave the main pump off for 10 min, and no more algea for the crabs, they have become
lazy they do move around they wait for the tablet 2/3 a week.

 

[Domboski]

Sounds like a good plan. In time you will resolve the issue. Keep us posted.