SOS------Loosing the Battle

[Hermit Up North]

I thought I was through with "minor" challenges after all these years in the hobby, but no one is immune I guess. I need your help and advice:

Diatom bloom is taking control of my beautiful reef!

What I did:
An "overhaul", changed some LR around, moved a few corals to better locations, 40% water change, 3 (out of 4) new VHO lights. I have continued with 25% water changes weekly to try to get ahead of the bloom, but I read recently that this could be contributing to the problem.
I have had "minor blooms" in the past, usually associated with new light bulbs, but this is overwhelming the tank. Even some of the corals are starting to show stress. It has been about 5 weeks now, and NOT improving at all.

HELP-----what should be my course of action?

Northern Hermit


P.S.

40 gal breeder, 1 8 year old Hawkfish, 1 12 year old Clarkii clown.

2 BTA'S, anthelia, zooanthids, beautiful gorgonian, various mushrooms and polyps, a few small crabs and about 20 or so astrea snails.

Plenty of flow, 1 MJ 1200, 1MJ 900, 2 MJ 600. (Too much??)

Skimmer, no refugim or sump. 2 95 watt VHO (URI) 50/50's and 2 95 wattt VHO (URI) actinics.

 

[LFS42]

:!: Stop the water changes :!:
You are feeding the diatoms unless you are using RO or DI water.

Once it's under control, resume normal water changes.

 

[apples]

I would stop the water changes. And if possible wipe the algae out of the tank instead of swirling it around in the tank. It might be time to add a ro/di unit to your setup. Your make-up water and change water shouldn't have too many silicates (very popular to add to faucet water). Or you could buy distiled water from your grocery store. To wipe out of tank, make one movement from bottom to top and rinse sponge in bucket. It will take a couple of weeks for the bloom to subside.

 

[Hermit Up North]

I use ONLY RO/DI replacement water.

I was vaccuming the diatoms off the substrate (5" DSB) when doing the water changes, and using a scrub brush to use on the LR. I use mag float magnets to constantly wipe the inside glass, so no diatoms there.

With this information, any advise??

TIA
Hermit

 

[Apophis924]

Hermit up North: What type of clean up crews do you have. I was going thru a bloom similar to yours and i backed down my lighting from 12 to 10 hours per day. Added some zebra hermits and Scarlet hermits. did 10% water changes once a week. And that got it under control Key word under control, they still happen from time to time. I Even had blooms when my nitrates were ZERO, PO4 was ZERO and silicates were also ZERO all done and crossed check with seachem test kits and the Salifert kits. Sometimes these things just happen, I know that is a lame reason but sh*t does really happen from time to time. As far as slicates go i dont worry about them anymore. I mean the glass of an Aquarium is silicon based, made from sand which is almost 50% silicon. I know when i first started i was using straight tap water, and diatoms never got out of hand. And never had problems with Ph and Alk, Now i use RO/DI and i have to watch all those levels like a hawk now. I would go back to Tap water but i paid so much $$ for the RO/DI set up I refuse to let it become a paper weight. HTH

 

[liquid]

How old are your sediment filter, carbon block filter, RO membrane, and DI cartridge?

Shane

 

[Hermit Up North]

I do not have a unit, I purchase all my water. It is labeled "Reverse Osmosis" and yes I have tested it.

All my readings are zero also. (I use Sailfert). This particular reef has been set up now for 2 years. The substrate is well matured and full of worms to the bottom of the sandbed (as viewed from the glass).

Thanks for the words of encouragement Apophis924.

Should I be seriously concerned about my corals? That is my focus of attention right now.

T(so much)IA
Hermit

 

[Hermit Up North]

As a post script to my last post:

I have cut the hours of lighting from 10 now down to 8. Do not want to cut it much more.

I know I need more cleaners (like a Queen Conch!!) but living in the boonies my only resources are mail order. And I don't particularly want to have anything shipped right now.

It is -10 today. Wind chills tonight -25.

Hermit

 

[liquid]

Have you tested it for silicates? Any dissolved silicates will drive a diatom bloom. Do you have a TDS meter?

Shane

 

[Hermit Up North]

No.

Something happened when I changed things around, I'm positive. I just don't know what, or how long it will last.

I'm thinking now perhaps I disturbed the SB too much. Is this a contributor to the bloom or have I done something reaaalllly bad?

Hermit

 

[liquid]

How much did you disturb the sandbed? Did you scoop a lot of it around or what?

Shane

 

[Hermit Up North]

I'm afraid to confess I did disturb it alot, moving the LR.
Nothing seemed to be affected however, all life (including corals) was flourishing as usual. And, basically, it still is. But the Brown is on everything now.

I wish I had never had this hair-brained idea. I wonder how many of us has said that at one time or another over the years. :roll:

Hermit

 

[aquarist=broke]

Perhaps running a Power filter with the floss in it for a while. The floss will catch alot of the floating diatoms, and if you rinse it daily, it won't cause nitrate problems.

That is my normal diatom bloom procedure when I start a new tank.