ugly, ugly, ugly

Freckles · 03-20-2002, 09:59 AM

The ugly diatoms were going away, but seemed to have re-appeared. I think I posted a week or so ago on what to do .... So, last week, I bought 3 queen conches. They don't seem to do a good job as I have read on the boards

I have 2 who, for the last 2 days have stayed on the glass, and the other one is on the sandbed.

THis nasty diatom bloom has spread to my LR

Now, I must mention that the coraline is spreading very nicely on the rocks, which I am assuming is a good thing?

I noticed today, I have some green weed, that looks like calupera growing on my 2nd piece of LR. I also see some lime green algae growing on my LR ...... is that also a form of coraline?

I have been thinking of putting my skimmer on tonight to see if that will help ....... Tomorrow is my water change day, too.

I've mentioned I have a Prizm on my 125 & I know that eventually I will have to get a bigger one, but for now I can't.

I have read that diatoms/red-slime usually disappears as the tank matures ..... Mine has been setup since 10/01, so is my tank still considered "young" and not mature?

Sorry for the long post ......... I'm tired and it's time for bedtime

dark horge · 03-20-2002, 10:15 AM

A 'bright lime green' shade that can be suspected as coralline often turns out to be an infiltrating (in, not on, the rock) form of unicellular green alga. The stuff is mildly fluorescent, hence the way its color perks up under actinics. You can't avoid the stuff; it's natural; etc. etc....

As for a recurrent spike in brown diatoms ---this usually turns up in response to a nutrient spike --either from a food OD or a death within the tank (snail, fish, or something hidden in the rock/sand). If the spike is mild, then diatoms are all you get, if worse, then other algal blooms follow.

Try to amp up your export mechanisms (skimmer, or ATS, or whatever), and cut down on imports of nutrients (food, additives, organic sludge, etc.)

hth

jjharrisx4 · 03-20-2002, 01:08 PM

Have you noticed an increase in diatoms about the same time as you do water changes? This would indicate that you are introducing nutrients from your water source. That's what I deal with. In my system, the caulerpa that I have usually outcompetes the diatoms for nutrients within a few days.

Allyson · 03-20-2002, 01:57 PM

I'm sorry your not happy with the job your conches are doing...it seems that not everyone has the same luck with the same things.

A few of mine crawl the glass for maybe a day but spend most of the time on the rocks & sandbed. A good mix of snails/critters is important as well.

As the others mentioned.....I'd also take a look at your water source and test the water your using for changes for phosphates, etc. as well as watch your feeding.

Freckles · 03-21-2002, 12:09 AM

Thanks for the advice/suggestions!

I will buy a phosphate test kit. I feed maybe 1-2x's a day. I feed the Formula flake food, and then the seaweed selects for my tang. The last 2 days, I've cut back to feeding only once a day. Could it also have to do with my lighting?

I'm going to hook up my prizm skimmer to see if that will help. Oh, which brings me to another question: When I can afford it, I'd like to upgrade my skimmer. I don't have a sump, so which skimmer do you recommend? Amiracle makes a skimmer that hangs on the back of an aquarium, and the 23" is rated for up to 135 gallons. I know everyone has their opinions on different brands of skimmers, too

I don't want a sump, either. we have 5 cats, and 3 of them love water .... And, well, that just will not work at all.

fishinchick · 03-21-2002, 12:34 AM

I have a siamese that thinks he is part fish. Loves baths, loves water. I have a stand that I keep my sump/refugium in and I keep the doors closed.

DennisW · 03-21-2002, 01:44 AM

Sorry, I might have missed it but...what kind of water did you say you were using? Is it tap water or store bought water or do you have an RO/DI filter? Also....is the algae kind of "dusty" and brown or is it brown and "stringy" and "goopy"???

If it is brown and dusty then it is in fact diatoms. Diatoms are fed by silicates and these are usually found in lower quality water. Stop the introduction of silicates and your diatom problem should be solved!

Dennis