Desperate Diatoms Help + Skimmer Help

[robincushing]

I have been trying desperately for ages to get rid of the brown algae from my tank.
I have read it is actualy called diatoms.

I have recently upgraded my tank from a 117lt tank to a 240lt tank.
when i cleaned out the old tank it was covered in it and was very dificult to get it off.
now my new tank, which i used the old water and topped up with new to fill it, has started getting the brown tint on the substrate again.
The tank has been moved as it was thought the direct sunlight was causing it, but its now in full shade.
can anyone please help?

I have heard that changing the salt can help.
Getting an RO unit.
and more cleanup crew.

i plan to get more clean up crew, and change the salt for maybe red sea max. any other sugestions are greatly appretiated.
thank you.

thought i would keep to the same post as its along the same lines rather that start another one.

 

[seffieuk]

Hi Robin

Diatoms are a natural product of cycling - how long has the tank been running? What are your water stats? How much flow? Lighting? and can you tell us what cuc you currently have

Cheers

Seffie x

 

[kj23502]

like this?

It will go away after awhile.

 

[n3ont3tra]

Yeah it'll go away if it's that. Also, fighting conchs will eat it.

 

[Buddyboy67]

If lasted this long and was hard to remove are you sure it's diatoms???...check the net for dinoflagellates.....diatoms will usually die off as the silicates in your system are used up....

 

[kj23502]

or is it like this?

 

[SkiFletch]

Agreed, diatoms are usually the easiest of algaes to get rid of, cyanobacteria or dinoflagellates are easily confused for them and much more nefarious

 

[robincushing]

hi all and thank you for your answers

Sefiuk - the old tank was up and running for 7 months, i set the new one up about 2 weeks ago using the water from the old tank and adding new water day by day.
I have 1 small hermit crab, 1 sea urchin and 2 fireshrimp as clean up crew at the moment.

KJ23507 - it started out looking like your first picture, in the old tank but rapidly changed to look a little like that of your second picture, then it became black and started falling off like pieces of flakey skin. I now see the first picture happening in my new tank already after 2 weeks and dont want it to get any worse.

I also tested my water stats today, which prior to move have been a constant ok for months, and i have a slight nitrite spike which i will monitor daily.

 

[Buddyboy67]

Diatoms flush in all new set ups mate..once they use up the silicates in the system they will die back naturally...best to leace them alone and this die back is quicker, try to remove them and they'll only return...
The second pic is of cyano ..it will appear in areas of low flow so ensure your system turns over at least 20 times an hour with no "dead spots" or slow flow

 

[robincushing]

forgive me then for a silly qustion, how much flow should i have for a 240lt tank?
and how should i get this flow to all areas of the tank? i currently have an external filter ( not sure of the output off hand) which is conencted to a pipe that comes in to the tank via a (what i would only describe as a sprinkler) that lets out about 7 small flows of water along the backof the tank.

 

[Buddyboy67]

4,800l/hour mate..add power heads in the tank to increase your flow rate.......what's in yer external as well???...I f using live rock in the tnk this external could be used to house activated marine carbon and phosphate remover...

 

[robincushing]

wow, i dont think my filter is anywhere near as much as that.
I have 1 piece of live rock (stupid i know) but im saving to get a load more.
I just have the media that came with it.

 

[Buddyboy67]

gather up yer liverock if you want to keep inverts and corals mate..the media will only produce excess nitrates to feed any algaes over time

 

[robincushing]

so what would you sugest is the first step to take?
powerhead (what flow?)
filter upgrade?
live rock?
cleanup crew?

 

[Buddyboy67]

Get the powerhead first..find out what return flow your filter is and make up the difference with powerhead/s ..korallias are reasoably priced

Next get more live rock..check the calculator on the forum for the quantity

Once the mini cycle has passed add your cuc