Diatoms

[ShoC]

Hi Forum, a few questions If I may

I have had my planted tank up and running for over 2 months now I believe and So far (touch wood)
I have been exceptionally lucky considering its my first tank.

I have about 5 small spots of green algae at the back and a fair amount on the filter outlet (on the inside it's clear tetratec)

All other parts of my tank are clean except I have Brown fuzzy Diatoms I assume
they look like a fuzz and can be pulled out but breaks up very easily.
Mostly swamping my lovely hair grass slowly chocking it I guess.
And the odd bit appearing on my Hornwort etc..
How can I prevent this!
I have 2.2wpg and 30ppm Co2 along with dosing 1xweek of 20ml Floraboost.
Light are on for 12 Die have them at 14 hours but still had Diatoms.


2ndly have effective are cherry shrimps at eating algae (choose these over amano due to ease of breeding hehe)

It's a little dark due to Floraboost being added not long ago

 

[Themuleous]

First off, I doubt its diatoms if its fuzzy, diatoms tend to create a flat layer. Also diatoms are most common in very new tanks and die out pretty quickly. If it is diatoms then a few ottos would clear it up in a matter of days.

As a more general comment, your lights are on for way to long, 10hrs at the most with highlight tanks. I would reduce to 10hrs and see what that does over the next few weeks. If nothing you could lower to 8hrs but dont go below 6hrs.

Re the cherry shrimp, I have found them to be just as effective as the amano's at eating algae

Sam

 

[ShoC]

hmm..
I'll consider reducing them then =) keep meaning to buy an auto timer.

this brown stuff is very delicate and crumbles if I rub it.
if you can imagine cotton wool But Very spare and lots of gaps thats a kind of bad description

 

[Themuleous]

Could be diatoms. Have you got any ottos?

 

[ShoC]

no just lots of snails =(
no fish in there.
going to get rid of the snails then stock up.
going for cheery shrimps Otos for algae measures

 

[iSnail]

It sounds very much like what I had last year when I came back from being away for 2 weeks. Does it look like the brown fluffy stuff in this pic (left, just above the baby puff)??

If it does then I can confirm that cherry shrimps will clear them easily but more frequent water change will help stopping it coming back. I had ramshorn snails in there but don't think they ate any of the algae

 

[Squid]

Not sure that last pic is diatoms.. i thought it was more of a covering than a hairy algaie. More powdery look to it for the otos to hoover up. I though what i had was diatoms, and the otos did love it and clear it in 24-48 hours.

Squid

 

[iSnail]

No, sorry to say that's definitely NOT diatoms (since I have diatoms in my tanks too ) It is some form of thread algae

 

[George Farmer]

Amano shrimp and otos.

If that doesn't work then address underlying cause i.e. lack of plant growth, too few plants, light/nutrient issues.