This video is dedicated to the topic of Diatoms Bloom and what it actually is. I also explain how to combat and eliminate it by different means available.
Not rinsing reef sand when setting up the tank providing high silicates which the particular bacteria feed on and having elevated phosphates due to phosphate control in my experience is the main cause, I can set up a tank now and never suffer diatom or ugly phase by thoroughly rinsing all sand in RO prior to set up, using a Hanna ULR checker also enables you to fine tune your phosphate control, colour chart phosphate tests are just a waste of time and tbh these test kits are why most reefers fail, there’s no real way to half do reefing, get the right kit and do the right things and you will have success, nice vid Eddie
thanks for the information, ive been looking for a video like this for a while. i recently set up a 125L marine tank and im now in the 2nd week and my tank has been taken over by diatoms and this was very helpful. Thankyou
really well explained. Thank you!!! If you live near a CLEAN source of seawater it will do wonders for your reef tank. It's free, perfectly balanced and full of beneficial food and microorganisms you won't find in a bag of salt mix.
Thanks for the sub! Glad it helped. When it comes to my videos and before I shoot I do a research on the topic. them I shoot, but always remembering that in this Hobby there's tons of ways to achieve the same results. Again many thanks for your sub. Eddie
Life saving tips my friend I was going crazy I even felt like taking my fish back to the store because I was afraid they will. Now I will do a water change like you said.
Hi Big Guy Reviews, It's about going to the right person. When you go to different LFS's each will tell you different whys of doing things. Hope I was of help. Eddie
I just got this in my tank I have a brackish set up with figure 8 puffers. Thanks for the information i was trying to figure out how to get rid of the brown algae on my dry rock I didn’t like the way it looked.
I try and been in the hobby for over twenty years. When I'm going to shoot a video not only do I talk about my knowledge, but also do research so as to not give wrong info. Eddie
Hi Eddie, thanx for all the useful info. Quick question, why am I getting stubborn diatoms in my one and a half year old reef tank with zero phosphates and 1 nitrates? Trying the bacterial route with Brightwell's Microbacter 7 and Microbacter clean but it doesn't seem to work.. Thanks in advance, cheers from Athens Greece.
Hi George, first thanks for passing by. When it comes to diatoms although you may not see it they are present; in the sand or in the rocks. This can occur when your lights are a bid high and/or your nutrients are a bid high. If your lights are controllable I would bring down the reds and greens close to 0(these colors help feed it), feed a little less and finally make weekly water changes trying to siphon as much as you can out. Eddie
Hi eddi...i m from india(Pune) i just lost my all fish due to unknown reason. Now i hv kept tank to cycle again and diatoms r blooming. I m just waiting and observing. Is this wright?
Hi, Besides waiting and observing I would do a 20 percent water change(one and another the following week) and pull back on your nutrients for now. Example: if your feeding your fish every day stop and feed them every other day.this should help with the diatoms bloom. Eddie
Thank you finished my cycle and have diatoms. I’m adding microbactor 7 and will continue to add after cycle as recommended. Can I use the skimmer at this point? Thank you again I always enjoy your videos and planning to take a trip to wwc very soon. Only 2 hrs away. 😀
Hi Joann, the skimmer at this point is not needed. Its needed when your nutrients start accumulating(the bioload starts to build-up). When it comes to WWC they have a major sale this coming Sat 27! I'll be at the Winter Park store say around 1:00 pm. Hope to see you WWC and say Hello.
Thx for the info and taking the time to explain I added some snails to my first bloom do you suggest stop feeding my corals until the bloom is over thx?
If your lights are controllable, I would lower the Reds and Greens, bring down your total photo-period, make a weekly or biweekly water change, and yes lower the feeding as a whole for both corals and fish.
Hi PBorjaEats, Everyone gets a diatom bloom which is also called, "the ugly stage", For now with your nitrites being high I would do a bi-weekly water change say around 50 percent or so. Now when your nitrites go down then introduce a cleaning crew like blue legged hermit crabs. This bloom usually lasts around a month or so.
Hi Thanks for a very informative but I have a question for you I have a 30 gallon tank and I bought a product called ROWA phos and it came with a bag wound you be able to suggest the amount I should use I have a hang on the back filter and was thinking of inserting it inside the filter, Thanks my friend.
Hi Dennis, I would put around lees than 1/4 in the bag and check your PO4 as you start to introduce this product so as to not lower the PO4 too rapidly or down to 0.
Is a diatom bloom in a new tank always a sign of a finished cycle? I have brown diatoms on my sand and live rock and a little spot of green algae has formed on my sand, I ask if it’s always a sign of a finished cycle because my nitrite and ammonia are still above where they should be but my nitrate is 20. This morning my nitrite was 2 and ammonia was .75, those two levels have come down tho, nitrite spiked at 7.5 on 05/28/21 and ammonia spiked at 2 on 05/30/21.
Hi Samantha, by what you're explaining your tank has not completely cycled yet. What you are experiencing is what's called the nitrogen cycle in other words the process of the proper algae colonizing and thus cycling. This, that you are witnessing is normal. Not until you get a 0 nitrite, 0 ammonia, and 0 nitrates is your tank cycled. When this happens then you should get a cleaning crew to start to eliminate diatoms. This process is of the different algae's that start to populate during the cycling process. (Oh, by the way you don't need to have your lights on during the cycling process.)
Will they come and go as the light comes on and goes out? I think I might have diatoms in my 1 yr old tank. I neglected it for some time and just recently started back up with maintenance. Could i have reset the cylce possibly? I vacuumed my whole sand bed to get detritus out. (I hear that can reset your biological bacteria if you do it all at once). My only other guess is cyano, it just isnt looking red to me. And I dont think its dino's because I was reading dino's will group up in your bucket on the surface, after a water-change, and I did not see this.
Hi Pocket, when it comes to Dino/Cyano, I would do weekly water changes and lower your whites, green, and red lights if you can, because they thrive with light. That's why they disappear when the lights are off and reappear when the lights are back on. Also, Microbactor clean is a good product, because it has a bacteria that will consume and clean your substrate and rocks. Cyano not only can show up as brick red, but also green. . I would remove it as much as you can also. Hope this will help you a bid Eddie
My tank missed your video.. It never went through and ugly stage until a year after it was up and running I got diatoms.. In late February... Today is May 26.....I did the hermits (they just ate all my snails, I got them out and gave back to my (lfs). I did the Tang no luck there I was getting my water tested bi weekly at one point I had high Phosphates I lowered that... Finally I started over feeding 5 days ago and I can now say I'm starting to see it changing as in I can see more of the rock and it takes much longer now for it to show up when lights come on.. So I'm assuming it might be dieing off... Only thing my tank has done correctly is hold water. Let's hope that doesn't change
Hi Anne, cleaning your rocks and sand will not make it multiply, because diatoms is a bacteria as a matter of fact when starting a new set-up its considered the first bacteria you actually get. I would do a water change say 20% and add a beneficial bacteria so as to fight it thus eating this type of bacteria(diatoms). Eddie
I knowwww who you are !!! We meet somewhere and talked for a little ....I will not post on here but I know why you shop at WWC lol !!! Besides them being great ! Thanks for the information and a great video ......
Can you get it when phosphates are 0? Mine are zero and have always been low because I used phosguard or gfo. They went down to 0 after dosin nopox, so after wc it went nuts whatever it is but looks like diatoms. I rea that 0 phos is a perfect breeding ground for dinos. Its not stringy nor webbed like dino nor is it slimy like cyano. I can figure it out! Would you have any ideas? Love your channel and appreciate all your efforts to help new reefers such as myself!
Hi Karen, first thanks for your positive comments. As I say I try to produce positive content. As you notice the word TRY i say this, because in this hobby there are many, many, many ways to reach the same results. When it comes to your issue with cyano or diatoms what you can try is the following; 1. If your lights are controllable, bring down your reds and greens to 0 and lower your whites to say 5 percent. 2. Pull back on feeding both fish and corals,. 3. Do a water change and upon doing it try to remove as much as possible. This should help. 👍😃 Eddie
@@EddiesReefAquaria Thanks for reply. I think it maybe from lighting because I didnt run lights much at all before I added coral and not at all for months so now I have 2 90 watt noopsyche lights on a 36 gallon. I have whites at 12 and blue and uv at 58 red/green at 4. Corals are doing well but I i will lower the whites and red/green. Also been overfeeding corals like crazy trying to up nitrates and phos! Almost nightly! Also maybe they are feeding of the phosphates i was adding. The phos. would go away in 24 hours but I would get a reading before 24 hours and I was double dosing. I did a coffee filter straining test and it didnt clump which means its not dino's or cyano. I did watch this again and after the test and hearing you say how bad it was on glass I am convinced its diatoms. I am also starting to get a small reading for po4 so maybe it will turn around now. No longer dosing it! I am so happy because I was about to take some drastic steps for dino's and so glad I dont need to do it all! So much to learn and this happened just when I was trying to figure out 2 part dosing! You have been very helpful, so apreciated! I see you live in Fl I am in Tampa, I was wondering if you bring in fresh air for co2 from outside into your skimmer? We basically have the same climate which is hot and humid and my windows are always closed. Also heard that fresh air is good for bubble scrubbing not to mention uping ph! Just not sure if its worth the effort with the hot and humid moist air!
Hi Karen, when it comes to Co2 I simply keep my windows closed, but only open my windows if its cool. What I would say in general is; " in this hobby there are many, many ways to address different topics and issues". When it comes to the bubble scrubbing if your doing find without it personally I won't add one. Remember if things are working find don't change your routine simply keep doing what you do and try to keep it simple.👍 Eddie
Hi east London, usually, Diatoms are always in your system whether you see it or not. If your lights are controllable you should turn down your reds and greens practically to 0. Whites should be brought down to around 10 percent. Do a water change and while doing it try to take out as much as you can. Another thing, lower your feeding to both fish/corals.
Hi Vivek, if you don't take any action as your reef matures and the water ages it would dissipate, but would take a longer time. The process now a days getting a clean-up crew is to quicken the process but all reefs have diatoms present the only thing is you don't see it unless there is a bloom.
Not rinsing reef sand when setting up the tank providing high silicates which the particular bacteria feed on and having elevated phosphates due to phosphate control in my experience is the main cause, I can set up a tank now and never suffer diatom or ugly phase by thoroughly rinsing all sand in RO prior to set up, using a Hanna ULR checker also enables you to fine tune your phosphate control, colour chart phosphate tests are just a waste of time and tbh these test kits are why most reefers fail, there’s no real way to half do reefing, get the right kit and do the right things and you will have success, nice vid Eddie
thanks for the information, ive been looking for a video like this for a while. i recently set up a 125L marine tank and im now in the 2nd week and my tank has been taken over by diatoms and this was very helpful. Thankyou
Glad I could help. Eddie
I really enjoyed this video and was really well explained. Thank you
Thank you for liking the video. Eddie
Thanks for posting the video. I am going through a diatom bloom and was worried about how it would affect my tank. I appreciate the info.
Hi Scott, A diatom bloom will not affect any animals in your tank whether fish or corals. What will help would be a 20% water change. Eddie
Thank you Eddie! Simple and well explained.
I try to make it as simple as possible. Eddie
Good video! Very detailed and has valuable information towards beginners and experts. Good refresher!
Thanks MiguelitoVideos for your comments. Eddie
Great video. I'm currently going through the diatom stage in my tank
Hi Raul, give it about three to four weeks and you''ll be fine. Eddie
Great video thanks for all the info.
Thank you for watching my channel. Eddie
So informational! Love the vid
Glad it was helpful! Eddie
Helpful information thank's
Thanks Mohammed.
really well explained. Thank you!!! If you live near a CLEAN source of seawater it will do wonders for your reef tank. It's free, perfectly balanced and full of beneficial food and microorganisms you won't find in a bag of salt mix.
I know, when I lived in Miami I would buy natural sea water from VIP water. Eddie
Thanks man, good info, I appreciate it!
Glad it was helpful! Eddie
Great vid, Thanks Lester
Thanks Lester for your comments. Eddie
Great video Eddie very helpful
Thanks Lee and Mandy Battersby. Eddie
The video was of great help to me. So, you got a new subscriber. 👍
Thanks for the sub! Glad it helped. When it comes to my videos and before I shoot I do a research on the topic. them I shoot, but always remembering that in this Hobby there's tons of ways to achieve the same results. Again many thanks for your sub. Eddie
@@EddiesReefAquaria thank you very much Eddie. Rgds. From Argentina.
Thanks Martin, also yo hablo espanol. Eddie
@@EddiesReefAquaria Qué bueno!!!!! Jajajajaj.
Life saving tips my friend I was going crazy I even felt like taking my fish back to the store because I was afraid they will. Now I will do a water change like you said.
Hi Big Guy Reviews, It's about going to the right person. When you go to different LFS's each will tell you different whys of doing things. Hope I was of help. Eddie
I just got this in my tank I have a brackish set up with figure 8 puffers. Thanks for the information i was trying to figure out how to get rid of the brown algae on my dry rock I didn’t like the way it looked.
Glad I could help. Eddie
Thanks great info!
Thanks AJ Reefer for your comments. Eddie
You know your stuff my man! Thx:)
I try and been in the hobby for over twenty years. When I'm going to shoot a video not only do I talk about my knowledge, but also do research so as to not give wrong info. Eddie
It’s much appreciated my man! It’s refreshing to know I can go to your channel for up to date info that I can rely on as a new saltwater hobbyist
Thanks for your comments a relying on me. When I upload a channel what i discuss about I first research so as to not give wrong info. Eddie
Hi Eddie, thanx for all the useful info. Quick question, why am I getting stubborn diatoms in my one and a half year old reef tank with zero phosphates and 1 nitrates? Trying the bacterial route with Brightwell's Microbacter 7 and Microbacter clean but it doesn't seem to work.. Thanks in advance, cheers from Athens Greece.
Hi George, first thanks for passing by. When it comes to diatoms although you may not see it they are present; in the sand or in the rocks. This can occur when your lights are a bid high and/or your nutrients are a bid high. If your lights are controllable I would bring down the reds and greens close to 0(these colors help feed it), feed a little less and finally make weekly water changes trying to siphon as much as you can out. Eddie
Hi eddi...i m from india(Pune) i just lost my all fish due to unknown reason. Now i hv kept tank to cycle again and diatoms r blooming. I m just waiting and observing. Is this wright?
Hi, Besides waiting and observing I would do a 20 percent water change(one and another the following week) and pull back on your nutrients for now. Example: if your feeding your fish every day stop and feed them every other day.this should help with the diatoms bloom. Eddie
Thank you finished my cycle and have diatoms. I’m adding microbactor 7 and will continue to add after cycle as recommended. Can I use the skimmer at this point? Thank you again I always enjoy your videos and planning to take a trip to wwc very soon. Only 2 hrs away. 😀
Hi Joann, the skimmer at this point is not needed. Its needed when your nutrients start accumulating(the bioload starts to build-up). When it comes to WWC they have a major sale this coming Sat 27! I'll be at the Winter Park store say around 1:00 pm. Hope to see you WWC and say Hello.
great vid
Thanks Philip, Recently I did a couple of videos on this topic. Eddie
Thx for the info and taking the time to explain I added some snails to my first bloom do you suggest stop feeding my corals until the bloom is over thx?
If your lights are controllable, I would lower the Reds and Greens, bring down your total photo-period, make a weekly or biweekly water change, and yes lower the feeding as a whole for both corals and fish.
Hi Eddie, I recently got a diatom bloom but I'm still in my cycle as nitrites are high in the tank any recommendations? Btw I'm doing a fishless cycle
Hi PBorjaEats, Everyone gets a diatom bloom which is also called, "the ugly stage", For now with your nitrites being high I would do a bi-weekly water change say around 50 percent or so. Now when your nitrites go down then introduce a cleaning crew like blue legged hermit crabs. This bloom usually lasts around a month or so.
Hi
Thanks for a very informative but I have a question for you I have a 30 gallon tank and I bought a product called ROWA phos and it came with a bag wound you be able to suggest the amount I should use I have a hang on the back filter and was thinking of inserting it inside the filter,
Thanks my friend.
Hi Dennis, I would put around lees than 1/4 in the bag and check your PO4 as you start to introduce this product so as to not lower the PO4 too rapidly or down to 0.
Is a diatom bloom in a new tank always a sign of a finished cycle? I have brown diatoms on my sand and live rock and a little spot of green algae has formed on my sand, I ask if it’s always a sign of a finished cycle because my nitrite and ammonia are still above where they should be but my nitrate is 20. This morning my nitrite was 2 and ammonia was .75, those two levels have come down tho, nitrite spiked at 7.5 on 05/28/21 and ammonia spiked at 2 on 05/30/21.
Hi Samantha, by what you're explaining your tank has not completely cycled yet. What you are experiencing is what's called the nitrogen cycle in other words the process of the proper algae colonizing and thus cycling. This, that you are witnessing is normal. Not until you get a 0 nitrite, 0 ammonia, and 0 nitrates is your tank cycled. When this happens then you should get a cleaning crew to start to eliminate diatoms. This process is of the different algae's that start to populate during the cycling process. (Oh, by the way you don't need to have your lights on during the cycling process.)
Will they come and go as the light comes on and goes out? I think I might have diatoms in my 1 yr old tank. I neglected it for some time and just recently started back up with maintenance. Could i have reset the cylce possibly? I vacuumed my whole sand bed to get detritus out. (I hear that can reset your biological bacteria if you do it all at once). My only other guess is cyano, it just isnt looking red to me. And I dont think its dino's because I was reading dino's will group up in your bucket on the surface, after a water-change, and I did not see this.
its not in high flow areas either
Hi Pocket, when it comes to Dino/Cyano, I would do weekly water changes and lower your whites, green, and red lights if you can, because they thrive with light. That's why they disappear when the lights are off and reappear when the lights are back on. Also, Microbactor clean is a good product, because it has a bacteria that will consume and clean your substrate and rocks. Cyano not only can show up as brick red, but also green. . I would remove it as much as you can also. Hope this will help you a bid Eddie
High flow will help from not accumulating
My tank missed your video.. It never went through and ugly stage until a year after it was up and running I got diatoms.. In late February... Today is May 26.....I did the hermits (they just ate all my snails, I got them out and gave back to my (lfs). I did the Tang no luck there I was getting my water tested bi weekly at one point I had high Phosphates I lowered that... Finally I started over feeding 5 days ago and I can now say I'm starting to see it changing as in I can see more of the rock and it takes much longer now for it to show up when lights come on.. So I'm assuming it might be dieing off... Only thing my tank has done correctly is hold water. Let's hope that doesn't change
Welcome to Reef Keeping. I'm about to upload a video on Dino's. Eddie
Does cleaning rock make it multiply? As well as cleaning sand? Or just add the clean up crew? Thanks helpful video.
Hi Anne, cleaning your rocks and sand will not make it multiply, because diatoms is a bacteria as a matter of fact when starting a new set-up its considered the first bacteria you actually get. I would do a water change say 20% and add a beneficial bacteria so as to fight it thus eating this type of bacteria(diatoms). Eddie
Eddie's Reef Aquaria thanks so much
I knowwww who you are !!! We meet somewhere and talked for a little ....I will not post on here but I know why you shop at WWC lol !!! Besides them being great ! Thanks for the information and a great video ......
Hi and thanks for your comments. Yes, I shop at WWC only, because I know they are Great with only Grade A corals(colonies or frags). Eddie
Can you get it when phosphates are 0? Mine are zero and have always been low because I used phosguard or gfo. They went down to 0 after dosin nopox, so after wc it went nuts whatever it is but looks like diatoms. I rea that 0 phos is a perfect breeding ground for dinos. Its not stringy nor webbed like dino nor is it slimy like cyano. I can figure it out! Would you have any ideas? Love your channel and appreciate all your efforts to help new reefers such as myself!
Hi Karen, first thanks for your positive comments. As I say I try to produce positive content. As you notice the word TRY i say this, because in this hobby there are many, many, many ways to reach the same results. When it comes to your issue with cyano or diatoms what you can try is the following;
1. If your lights are controllable, bring down your reds and greens to 0 and lower your whites to say 5 percent.
2. Pull back on feeding both fish and corals,.
3. Do a water change and upon doing it try to remove as much as possible.
This should help. 👍😃 Eddie
@@EddiesReefAquaria Thanks for reply. I think it maybe from lighting because I didnt run lights much at all before I added coral and not at all for months so now I have 2 90 watt noopsyche lights on a 36 gallon. I have whites at 12 and blue and uv at 58 red/green at 4. Corals are doing well but I i will lower the whites and red/green. Also been overfeeding corals like crazy trying to up nitrates and phos! Almost nightly! Also maybe they are feeding of the phosphates i was adding. The phos. would go away in 24 hours but I would get a reading before 24 hours and I was double dosing. I did a coffee filter straining test and it didnt clump which means its not dino's or cyano. I did watch this again and after the test and hearing you say how bad it was on glass I am convinced its diatoms. I am also starting to get a small reading for po4 so maybe it will turn around now. No longer dosing it! I am so happy because I was about to take some drastic steps for dino's and so glad I dont need to do it all! So much to learn and this happened just when I was trying to figure out 2 part dosing! You have been very helpful, so apreciated! I see you live in Fl I am in Tampa, I was wondering if you bring in fresh air for co2 from outside into your skimmer? We basically have the same climate which is hot and humid and my windows are always closed. Also heard that fresh air is good for bubble scrubbing not to mention uping ph! Just not sure if its worth the effort with the hot and humid moist air!
Hi Karen, when it comes to Co2 I simply keep my windows closed, but only open my windows if its cool. What I would say in general is; " in this hobby there are many, many ways to address different topics and issues". When it comes to the bubble scrubbing if your doing find without it personally I won't add one. Remember if things are working find don't change your routine simply keep doing what you do and try to keep it simple.👍 Eddie
How do you get rid of hairy black algae growing on the plants in the aquarium
I would lower the nutrient level(feed less)and try to introduce a clean-up crew. Eddie
can we eliminate diatom with antibiotic (eritromycin) , like we did blue-green algea?
Hi Blue Fish, you could, but would try the natural way.
Eddie from Orlando moved to Sarasota Lou is a great guy
Lou is like my Brother, but from different mothers. He is a Great person with a Great personality. Eddie
Will it go on its own im getting it right now.
Hi east London, usually, Diatoms are always in your system whether you see it or not. If your lights are controllable you should turn down your reds and greens practically to 0. Whites should be brought down to around 10 percent. Do a water change and while doing it try to take out as much as you can. Another thing, lower your feeding to both fish/corals.
am actually going thru this in my 155gal tank its driving me nuts
Hi Alex, it's a process, but will go away. When it comes to this algae its considered the first algae you're going to get when starting a new setup.
What kind of crabs?
As of today I have 5 blue legged, 5 red legged, and 5 Nassarius Snails.
What about rowa phos
Yes, that's another option. Eddie
What if no actions are taken?
Hi Vivek, if you don't take any action as your reef matures and the water ages it would dissipate, but would take a longer time. The process now a days getting a clean-up crew is to quicken the process but all reefs have diatoms present the only thing is you don't see it unless there is a bloom.
@@EddiesReefAquaria perfect thanks for the prompt reply.
I just started having a bloom this morning, time to get a clean up crew.
HI Nate V, As I say everyone gets it, but just follow what I document on my video and you'll be OK. Eddie