Diatoms...problem just won't go away.

[The Grizz]

Originally Posted by Snufflupagus

There used to be little bubbles, but they are all gone. Now it's just a brownish orange mat that is only on the sand bed. They almost look like tiny round pebbles on the sand bed.

This is exactly what I had going on not that long ago, my problem solver was to ADD more Vertex Pellets as mine were almost depleted to nothing.

[monocus]

why don't you try an algae scrubber.also what are your water parameters.you might get a clue of what is happening

[fishytime]

how old is the tank?.......how much flow exactly do you have?.....I know you said lots, but how many GPH do you have inside the tank?....how many fish and what kind?......what do you feed and how often do you feed?......you said you used a percentage of old rock and some new rock.....was this new rock live rock or dry rock?.....when was the last time you changed your bulbs?......do you use RO water or tap water?.....does the tank receive any natural sunlight?

[Snufflupagus]

Originally Posted by fishytime

how old is the tank?.......how much flow exactly do you have?.....I know you said lots, but how many GPH do you have inside the tank?....how many fish and what kind?......what do you feed and how often do you feed?......you said you used a percentage of old rock and some new rock.....was this new rock live rock or dry rock?.....when was the last time you changed your bulbs?......do you use RO water or tap water?.....does the tank receive any natural sunlight?

Hey, long time no chat or see, hope all is well. Tank is 10 months, basically 11 months now. Flow I have a pump pushing 1800gph and 2 tunze 6105's on the tank. Fish - (5) domino damsels, (2) black and white damsels, (4) yellow with black stripe damsels, (1) regal tang, (1) purple tang, (2) black and white perc. (1) true perc. (2) tomato clowns, (1) scooter blenny, (1) six lined wrasse (2) pj cardinals. Inverts - (1) long spike urchin, (1) rbta, hermit crabs, snails...not sure on the numbers of those anymore. 7-10 of each is a good bet.
I feed flake food once a day. Once or Twice a week I feed some frozen food to my anemone, and once or twice a week I give some seaweed to the Tangs.
The new rock was dry rock. I had it cycling in my tank for about 3-4 months before putting anything into the tank. I also understand that, this is probably where my problem is coming from. Well I just changed all the bulbs because I just changed to LEDs two days ago. Yes I use RO/DI water. Tank is in my basement and gets very little to no sunlight.
Tank parameters:
Salinity - 1.022
Temp - 79 at night, 80 during the day.
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
Phosphate -0

I think the algae is giving me a double negative on my tests and that's why my tests are coming out at 0.

Thoughts?

[Cal_stir]

your salinity seems a bit low, what is your alk?, diatoms thrive on silicates, did you use any base rock that might be leaching silicates?

[Snufflupagus]

Originally Posted by Cal_stir

your salinity seems a bit low, what is your alk?, diatoms thrive on silicates, did you use any base rock that might be leaching silicates?

I just got a new Hanna Alk tester, I will test today and let you know after I test. Sorry I don't know the term base rock. If base rock is dry rock to start, then yes I did and yes it is probably producing silicates.

[Cal_stir]

Originally Posted by Snufflupagus

I just got a new Hanna Alk tester, I will test today and let you know after I test. Sorry I don't know the term base rock. If base rock is dry rock to start, then yes I did and yes it is probably producing silicates.

Base rock is rock used at the bottom of the tank that the live rock sits on, it's not usually live rock and might contain silica.
Dry rock is OK if it is reef rock

[Snufflupagus]

Originally Posted by monocus

why don't you try an algae scrubber.also what are your water parameters.you might get a clue of what is happening

I have a scrubber for the glass.
I will post parameters on my reply to Fishytime.

[bignose]

Originally Posted by Snufflupagus

I have a scrubber for the glass.
I will post parameters on my reply to Fishytime.

lol this is what he means by scrubber
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnysX1sLsLc

[Snufflupagus]

Originally Posted by bignose

lol this is what he means by scrubber
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnysX1sLsLc

Lol my new answer is...because I have never seen one of of those before.