Carib Sea Arag-ALive Fiji Pink Substrate?!

NanaReefer

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I set my 40B up almost 2yrs ago. Using 60lbs of this substrate. From day one until now I've been plagued with what I (several other reefers also) believe to be Diatoms.
4 Stage RO/DI unit all new filters/membrane/resin. Unit/storage/ATO reservoir all read 0 TDS, using a brand new meter.
Dosing nothing but BRS 2 part via doser. Feed nothing but LRS Reef Frenzy.
Using Reef Crystals. Bi-weekly 5g water changes. Remove water from DT, replace via the sump.

Issue gets worse 1-2 days after every water change. Begins clearing up 2 weeks later. But still visible in small areas. Some dusting on the glass.

Has anyone else had issues with this substrate? Please LMK.

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chimmike

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How's your flow? Seems like it might not be enough to export the nutrients to the filtration. I never had diatom issues with high flow, nutrient issues would manifest in other ways (hair algae, etc)
 
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NanaReefer

NanaReefer

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Gyre XF-130. Got mega flow, no dead spots and all Corals on the SB show great movement [emoji2] No algae except for Coralline. NO3=.02 and PO4=0 per Salifert.
The longer I go without a WC the more it clears up.
Pic taken 28 days without WC.
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RMS18

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I have some spots, but I added some more snails recently and they have seemed to stir the sand up some more. My sand is 7 months old, 1 inch - .5inches.
 

chimmike

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aren't diatoms typical in the early cycle of a tank? If you're not doing water changes and they're going away, seems like the system is maturing!
 

jolt

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I do use the Fiji Pink in my 32 gallon, and I have had similar problems. Tank is going on a year and a half old now. I recently started siphoning out the top layer as part of my water change. I rinse the removed sand many times in RODI until it is clear, and then add it back the next time I need to siphon the top layer. This ends up being about 1/2 cup of sand per siphon session. It is helping the sand look better and does not seem to be doing any harm.
 
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NanaReefer

NanaReefer

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aren't diatoms typical in the early cycle of a tank? If you're not doing water changes and they're going away, seems like the system is maturing!

My tank is going on 2yrs old. Have been doing bi-weekly WC until recently. What I'm talking about here goes beyond the normal Diatom bloom that is associated with new tanks.
 

chimmike

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I wonder if it'd be worthwhile to check the chemical makeup of the Fiji pink and see if something in it is contributing. Seems like there might be.
 

Sabellafella

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This the first using caribsea live fijipink and ben 3 months with diatoms thank god im not the only one it was driving me crazy
 

GOSKN5

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Happened to me as well.. caused me to go BB haha
 

reynaldoramon

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You sound like your dealing with dinos. Hear they typically get worst after WC.
 
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NanaReefer

NanaReefer

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Definitely NOT Dinoflagellates. Just know that I've been reefing for 6yrs so I know a little some thing-lol. Still learning though for sure.

I'm pretty sure there's something funky up with this particular substrate. What exactly it is I've no idea. I've spoken with a few ole timers who agree it is Diatoms but as to the exact cause, no clues.
It was per suggestion that I hold off on the WC for a bit to see. I'm doing this now. The majority it gone.
Seems to be that the substrate is reacting to water changes. Why?!

1) Do I remove some or all substrate?
2) Do I switch salt mix? Using Reef Crystals. Could it be the added organic's in RC reacting with substrate?
3) Smaller less invasive WC? Only doing 5g bi-weekly now.
 

shovelhead

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I had that issue until I started siphoning sand out during water changes. I have around an inch of Fiji pink left and haven't had any more issues. I think my sand bed was just too thick.
One thing I forgot to mention was I switched from reef crystals to regular instant ocean about 6 months ago.
 
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