Plastic that comes on new tanks - could it cause Diatoms? Asking for a friend....

[LightingBug]

I have an My friend has an IM 20P Pro AIO. It's been running for 4-ish months.

I am having My friend has a diatom problem, been treating it for a few days.

Of note, I also have My friend also has an EVO 13.5 that was set up at the same time with the same salt, water, etc. No diatom bloom.

3 days ago, I realized my friend realized he had left the plastic covering that peels off the back of the overflow/filter compartment on (in my his defense it was really clear) for that entire time. Now it is peeled off.

Would this plastic covering leech silicates (or any baddie) into the system?

 

[mtfish]

Tell your friend that most plastics are made from oil, so it would not make diatoms grow. Some people think that adding silica will increase diatoms. How long was this plastic in your tank? I don't think it has any bearings on water quality.

 

[LightingBug]

Tell your friend that most plastics are made from oil, so it would not make diatoms grow. Some people think that adding silica will increase diatoms. How long was this plastic in your tank? I don't think it has any bearings on water quality.

Well, it has been there for the entire 4-ish months.