Is This Diatoms?

[Gary Ellis]

New setup...I'm about 25 days old. Is this the Diatom algae?

 

[Alex Mederos]

New tank. Probably is. I doubt dinos so early on. What are your parameters and did you use all dry substrate?

 

[mahindra.dev]

New tank is mostly diatoms.

 

[lickyricky]

Normal. It will clear up. Mine took 6 months

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Don't worry it gets worse

I had a heavy diatom and bloom about that stage that suddenly went away. Now two months in its hair algae, diatoms and cyano lol

 

[Gary Ellis]

Thanks...6 months???? Yikes

 

[User1]

Thanks...6 months???? Yikes

Lol - it will vary of course. All systems are different and see the patterns at different times or durations. For example I have a tank that started its cycle in February, completed in March, sat idle for a month, I turned on lights and skimmer first week of April, and moved my 40 breeder over with everything on the 15th. Diatoms started sometime in April but finished rather quickly with the rocks now being encrusted with purple coralline algae. I was expecting some other algae to kick in such has hair but so far, knock on wood, it hasn't bothered. Diatoms came and went and luckily I only added a few extra snails to help manage it. I think I added 12 cert, 12 others, and had a few from my other tank and they did great. Packages for 210 gallons suggested a zillion of everything and I couldn't just see the need.

In any case there is a pattern that usually follows along with the cycle process. It ebbs and flows and really depends on rock preparation, water quality, feeding habits, etc. Enjoy the ride!

Edit: By the way - that rock is going to look like the image below in about a month if that. Here is my 150lbs dry Pukani just now starting to mature.

 

[Gary Ellis]

I could only hope for my rock to look like yours. Nice

 

[User1]

I could only hope for my rock to look like yours. Nice

It will, trust me. Part of the process. We both used dead rock but through the cycle it will turn alive. It really is cool to watch. I didn't do anything different than you I would wager. A bit of time you will start to see it.