How do I get rid of silicates?

[nm]

Already use a spectra-pure RO unit for make-up water and water changes. I've had diatom algae problems twice in 3 months. First time I used phos-guard and the algae went away in a few days. My guess is my RO letting too much silicates through. WHAT TO DO?
Not a new set-up!! (current set-up over 5 years old)

 

[johnreb]

Do you use any kind of deionization cartridge
after your RO? ROs can let a lot of silicates and phosphate through without the use of an anion cartridge, I personally use a Spectrapure 5-stage unit with an anion and cation cartridge. Even though the water goes through an RO first, I still go through an anion cartridge a month (about 120 gallons), well water is full of silicates.

[ August 29, 2001: Message edited by: johnreb ]

 

[Anonymous]

hey nm,

i had a diatom problem too. i once posted a message on how to get rid of them. most people correctly said to limit silicates. one guy - craig bingman - told me that in his experience getting rid of silicates (and thus diatoms) usually just lead to other nuisance algae.

but i didn't care, i just wanted those nasty brown slimy globs out of my tank. so i got a kent RO filter w/ a special silicate attachment. the diatoms were gone in a couple weeks of water changes.

i spent the next 18 months battling a huge hair algae outbreak. i see now bingman was right. the diatoms were using nitrates and phosphates in my tank. once the diatoms were gone, the hair algae took over.

i really should have attacked the excess nutrient problem along with the silicates.

i don't know what your NO3 or PO4 levels are, but i just thought i'd pass on the advice.

good luck.

 

[Rob Klein]

Many people use silica sand in their reefs. Perhaps there are other contributing reasons for the blooms.

 

[DK]

I vote for adding the DI portion and replace all the cartridges if they are any way near a year old. I guess it would take a few months to completely stabalize.

 

[nm]

Thanks!!it looks like I'll be adding a DI.

 

[Grandczar]

Get a sponge they love silicates! IMHO your should leave things alone.

Its like this:
soluble silica + nutrients = diatoms
soluble silica + no nutrients = no diatoms
no soluble silica + nutrients = other more sinister algae.

Are silicates really the enemy? Or is it the nutrients that will grow algae regardless.

Snails and coral love diatoms! Starve them if you like, but algae will always be a problem for you untill you deal with the nutrients.

HTH!

 

[nm]

I have no other algae bloom. Just diatom. I feed the tank seldom, maybe once a week . I supplement reef plus, calcium, and iodine. Lots of hermits, a few snails and about 5 fish and mostly soft coral.
If snails like diatom maybe I should add more. But of course I would like not to see the diatom bloom.

 

[nm]

Then I will have to assume the nutrient spike is caused not from feeding but from the addition of reef plus supplement.
I add this twice a week. I just did a water change and will not use reef plus for a while to see if this is the cause of the nutrient spike.

 

[horge]

You cannot eliminate SiO2 from your tankwater, nor can you eliminate nutrients. Needless to say, you practically cannot eliminate diatoms in a reeftank, nor should you.

Diatom blooms are natural to new systems or ones experiencing a nutrient spike --they are quickly superseded by true algae and cyanobacteria. Again, both of those latter are omnipresent in marine systems.

As has been indicated above already, the key to suppression of diatom blooms lies not in SiO2, but in nutrient management.

Horge Cortes-Jorge