The Puffer Forum

So, my brackish tank has had an outbreak of something going on for the past few months and I have let it run its course thinking it was a diatom break out. Now I'm not so sure, don't diatoms usually go away after the tank settles a little and the light source is limited? What it looks like is fluffy rust on every surface, when I clean it I brush over it and suck it out with a python, it looks like a powder. It's on the substrate, glass, plants, terracotta caves and the filter intake. I am at a loss right now, never had this happen. I'm ready to take the tank down and start over...

Maybe a picture? sounds like diatom, but should have gone away by now...

If it's diatom, it can take 3-6 months to go away (by itself). How old is the tank?

The tank is about 8 months old and this didn't start until I started to get the SG over 1.004.

It happen to me also, don't worry, the diatom will go away within 2-4 months by itself.

Disturbances can trigger temporary blooms also silicate supplied with top-off water or newly mixed sea water can trigger a bloom.

OK, for anyone interested here is what a nasty Diatom bloom looks like. The thing that bothers me about it is that it has hung around so long. I am going to change out my substrate as I think this is a huge factor in the problem. I got some cheap crushed flint for a substrate on the recommendation of the LFS and I think I need to change to sand. I have 3 other brackish tanks with pool filter sand for substrate and not a problem with any of them......






Oh, those aren't water spots, those are air bubbles streaking by....

Do you have the other tanks with pool filter sand and BW also?

By_a_coo wrote:Do you have the other tanks with pool filter sand and BW also?

Yes I do and I don't have a problem with them, only this one that has crushed flint substrate.

I have my doubts regarding substrate and I would wait to see how it will evolve. Do you know the source of the substrate or what it is made of?