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05/25/2019, 10:46 AM | #1 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: South Florida
Posts: 183
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Silicates
Tap water silicate test kit (salifert) reads 1 or positive.
Rodi water reads 0. Tank water reads 0. I have reoccurring diatoms, not excessive but enough to spoil the look of the sand and the lower areas of the rocks in a few areas. Could the 0 reading of the tank water be because the silicates are 'bound up' in the diatoms, or could it be phosphates which I haven't tested for? Thank you for any comments.
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95g with 29g 3 section sump with skimmer/ref/return. |
05/25/2019, 05:38 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mountain View, CA, USA
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The RO/DI should remove silicate fairly well, even without a special "silica buster" cartridge. If the tank has a diatom problem, an herbivorous snail that'll move onto the sand will eat them. What cleanup crew does the system have?
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Jonathan Bertoni |
05/26/2019, 06:00 AM | #3 |
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Probably its new tank. Let it pass this phase. Its normal
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05/26/2019, 09:01 PM | #4 |
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Location: South Florida
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The tank is past 18 months now, the initial diatom bloom lasted about 5 months! I later added a few pounds of arogonite sand which caused the diatoms to return, it's not testing positive for silicates so now I'm thinking maybe a phosphate issue, I will test this week.
Thank you...
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95g with 29g 3 section sump with skimmer/ref/return. |
05/26/2019, 10:43 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Mountain View, CA, USA
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You're welcome. Good luck!
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Jonathan Bertoni |
05/31/2019, 01:03 PM | #6 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: South Florida
Posts: 183
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I have a salifert phosphate test kit, just delivered - and the water is totally clear - no indication any phosphates. 15g water change this mng and adding 20 florida cerith snails. Not confidant but hopeful.....the sand is already showing slight brown color..
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95g with 29g 3 section sump with skimmer/ref/return. |
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