Silicates

mbmikebray · 05/25/2019, 10:46 AM

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.

bertoni · 05/25/2019, 05:38 PM

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?

hegeh · 05/26/2019, 06:00 AM

Probably its new tank. Let it pass this phase. Its normal

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

mbmikebray · 05/26/2019, 09:01 PM

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...

bertoni · 05/26/2019, 10:43 PM

You're welcome. Good luck!

mbmikebray · 05/31/2019, 01:03 PM

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..

05/25/2019, 10:46 AM	#1
mbmikebray Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: South Florida Posts: 183	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. __________________ 95g with 29g 3 section sump with skimmer/ref/return.

05/25/2019, 05:38 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	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? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

05/26/2019, 09:01 PM	#4
mbmikebray Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: South Florida Posts: 183	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... __________________ 95g with 29g 3 section sump with skimmer/ref/return.

05/26/2019, 10:43 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	You're welcome. Good luck! __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

05/31/2019, 01:03 PM	#6
mbmikebray Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: South Florida Posts: 183	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.. __________________ 95g with 29g 3 section sump with skimmer/ref/return.

05/26/2019, 06:00 AM	#3
hegeh Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 223	Probably its new tank. Let it pass this phase. Its normal Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk