Diatoms have been a HUGE pain in my as$. Every tank I have has struggled with diatoms at one point but taking time to go through and clean it off the glass, my plants (huge pain but if I loosen it my mystery snails will eat the rest), rocks, etc once a week eventually it stops returning. Lots of patience that’s for sure! Thanks for sharing your techniques
I’ve had a mature 55gal tank for years. Never had a diatom issue until I changed out the substrate to an aqua soil with a sand cap. The diatoms I have are different. It’s the stringy brown mess and it’s covered everything. It appeared overnight, attacked stem plants and mosses. I tested the water for silicates and it was high, I assume from the sand (even though I rinsed it several times before adding it). I’m on the 3rd month of dealing with it. So many plants died from the smothering and I’m pulling it out every 1-2 days, even with my co2, high light and fertilizer, the plants can’t overcome it. Water changes are all with remineralized RO, weekly, 50%. I’ve also added Phosguard to my filter. Tested silicates and they’ve been gone for 3 weeks. but the brown hair is still aggressive. I wished I never changed to sand. I’m unsure what else to do than spend more money replacing the substrate again.
Sand and tap water tend to be your biggest culprits for diatoms. Using RO water has definitely reduced the amount of diatoms I encounter in my life, so you may consider switching over in the future. But new sand can definitely introduce silicates. Just keep up with big water changes and manual removal and they'll go away eventually. Same with the brown algae. Wishing you the best!
My 55g has been set up for about a year, the diatoms are STILL showing up. Water tests great except i always have higher nitrates and i do have a decent amount of live plants.
Hey Logan, Thanks for the video! I got the brown algae now on my week 3 of cycle. Quick question: once you clean the tank well, do you also replace the filter components? Seems counterproductive to kiss goodbye to all the bacterial buildup, but wondering if diatoms can come back if filter not changed. Thanks in advance!
I have them on microswords and they are really on there. The only way I can get it of is with my fingernail so im not going to go over every single leaf. Do I just leave them be and take care of the rest in hopes that they will eventually go away too or what is your advice on this?
@@Jonasofzocrazy idea, stay with me just stay with me now…. Pick up a second one for the tank. 😂 Dollar stores sell electric ones for kids for under $2.50.
Hi! I have a betta tank and I can't seem to get the diatoms off of my more porous decor. I'm leaning towards using hydrogen peroxide but I'm wondering if it's safe. Also, how often should I do the 80% water changes? Thank you for the video! very helpful :)
For porous decor, electric toothbrush is your best friend. 80% water changes are massive and really shift parameters so use them sparingly. Smaller more frequent changes are better for stability
Helllllp.. I don't know what to do.. I keep losing fish.. My tank is cycled.. I have checked the levels and everything is fine apart from the water here is a little hard but not much.. Temperatures good.. Oxygen levels good.. Not overfeeding.. Not over stocked.. I do have a small amount of diatoms.. But I keep losing fish.. They are tetras mainly lemon and orange flame tetras... Could it be the small amount of diatoms or is it due to the water being a little hard if so how do I soften it.. I am so lost right now and extremely upset losing my fish
@@LoganRandoAquascaping no I brought a Ammonia monitor it's fine... I don't quite know what happened but things calmed down a few days after I wrote this.. I think its because we have very hard water in my part of the UK.. So I got a water softener and it seems to have done the trick.. I thought downsizing due to illness would make it easier.. I'm finding it harder 😂
Nothing I do gets rid of the diatoms and subsequent green algae. I have even removed all rock and bleached them. I do regular maintenance every week and I just can’t keep it from coming back…. My tank is 6 months old
Where did the moustache go?😛. Also, thanks to you, hydrogen peroxide has become my go to when it comes to algae now, especially bba. Great video as usual Logan.. :)
@@beas5135 absolutely the eggs are a problem all over my wood scape and impossible to get off easy . I just use plants and just accept nature being nature
Diatoms have been a HUGE pain in my as$. Every tank I have has struggled with diatoms at one point but taking time to go through and clean it off the glass, my plants (huge pain but if I loosen it my mystery snails will eat the rest), rocks, etc once a week eventually it stops returning. Lots of patience that’s for sure! Thanks for sharing your techniques
My pleasure. Really glad you found the vid helpful.
I’ve had a mature 55gal tank for years. Never had a diatom issue until I changed out the substrate to an aqua soil with a sand cap. The diatoms I have are different. It’s the stringy brown mess and it’s covered everything. It appeared overnight, attacked stem plants and mosses. I tested the water for silicates and it was high, I assume from the sand (even though I rinsed it several times before adding it). I’m on the 3rd month of dealing with it. So many plants died from the smothering and I’m pulling it out every 1-2 days, even with my co2, high light and fertilizer, the plants can’t overcome it. Water changes are all with remineralized RO, weekly, 50%. I’ve also added Phosguard to my filter. Tested silicates and they’ve been gone for 3 weeks. but the brown hair is still aggressive. I wished I never changed to sand. I’m unsure what else to do than spend more money replacing the substrate again.
Sand and tap water tend to be your biggest culprits for diatoms. Using RO water has definitely reduced the amount of diatoms I encounter in my life, so you may consider switching over in the future. But new sand can definitely introduce silicates. Just keep up with big water changes and manual removal and they'll go away eventually. Same with the brown algae. Wishing you the best!
I too hate myself for adding sand. Every thing was well before that. I loved my honwort plants. But it simply cannot compete with diatoms
“…and how to deal with them in a calm efficient way.”
As opposed to dealing with diatoms in a frantic way? A panicked way?
It just made me smile. 😂
haha glad you enjoyed that
Melamine sponges are great for removing diatoms. I like the thin sheets. It's very satisfying because you can see the diatoms on the sponge :)
I totally agree!
Melamine sponge?
@@EyezLikaFox̌Mr.Clean magic erasers.
does nerite snail, amano shrimp and otocinclus can help me with brown algae naturally? I'm planning to purchase ty in advance ❤
They certainly do!
I've got a 4 year old dirted planted tank that just had a flare up. I just fertilized. Wonder if that caused this bloom.
My 55g has been set up for about a year, the diatoms are STILL showing up. Water tests great except i always have higher nitrates and i do have a decent amount of live plants.
They may be feeding off the nitrates but hard to say. Diatoms can be stubborn. A little hydrogen peroxide spot dosing should help
That was very helpful.. it will be great if talk about cyanobacteria or blue green algae its a nightmare 😅
Noted!
Hey Logan, Thanks for the video! I got the brown algae now on my week 3 of cycle. Quick question: once you clean the tank well, do you also replace the filter components? Seems counterproductive to kiss goodbye to all the bacterial buildup, but wondering if diatoms can come back if filter not changed. Thanks in advance!
Don't replace but feel free to clean the mechanical filtration like sponges and replace floss
So when you have an outbreak like this, how often should you clean the tank this way? Once a week?
1 to 2 times per week is my schedule
@@LoganRandoAquascaping Thank you!
Great video bro! Do you dilute your hydrogen peroxide before spraying?
Thanks! The spray is pre-diluted. It's 3% H2O2
Everytime I make new set up tank, i got this :)
Absolutely. They always pass :)
I have them on microswords and they are really on there. The only way I can get it of is with my fingernail so im not going to go over every single leaf. Do I just leave them be and take care of the rest in hopes that they will eventually go away too or what is your advice on this?
Brush it off with an electric tooth brush. It works really well on leaves
@@LoganRandoAquascaping I only have 1 electric toothbrush and thats the one I use. Soo yeah not an option right now, maybe later. Thanks
@@Jonasofzocrazy idea, stay with me just stay with me now…. Pick up a second one for the tank. 😂
Dollar stores sell electric ones for kids for under $2.50.
Hi! I have a betta tank and I can't seem to get the diatoms off of my more porous decor. I'm leaning towards using hydrogen peroxide but I'm wondering if it's safe. Also, how often should I do the 80% water changes? Thank you for the video! very helpful :)
For porous decor, electric toothbrush is your best friend. 80% water changes are massive and really shift parameters so use them sparingly. Smaller more frequent changes are better for stability
Hi, what is your hydrogen peroxide dilution ratio or percentage if its premade?
Store bought 3%
Helllllp.. I don't know what to do.. I keep losing fish.. My tank is cycled.. I have checked the levels and everything is fine apart from the water here is a little hard but not much.. Temperatures good.. Oxygen levels good.. Not overfeeding.. Not over stocked.. I do have a small amount of diatoms.. But I keep losing fish.. They are tetras mainly lemon and orange flame tetras... Could it be the small amount of diatoms or is it due to the water being a little hard if so how do I soften it.. I am so lost right now and extremely upset losing my fish
Likely ammonia due to a poorly cycled tank. Diatoms wouldn't cause death like that
@@LoganRandoAquascaping no I brought a Ammonia monitor it's fine... I don't quite know what happened but things calmed down a few days after I wrote this.. I think its because we have very hard water in my part of the UK.. So I got a water softener and it seems to have done the trick.. I thought downsizing due to illness would make it easier.. I'm finding it harder 😂
How do you handle brown algae/diatoms on plants such as s repens or rotala? Thanks!
Clean with a soft bristle toothbrush on the leaf surfaces
@@LoganRandoAquascaping thank you! I really did not want to add shrimp again to my tank. I will try the toothbrush method 😁
Nice vid! Thanks
Glad you liked it!
hello i use tapwater and i have high TDS when température is high(550) and lower TDS when low(380) température this is normal ? :) thanks
I'd assume the higher temperatures contribute to more dissolving of whatever mineral is in your water source, so yeah, totally makes sense
Is It OK to insert neocaridina? It's been 6 weeks and I still see some brown diatoms, I only intend to keep shrimp :)
6 weeks you should be totally cycled
@@LoganRandoAquascaping thanks! They’re in and thriving 😄
Nothing I do gets rid of the diatoms and subsequent green algae. I have even removed all rock and bleached them. I do regular maintenance every week and I just can’t keep it from coming back…. My tank is 6 months old
Lighting, ferts, and CO2 must be out of balance
Where did the moustache go?😛. Also, thanks to you, hydrogen peroxide has become my go to when it comes to algae now, especially bba. Great video as usual Logan.. :)
I love it for BBA treatment as well! Oh, and I cut my mustache off for a special lady I met :)
@@LoganRandoAquascaping awesome!! Good luck . 😌
Hydrogen peroxide absolutely destroys diatoms.
It also oxidizes plants, making them weaker and more susceptible to worse algae.
I don't use c02.
Maybe you'll give it a try one day
@@LoganRandoAquascaping I plan on it. Ordered a complete system from modern aquariums. Awaiting on its arrival.
Just get a snail . Works for me
Who knew it was so simple!
@@LoganRandoAquascaping well in 10gal my snail 🐌 is fat and happy
Did you get a nerite snail? Any issues with eggs or the snail leaving the tank? Apparently these are the 'issues' people have with them '
@@beas5135 absolutely the eggs are a problem all over my wood scape and impossible to get off easy . I just use plants and just accept nature being nature
turn that dang hat around
Never!