Diatoms in new aquarium

[dchollo82]

Hi all,

Just about to enter week 4 of a new low tech nano set up and came back after 3 days away with diatoms spread across a lot of the leaves. Immediately did a water change. Understand this is part of a new set up but this feels excessive? I managed to remove some of it by hand by rubbing off with my finger and thumb.

Anyone have any tips on combating this? I’ve read about trimming the leaves that are coated to help promote new growth due to then coated leaves not being able to fight off the algae anymore?
My lighting comes on full by default when on a timer and can only be dimmed manually after it comes on. I thought about taping up some of the LEDs to get around this?
Thanks

 

[simon_the_plant_nerd]

Diatoms will be out competed by more “sophisticated” algae in short time. The amount you get will vary from person to person on water conditions, lighting, temperature etc… Just leave it and it will all come good.

Diatoms will rub off leaves with your thumb if you really want to remove them.

 

[Scaperinc]

There is not much you can do other than syphoning when water change. Bucklup ugly phase has started , for me it lasts good month or two.

You can add add some amanos if parameters allow it.

 

[G H Nelson]

Hi
You need to get some surface plants....be it fast-growing stems left on the surface or floating plants!
It's a method I always use, and I reap the benefits later as the aquarium matures.
4 weeks is not long for a new set-up aquarium.

 

[simon_the_plant_nerd]

You need to get some surface plants....be it fast-growing stems left on the surface or floating plants!
It's a method I always use, and I reap the benefits later as the aquarium matures.
4 weeks is not long for a new set-up aquarium.

This is very true. It takes quite some time for the ecosystem to get stable.

@dchollo82 Send me a PM and I’ll post some floating plants to you if you want them (assuming you’re in the UK.)

 

[dchollo82]

There is not much you can do other that syphoning when water change. Bucklup ugly phase has started , for me it lasts good month or two.

You can add add some amanos if parameters allow it.

Was planning on adding cherry shrimp first. Are amanos more useful?

 

[Scaperinc]

Was planning on adding cherry shrimp first. Are amanos more useful?

Amanos are king, they can get quite big though , cherry's are not as effective as amanos but in big numbers will do the job.

 

[dchollo82]

Thanks for the tips. Ok yeh would have to wait for breeding if I went with cherrys. Ok to add Amanos in now at 4 weeks or should I wait a couple more weeks? Tank is cycled

 

[Scaperinc]

Thanks for the tips. Ok yeh would have to wait for breeding if I went with cherrys. Ok to add Amanos in now at 4 weeks or should I wait a couple more weeks? Tank is cycled

Nah add them. Which fish you going for?

 

[dchollo82]

I’m not planning on putting a heater in this one so was thinking a few guppies. My daughter is keen on them over tetras 🙂

 

[Bradders]

I’m not planning on putting a heater in this one so was thinking a few guppies. My daughter is keen on them over tetras 🙂

I really struggle to keep Guppy's alive these days! (Maybe I am Dr Death for them?!). So much so I am not keeping them anymore. Doing some research, it does seem to be becoming more common that they are not hardy fish. Again, maybe its just me or my local suppliers - but I cant keep them as its too heartbreaking for me.

 

[Scaperinc]

I’m not planning on putting a heater in this one so was thinking a few guppies. My daughter is keen on them over tetras 🙂

I dont use heaters in my tanks never have and keep tropical fish 221-22 in winter and summer you dont have to worry anyway.

 

[sparkyweasel]

maybe its just me

It's not just you.