Nano Lagoon (14): BIG Diatom Bloom

[@ipsfdotcom]

Yes! Congratulations. It is a perfectly good diatom bloom and your tank is ready for a cleanup crew, such as a Reef Tank Tuneup from Indo-Pacific Sea Farms.

[@kvnfng]

Me again. I just came across your "Growing Great Coralline Algae " video and webpage. You're awesome! I have all the info I need. Thanks again!

[@ipsfdotcom]

That's a great sign and it's not unusual. Often we sea clean sand in the morning and by afternoon there are visible streaks of diatoms! Let them bloom for 7-10 days before adding cleaners. Establishing these diatoms is critically important to everything that happens later:)

[@ipsfdotcom]

@AntonyTrickrider it's not necessary, but 4 watts per gal PC lighting works fine

[@ipsfdotcom]

Try using a plastic turkey baster -- it has a larger bore than a pipette and it's softer.

[@OttoVonBacon]

I cant get my tank to cycle, ammonia just won't spike. i've tried everything short of chemicals and fish. Ive had two big diatom blooms, but no nitrate/nitrite spikes at all, NH3 has only spiked to .25 ppm. 90 gallon tank... You think this is enough to get the bio filter going?

[@richishere82]

So this algae is a good sign in a new tank?? Cos my new nano is getting loads of this and I was worried?? How long does this cycle last ? And shall I clean it away??

[@ipsfdotcom]

The diatom bloom is a very good sign, providing visual confirmation of the end of the cycling process. Ammonia and nitrite levels are now low enough to begin adding beneficial sandbed organisms such as Pods, worms, grazing snails, and MiniStars. These organisms will eat the diatoms and help keep the tank free of nuisance algae.

[@ipsfdotcom]

BTW, our video entitled "Responsible Rock" was renamed to "Buying Nano Reef Rock" [so folks who want to get started asap can locate a source of rock if they don't make their own.]

[@ipsfdotcom]

Yes, please watch Video #15 in this series. The diatom bloom is an important part of starting a new reef tank. They are controlled by adding a pack of grazing snails and sandbed detritivores. See also our video called "Nano Reef Super Snail" for more info.

[@NoMonkeyBizz]

Were can I get some coralite plating

[@titanoboa100]

I started my nano 10 gallon with live rock and live sand. What will be defferent in my aquarium than youres? Like for example. Will my tank cycle and rock curing take longer to get my tank ready than youre tank with the man made rock and regular sand? Thanks.

[@MarciToronto]

i have the save problem.. i hate these brown diatoms:S do you have any idea to cure the tank??

[@eskew77]

Thank you! I went to your site to order a tune kit but it says your kit is for 20 - 55 gallon set ups. Mine is only a 14 gallon biocube. Do you offer smaller nano kit, maybe a special order type thing?

[@AntonyTrickrider]

Does it speed up the proses by placing the tank in the sun?

[@kvnfng]

Firstly, thanks for all these wonderful videos. I am a newbie and following your steps as closely as I can on my new 29g. My 1st question to you pertains to the coralline algae plate, how do I get that and is it available at ipsf? Next, how do you care for coralline? Do I have to add a special and extensive lighting unit to promote it's growth or is it the addition of calcium supplements and normal lighting will do the trick? Thanks!

[@TIYX]

I cant find the nano start kit on your site?

[@wcdeich4]

Great educational video! So the succession is bacteria, diatoms, then coalmine algae - that's it? Too bad there's a high pitched noise int he background - I don't know if that was problem w/ the microphone, or maybe some equipment in the background.

[@eskew77]

I posted a video of what I believe to be a diatom bloom, but the video I made for the purpose of getting your input has no narration. in your opinion is this a healthy point to introduce a cleaning crew?

[@dylandabomb230]

does diatom algea eventually go away??

[@myopinion6328]

What and where can a nano start kit be found ?

[@ipsfdotcom]

Aloha, The Nano Start Kit from ipsf.com is 89.95 including Fedex and box. Components: Just ten days after adding the NanoStart microorganism kit to our lifeless Nano Lagoon marine aquarium we observe a classic diatom bloom on the rocks and sand. The tank now has a developing population of beneficial microorganisms. These include 1) bacteria 2) protozoans 3) diatoms 4) microphytoplankton 5) microzooplankton 6) coralline algae booster Use your PayPal account to submit payment here: paypal.me/indopac/89.95 PayPal links your shipping info to us. Expect firm ship and delivery dates by email within 24 hours of payment. Mahalo!

[@skillz_311]

you are great! i had no idea what was going on, i was actually about to clean it up but now i will get the clean up crew! you have a new subscriber. also, is the next step after diatom bloom....coraline algae?

[@kissace3083]

How did you get rid of diatom

[@11bdave]

try a combo of hermit crabs and snails. we just added them and in one day it was reduced by 90-95%

[@ipsfdotcom]

Watch the TEDx video by ipsf President Gerald Heslinga, featuring clean, green, responsible culture of giant clams. Reviewed by Reef to Rainforest Media: www.reef2rainforest.com/2014/11/08/video-gerald-heslingas-tedxkamuela-tridacna-aquaculture-talk/

[@ipsfdotcom]

The Tuneup will be fine for your 14 g cube. Judging from your video you have plenty of rock in there and a good diatom bloom already. No modification of the standard Tuneup is needed.

[@Dawg99999]

excellent video

[@eskew77]

Thanks again!

[@ipsfdotcom]

Aloha to all -- There's a contest running right now on our Channel Page, with $100 in free livestock to be given away (4/16/09).

[@markrose21]

no he sounds like collin hanks, tom hanks/ kid

[@aceguintu]

do you have you lights on while cycling

[@ipsfdotcom]

Yes, absolutely. Maintain a 12-12 cycle: 12 hours of light, 12 hours of darkness. The lights must be on to facilitate diatom reproduction. They are photosynthetic.

[@pedrobare4840]

how i can eliminate the diatoms? what i need to buy?

[@colinbrown923]

Dang and I thought my bloom was bad

[@ipsfdotcom]

The diatom bloom provides visual evidence that bacterial cycling is complete. The tank is now ready to be lightly stocked with diverse detritivores and algal grazing species such as beneficial worms, snails, Reef Amphipods and MiniStars. All are available at Indo-Pacific Sea Farms www.ipsf.com

[@williamworth7324]

i am going extremely small 5gal pico i saw the spec V and instantly saw a mini reef now i have brown slime meh

[@ipsfdotcom]

Your tank is fine -- it's already loaded with bacteria. Now add grazers and detritivores to handle the diatoms. When they've done that, add small, easy corals very gradually. Wait until your photosynthetic organisms are well established before adding fishes, and make sure the biomass of producers (photosynthesizers) far exceeds that of the consumers (fishes and non-photosynthetic inverts). [We're assuming this is to be a reef tank, not a fish tank or FOWLR.]

[@W4RD1N8ER]

I am on day ten In my brand new 63 gallon and my diatoms just kicked into bloom grew fast today I got worried but some of the more experienced people I have been talking to say this is normal finish your cycle now I wanted to do this proper but my friend who started his already went out and bought 2 clowns a yellow tang and a brittle star and installed them as a suprize birthday gift now I will have a spike due to these fish being in there but I am hoping this did not screw up my cycle too much the fish seem relaxed and okay I am just gonna feed what they can eat I am keeping an eye on perameters so far very little nitrites , nitrates zero and phosphate 1.0 I wanted to do the fish my way I did not make a fuss due to the fish were not cheap and it was a nice gesture I wanted cleaners before fish. By the sounds of it things are still good in my tank it will just need to stay the way it is as not to upset the cycle anymore the tank is big enough to handle this small bio load added and I will control feeding. Now with my bloom should I just get the cleaners? Because there will be no more fish added I want corals once the tank stabilizes.

[@ipsfdotcom]

Your cycle is complete as evidenced by the diatom bloom. It is time to add a good cleanup crew and let the tank stabilize. No more fishes for now!

[@patrickp588]

Are you an English teacher?

[@ipsfdotcom]

@iMilkshake2000 I am someone famous! And who is this Hanks character that sounds like me??

[@talhaxxx]

Where can I get a sheet of coralline algae?

[@ipsfdotcom]

Orders for Coralline Algae Booster may be placed at www.ipsf.com or on our Facebook store: www.storeya.com/shop/product?p=14199945&id=371208E0