Diatoms / Shallow sand bed maintenance

[lastlight]

I have a diatom outbreak I think. Layer of this brown/orange algae and tons of bubbles bleeding from my sandbed. I may have made things worse by stirring this algae up to release the bubbles I'm not sure. Been doing this for a few days and now I'm not sure that's a good idea. I've heard stirring a shallow sand bed is good. Some people say don't disturb but I think that pertains to DSBs? After I stir up the sand the layer returns and the bubbles are produced again within hours if the lights are on.

What's up with this and what's the best way to manage/deal with it? I've heard these are part of new setups...never had this with my first tank.

And where would the diatoms come from? Won't a membrane remove diatoms from our tap water? I've stopped stirring my sand for now. Also I notice the bubble production seems to be photosynthetic...well it really gets going when the lights have been on a while. But they come from INSIDE my sand.

Any ideas? And is this issue also linked to phosphates/nitrates and not just diatoms?

[bignose]

I had a similar problem in my last tank. I just sucked up the bad areas and over time it went away. My tank was around 5 months old when it happened and it took a couple of months to clear up.

[lastlight]

Do you mean you sucked up the film of algae or the actual sand in that area as well?

I'm also wondering with a shallow sand bed if it's ok to vacuum the sand (siphon tube inserted until you touch glass and just suck debris out) like one would do with gravel in a FW setup.

[kien]

Sounds normal. I've had diatoms with every tank that I've set up.

I usually just let it be. It dies off eventually. It is unsightly and I suppose you could stirr your shallow sand bed (I used to do that but didn't really help). Again, it will typically go away on it's own as your tank matures.

[lastlight]

Thanks guys.

So it is ok to stir/vacuum the sandbed if I do want to?

It's still a useless exercise as all the fish poo etc is heavier than much of the finer sand particles. Friggin' sand.

[zum14]

Tagging along. Im having the same problem. I was kind of putting it towards nutrient problem (I still have a bit of a phosphate issue, working on it) but interested in hearing the opinions.

[sitandwatch]

Edit for stupidity

[lastlight]

Wrong thread maybe? Lol.

I'm happy for you! having an ATO is SO nice.

[bignose]

When I had it in my last tank it got bad in some areas of the tank. The bacteria would start to lift off the sand from the bubbles underneath so I would just suck it up with a hose.

[Lance]

Just siphon off what you can and it should eventually go away. New-tank algae outbreaks are a PITA but all a part of the process.