I cant stop brown diatoms from forming.. why?

[Johnny Reefer]

Originally Posted by Joe Reefer

If your tank is less than a year old, it could prob be your tank maturing.

I tend to agree with my bro' Joe. I have a 135 FOWLR with 4 Triggers and a Cleaner Wrasse. It's been up and running for 10 months now. I had the same prob. Brown diatoms on the sand, but nowhere else. I really didn't concern myself with it until about two months ago. That was when I started incorporating an additional routine during monthly maintenance. That being....when I "blast" (sorry...can't think of another word) clean the live rock with a turkey baster I now give the surface of the sand a "blast" also. But nothing serious. Not really a "blast". More like a "puff" and just on the surface. Just enough to kinda disturb it about a 1/2" depth. Have had no brown diatoms on the sand since.
Maybe worth a try ....?

Cheers,

[Chin_Lee]

suck out the sand and go barebottom.

[safety4fire]

[goby1]

... sand sifting starfish

[b_james]

All very good ideas... thanks guys.. I usually stir the sand everytime I clean the glass by moving the magnet very fast to cause enough disturbance to create a sand storm.

[Skimmerking]

Originally Posted by Chin_Lee

suck out the sand and go barebottom.

YA suck it out and run Man groves and macro algae's in a refugium and never worry about the DSB again

Chin lee for PRESIDENT.....................