I cant stop brown diatoms from forming.. why?

[Sammy]

Howdy,

How is the flow of water over your sand bed? I think by getting alittle more even flow over your sand bed will help out. Do you notice any particular areas that get covered more? could be a dead zone, very little current.
just a thought.

HTH,

Sammy

[kwirky]

maybe that's where your nutrients are piling? if it won't harm a DSB, maybe give it a little vacuum?

[b_james]

There is flow in those areas, but not as much as the rest. I am running 2 Stream 6100's giving me over 6000 GPH of flow. But it does make sense that there may be a build up of nutrients. I will have to try putting pumps in a different location.

[Joe Reefer]

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

[EmilyB]

You might want to throw a couple fighting conchs in there.

[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]

[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.....................