Diatoms in Mbuna tank

[gambs]

So I have been having this brown diatom bloom for a few months now and it has pretty much taken over all my rocks and equipment. I'm constantly cleaning the glass and the tank looks terrible. All my levels are at 0 , nitrates are at 80. There's about 20 or so Mbuna in a 90 gallon bow front. Ph is at 7.8. I have PFS that .5 in deep. Food doesn't ever settle but there is alot of fish waste that settles each week. I wc weekly about 40%. My question is how do I solve this diatom problem? Is the PFS leaching silicates? Should I change to aragonite sand? Any advice is welcomed as i am frustrated with this tank. I have a 125 with PFS about 3in deep with more fish with same water parameters an no algae or diatoms. Don't understand how one tank can have it and another doesn't when they are both the same.


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[mnemenoi]

We had a similar problem in a tang tank, pick up a marineland Hang on tank magnum filter with the diatom filter inside and an extra. Run continuously until you get it under control. Just bleach them once they are dirty and follow the instructions for cleaning the bleach afterwards. Great water polishing filter I think any aquarist should have on hand if they can get one.

[gambs]

Where can I buy one?


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[mnemenoi]

Try searching for Magnum HOT (hang on tank) filter. I think Big Als has them cheapest, though I see them occasionally at petsmart/petco

[gambs]

What is the diatom filter? Something that I need to buy separate? Could my PFS be leaching silicates?


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[gambs]

http://www.bigalspets.com/h-o-t-magnum-canister-filter.html

.?


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[Andrew_B]

You have 80ppm nitrates, definitely for a very lightly stocked 90g That's the issue for a new tank. Just wait it out, it will go away once it fully establishes and bacteria colonizes in the substrate. Reduce lighting a bit too. Have to just wait it out while the bacteria finishes taking care of all the new stuff in the tank (new silicone leeching into the tank, mineral content on new rocks etc etc). Give it a few months of light feeding and less light

[gambs]

What is considered new? It's been up and running for a 3 months or so.


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[gambs]

Just took this


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[Andrew_B]

Really, it could take 6-9 months to really fully establish, even with established media. What are your filters? Bigger filters/more surface area, can speed up the process.

[gambs]

Fluval 306 and rena xp3.


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