New tank Syndrome

[sinkingbeach]

Diatoms are in full gear Is it alright to run only 1 250 halide opposed to 3 for the next few days, have several zoa's, acan, and 2 species of montipora all pretty low in the tank. 24 high tank

 

[Phyl]

They'll burn themselves out. I wouldn't worry about diminishing the light during this period. If you do choose to run less halides, I'd vary which one I'd run (L1 Thur, L2 Fri, L3 Sat, ... ) so that they all get their day in the sun.

 

[albie611]

i 2nd phyl's reply
most corals will do fine with less light for a day or so...think stormy days in the tropics.
i would just alternate the lights as said above to give each spot in the tank a day with better lighting, or you could try to syphon out the diatoms regularly until the recede on their own.
hope that helps.........al

ps: sorry i didn't get back to you right away on the tank, i would have taken it but i see you found a buyer in the intrim
guess ill keep looking until i get g.w.'s tax rebate

 

[Carlo]

I wouldn't mess with the lights at all ever to combat any type of algae or diatoms. Pretty much just a bandaid approach.

Either let the diatoms use up the excess silica in the tank or run a silica adsorber to lower it yourself.

PS some people have extended problems with diatoms so it's always a good idea to test your RO/DI water for silica. If you don't have a test kit just take a water sample to your LFS and ask them to do a silica test for you. If you get any reading at all on the silica you'll have endless problems with diatoms in the tank.

Carlo

 

[sinkingbeach]

ps: sorry i didn't get back to you right away on the tank, i would have taken it but i see you found a buyer in the intrim
guess ill keep looking until i get g.w.'s tax rebate

Al no problem, I'm sorry I couldn't await your answer, my wife just wanted it out of the living room so I took the first concrete offer.