OneFish, Cody, Help plz.

tinydove

I was wondering if upgrading to new lights can cause a Diatoms?

I have a 12g FOWLR I am making to a small reef tank it has been up about 5 years and I just replaced the stock light with a 15w 50/50 bulb 2 days ago until my new coralife pc quad light comes, (due tomorrow, Fri.20th) in since hubby did bring home a Kenya tree coral a few days ago.. wish he would have waited but what's done is done.

It's just today I noticed some diatoms on a few pieces of my LR which is odd since the tank has been up for years I thought maybe since I replaced the old stock light with the 50/50 that might have caused it. I also found that he put in a small piece of LR about 1lb or so which I am worried might not have been fully cured from the LFS. Do you think the diatoms is from the new light or the small piece of lR or maybe a combo of both.

All is well with Trites and PH but did notice a slight increase in my Ammno.( between 0-.25 and my trates are up to about 25-03 . Do you think I might be going through a Mini cycle and how long do you think it might take since the tank has been set up for almost 5 years. I am mixing a 20% WC righy now and will be able to do the change in the AM before my new PC lights come in.

any help with this would be great. Thanks

Cody

The small cycle shouldn't last long. I can't say how long, though.

I would *think* it is a combination of both. I have heard of diatoms being seen in a switch of lights, but IMO it would be the rock. As you may know, diatoms are generally created from silicates. I would think the rock had some different salinity thing, and that is what you are seeing. But that may be a complete guess.

Are you seeing a ton of diatoms, or just a few?

tinydove

Cody, I am just seeing a small amount nothing to bad so far. On the piece of LR he added to the tank and a small patch on the LR beside it. I posted a thead about Purigen and Chemi Pure and Chemie pure Elite, do you know of this stuff or use it, thought about ordering it tonight.

Kellsindell

I'd say that it's from the LR that you got. It wasn't all the way cured. I wouldn't personally use the chemicals, This should be only a temporary thing in your tank. Once the Rock has finished it's little cycle it should go away.

onefish2fish

agree.