Diatoms, which show up as a brownish, dusty film on surfaces like the glass, substrate, and decorations, can be a common problem in home aquariums. They are a particular kind of algae that have distinctive silica cell walls that make them stand out and occasionally be challenging to manage. By knowing why diatoms appear, you can address the issue more skillfully.
An imbalance in the aquarium’s environment, frequently brought on by an overabundance of nutrients like silicates and nitrates, is one of the main causes of diatoms. These nutrients can be found in a variety of places, such as decomposing organic matter, fish food, and tap water. Another factor that may be present is light; either too little or too much light can promote the growth of diatoms.
There are a few useful steps involved in combating diatoms. Frequent upkeep is essential. Make sure your water is clean, clean the aquarium frequently, and perform partial water changes. Reducing excess nutrients and limiting exposure to light can also be beneficial. In certain situations, adding fish or invertebrates that consume algae may help control the amount of diatoms in the water.
Reason for Appearance | How to Fight Them |
Excess nutrients, especially silicates | Reduce silicate levels in the water by using a silicate-removing filter media or regular water changes |
Low water flow | Improve water circulation with a more powerful filter or water pump |
Inadequate lighting | Adjust lighting to ensure it’s not too strong or too weak, and consider using a timer to regulate light duration |
Organic matter buildup | Clean the tank regularly and remove uneaten food and debris |
Lack of competition from other algae | Introduce algae-eating fish or snails to help control diatom growth |
- What is it
- Reasons for their appearance
- Excess silicates
- Use of drugs
- Insufficient lighting
- Excess fertilizers
- Imbalance
- Plant deficiency
- New aquarium
- Signs of the appearance of diatoms
- How to fight
- Using plants
- Mechanical cleaning
- Use of chemicals
- Waiting for normalization of balance
- Increasing lighting
- Why diatome is so dangerous?
- Video on the topic
- Reasons for the appearance of diatoms in my 300 liter aquarium.
- How to deal with diatoms (brown) algae in an aquarium.
- Diatoms in an aquarium – causes and methods of control.
- Diatoms, the main reason for their appearance.
- Diatoms in an aquarium and how to get rid of them
- Diatoms in an aquarium – What are the reasons for their appearance? how to fight?
What is it
Diatoms, or diatoms as they are also known, are lower plant representatives found in freshwater and marine environments. Since diatoms are a component of phytoplankton and serve as the majority of aquatic life’s primary food source, they carry out crucial biological tasks.
When it comes to herb aquariums, diatoms are hardly ever seen there. All of this results from a lack of nutrients (higher plants merely absorb beneficial elements, and algae However, things go entirely differently in regular aquariums or recently opened tanks. These circumstances are thought to be perfect for the growth of algae.
Reasons for their appearance
You need to become familiar with the primary causes of algae growth in the aquarium in order to remove it as soon as possible. First of all, adding new aquarium inhabitants can cause diatoms to form in the tank. They can also arise as a result of inadequate lighting, too much silicates, or bad aquarium maintenance. Let’s take a closer look at each of the most plausible causes.
Excess silicates
Algae may arise from this chemical substance’s elevated concentration in aquarium water. The reason for this is that diatoms use silicon dioxide as a building block. The precise concentration of a chemical in water can be found using specialized tools called drop tests.
Use of drugs
Using iodine-containing medications can harm the beneficial microflora by interfering with higher plants’ ability to develop. As a remedy, you must use extreme caution when adding regular table salt. It contributes to the water’s increased sodium ion content, which algae adore. The same holds true for medications containing copper.
Insufficient lighting
Algae growth is also caused by inadequate lighting. Thus, it’s critical to keep an eye on this. An aquarium’s daytime hours should not exceed eight hours. Additionally, the aquarist needs to ensure proper lighting. You can install extra lamps if needed. Picking a lamp is best done with an eye toward those designed specifically to light aquariums. They stabilize the growth of higher plants while perfectly suppressing the growth of weed algae.
Kindly take note! Protecting an aquarium from direct sunlight is crucial for aquarium maintenance, as it can have an adverse effect on the aquarium’s flora.
Excess fertilizers
Fertilizer is obviously very beneficial to aquarium plants. However, excessive consumption of it can occasionally have negative effects. Fertilizers, for instance, can encourage the growth of algae. When adding fertilizers, it’s crucial to pay attention to the dosage in order to prevent overdosing. To begin with, this is relevant to recently introduced new aquariums.
Imbalance
Diatoms can also show up in tanks that have been in use. An imbalance is the cause in these situations. It creates dense thickets that provide fish with cover and a great background for other plant representatives. The idea is that the quantity of food should match the number of fish in the aquarium and the aquarium’s size should match the number of fish. Additionally, it’s essential to routinely clean the aquarium’s soil and replace a portion of the water. Phosphates and nitrates should be routinely tested in the water by the aquarist. Specific tests can be used to accomplish this.
Plant deficiency
Another explanation for the emergence of diatoms and other weed algae is a deficiency of living plants. It’s no secret that plants, especially diatoms, are fierce rivals of aquarium algae. As a result, it’s critical to manage the flora.
New aquarium
Diatoms are very likely to appear in new aquariums because the nitrogen cycle has not had time to settle down, as was previously mentioned. This is because the water’s nitrite and ammonia concentrations have increased, creating ideal conditions for the growth of algae.
Signs of the appearance of diatoms
The primary sign of diatoms in the aquarium is a dusty, brown plaque that covers the tank walls or other decor pieces. The dirt or even plant leaves may be covered in the plaque. Furthermore, this plaque is almost invisible at first, but as time passes, it gets darker and becomes more noticeable. It is relatively simple to clean the aquarium’s walls and decorations when algae damage is still in its early stages. However, a cloud of "dust" appears in the water at the same moment.
The plaque that results from ignoring the growth of algae will eventually turn black. In this instance, the plaque layers are growing atop one another. Wiping causes the top layer to dust again. But getting rid of the bottom layers will be far more challenging. In terms of appearance, the plants and aquarium walls appear to be covered in a layer of dirt. Through the glass, visibility is significantly reduced.
Diatoms are known for their rapid dispersion. This occurs so fast that a plaque appears on a leaf as soon as it emerges. Furthermore, the buildup of plaque provides ideal conditions for the growth of other types of aquarium algae, the removal of which is far more difficult. Ignoring diatoms, for instance, causes a black beard to grow.
Diatoms, which frequently appear as a brownish or greenish film on surfaces, can be a common yet annoying problem in your aquarium. These microscopic algae prefer environments with lots of light and nutrients. It’s critical to maintain appropriate water quality, modify lighting, and refrain from overfeeding in order to control and stop their growth. Maintaining a healthy aquarium environment and controlling diatoms can also be achieved with regular cleaning and the use of a good filtration system.
How to fight
As soon as you discover algae, you must begin combating them. It will be far more difficult to take them out of the aquarium if not. There are numerous methods for getting rid of algae, but the three most efficient ones are chemical, mechanical, and biological cleaning of the aquarium. Naturally, every one of them has unique qualities. More on the strategies for combating diatoms now.
Using plants
Certain kinds of aquarium animals or plants can help with algae management. The truth is that certain fish species consume algae in their diet. Furthermore, the gas exchange process is enhanced by the presence of live plants. Algae are typically combated by ancistrus, mollusks, algae eaters, snails, shrimp, and other species.
Mechanical cleaning
It is possible to remove diatomic algae mechanically. For this, sponges, specific magnets, or scrapers are employed. The aquarium walls are cleaned with them. It is necessary to take out and completely wash any decorative components from the tank prior to cleaning. Algae can be removed with a combination of other techniques and regular cleaning.
Use of chemicals
Aquarists turn to more drastic means if alternative approaches fail to effectively eradicate algae. We are discussing the application of chemicals. Any chemical intervention harms aquarium inhabitants and can upset the biological balance, so this needs to be done carefully.
Algetten, penicillin, and "Bicillin-5" are among the medications that are used in chemical aquarium cleaning to get rid of algae. They are all effective against diatoms. However, the algae may eventually reappear in the aquarium if the underlying cause of their appearance is not found and fixed.
Waiting for normalization of balance
As was previously mentioned, seaweed can appear in fresh aquariums where the biological balance has not yet been established. However, as experience demonstrates, the diatome retreat once the aquarium’s operations return to normal. Usually, it takes between two and four weeks. When starting an aquarium, experts advise using biostarter preparations to expedite the process.
Note: Using a scraper or sponge, mechanical cleaning of the aquarium is permitted during the period of biological balance restoration.
Increasing lighting
One of the best and "painless" methods to deal with diatoms is this one. Algae can be quickly eliminated by reducing the number of daylight hours and adding another light source. However, direct light is required as reflected or diffused light will not produce the same outcome. Additionally, since this method uses bright lighting to combat diatoms, it is crucial to continuously monitor the amount of nutrients in the aquarium. Failure to do so may result in the appearance of other types of algae.
Why diatome is so dangerous?
Diatomic algae do not harm aquarium occupants, but the plaque they leave behind can encourage the growth of more hazardous algae. Not only do green or red algae detract from the aquarium’s aesthetic, but they also stop it from growing. The development of a black beard—This is a more dangerous side effect of innocuous diatome. Aquarium plants that grow slowly are impacted by this algae on their leaves.
Her black beard is a contributing factor to the leaves she lives on ceasing to photosynthesise. After a while, the sheet withers away and the algae transfers to another plant, growing and changing over time. As a result, after a while, the plants essentially disappear, leaving only algae to serve as aquarium accents.
Although controlling diatoms in your aquarium can be challenging, knowing their causes and solutions can help greatly. Excessive nutrients or insufficient lighting are common causes of these algae’s appearance. You may stop them from growing by closely monitoring the quality of your water and making adjustments as necessary.
Efficiently combating diatoms begins with resolving their underlying causes. Maintain adequate filtration, clean your tank on a regular basis, and cut back on the amount of light it receives. Including fish or invertebrates that consume algae can also aid in controlling the amount of diatoms present.
You can control diatoms and keep an aquarium looking healthy and lively with a little work and care. Maintaining the optimal condition of your aquatic environment and averting future outbreaks require routine upkeep and observation.