Diatoms are driving me crazy!!!

I finally have my ideal tank. I went with a 40 gallon Innovative marine so that I could afford to buy all the fancy stuff.

My tank is very stable and one year old. Salinity 1.025, pH 8.0, nitrates 5ppm, nitrites 0, ammonia 0, Ca 450, mag 1600, alk 10, temperature 77

I run a skimmer and 2 reactors: one with bio pellets other with gfo and carbon. The gfo and carbon are separated and i use a small amount and chsnge weekly. 1 tbs gfo, 2tbs carbon.

I have ZERO algae issues and only need to clean the glass every 5 days. 4 months ago I started getting diatoms on sand. If i dont disturb the sand in 3 days i have the brown layer almost 100% on sand. They are only there when lights are on and when lights off its 100% clean.

I use RO/DI from a BRS filter and lighting is a zetlight 90w LED mounted 18 inches above tank at 100% blue and UV and 80% 12k

I tried the instant yeast, no results. Obviously its a silicate problem. But from where? I feed flake 3 times a week and mysis 2 times a week

Help my sanity please!

Sunday, sunny and warm

Good mawnin, TRT!

Coffee is ready. Belgian waffles with fresh fruit or Dave's VT maple syrup.

Last night Bobbi, Hal and I watched a few episodes of The Vicar of Dibley. Love that British humor.

Of to church in a bit.

Going to a covered dish dinner tonight and taking a couscous salad with broccoli, chopped celery and carrots, toasted almonds, etc...

Lots of love and hugs and peace to everyone!

Happy birthday to Hardhead Cat on 2/19!

And here's the Official TRT Chorus® to sing.......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOOOOOOOOO YOUUUUUUU!!!!

Close call

Last night i saw some water just a bit behind my tank. Now i've just restarted the system and though of the worse.

The small amount was directly close to the wall. Looking at all the dust on the pipe no indication of dripping that i could see. My RODI tube goes through there and sometime condensation happens. I had also worked in the sump with the skimmer and heaters wires.

i could only hope that it was a splash from that working that the puddle had originated from. I wiped it out with a towel and a broom and place a new dry towel that i would check in the morning to see if a drip could be identified.

No kidding i did pray that night, because emptying a 150 G tank plus moving the 400 lb empty or so called empty, all my rocks and sand was a terrifying prospect; one that almost brought me to tears.... So ya i prayed it was just a splash.

come morning; 4 am to be exact, i went to remove the towel............................................. .................................................d ry

I thanked the Lord for this turn out of events because i think just the sheer amount of work involve in repairing this was enough to make me quit.



So what's your close call..........................................

My 210g Build

T5 or LED?

I have a 55 gallon reef tank that is currently using a 4 bulb T5 unit with ATI bulbs. I am thinking of making the switch to an LED fixture. What are your thoughts?

I have read about some not feeling that LED's are as effective as T5 in terms of power. I have also read the LED's make the water look more luminous and corals more colorful

Any opinions are welcome. Thanks

IceCap Underwater Reef Cam - IN STOCK

Here is a quick video of the product unboxed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEHDxKKUhq8

Available at Premium Aquatics:
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