Diatoms

[MermaidMel]

What are the silicates that cause the diatoms? I have a little outbreak in a mature tank that had new gravel a few weeks ago and read that it's caused by silicates, but what are silicates and how can I eradicate them?

 

[Geoff1991]

Ive never read of a way of manually getting rid of them, just that it clears up after a couple of weeks or so

 

[OldMan47]

You can't remove all silicates. Much of the relatively inert sand and gravel that we use is made up of silicate compounds. What happens in a fairly short time is they become less exposed to the water because the biofilm grows over the new surface.

 

[MermaidMel]

Well mine just ain't goin'
Been a few weeks now, getting a bit overrun it's not nice, any tips?

 

[RadaR]

Larger/more frequent water changes.
Decrease photoperiod.