Delayed planting?

[Lady Hobbs]

I was wondering since diatoms are so common in newly set up tanks and it can make such a mess of new plants, why doesn't anyone just wait out the diatom period and then plant? Or else, start using the phosphate/silicate sponge or the reactor starting from day one?

I'm thinking of planting another tank and so not willing to go thru that diatom period again. I wasted so many plants by not taking care of those diatoms before they took over and think this time I will get the reactor and start it up on day one.

[Ellen4God]

By diatoms, is that like the algae? Like - hair algae and such?

[korith]

By diatoms, is that like the algae? Like - hair algae and such?

Those brown little specks in the tank. Imagine some dust covered furniture, and you blow it then imagine the dust is brown and its under water, there ya go. Sometimes they'll take over new tanks, they get on everything plants, walls of the tank, everything. They go away eventually.

Think a reason why some people add plants right away might be to help the cycle along, or do away with it entirely and hope for a silent cycle.

[Ellen4God]

Oh, wow. I don't think I've ever had any of those in my tank before. Good thing, I'm sure!!!

[Lady Hobbs]

I had it everywhere. All over the glass, rocks and plants. I wiped plants over and over again and ended up tearing up so many that had tiny leaves. I will not plant one more tank without being ready to kill the dragon right from the beginning. In my case, I have hard water, high phosphates right from the tap and used sand which also has silicates so I had a struggle going on for about 5 months.

Ellen, it's what everyone here refers to as Brown Algae.

[Ellen4God]

Ellen, it's what everyone here refers to as Brown Algae.

Ooooh! Well, I had some of that. lol I let it build up in my 10g so that I could get my otos. They took care of it pretty quickly!