Battle with Diatoms

[Beebz]

I have been reading previous posts about diatoms problems in other tanks. What I have read alot of, is that it is common in a newly established tank. Also it is due to an imbalance of silicates/nitrates. I have had this 20 gallon tank for a year now. Every week they (diatoms) regrow on the glass/decorations. Lately brown algea is now growing on the gravel bottom.

All of the brown is making the tank have a brwon tint to it. People have said get fish/snails to eat it, but the tank is filled to the max.

How can I eliminate it? Is there a way to clean the bottom gravel?

Here are the specifications of the tank:
Temp-79 F
Nitrate-15
Nitrite-0
Total Hrdness-120
Alklinity-100
pH-7.3

Also a new algea has been growing that is blue...any ideas?

I have been trying to get this tank to look good for a while. I think soon I am going to replace fake plants with real plants, and install real wood.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

[smaug]

The new stuff is cyano and the brown stuff is of course diatom. How much light and what spectrum [color] are the bulbs.How long is the light on,a? what is your water change and gravel vac schedule?

[Beebz]

Gravel/water vacum is weekly.
Light is on for eight hours a day.
Light is normal bulb. No LED, I dont know the offical name.

I take it cyano is just another common algea too?

[rich311k]

Cyano is a bacteria based growth. It was one of the first lifeforms and is responsible for our oxygen rich atmosphere. It is usually a good sign that the tank is lacking in nitrates. Vacuum it up, it should come off easily and try reducing your photo period a bit.

[Beebz]

How can I increase nitrates?

[rich311k]

How much light do you have? I really don't want you to mess with ferts unless you really have to. What is the stocking?

[vinodjbhatia]

I wouldnt risk increasing the nitrate levels in my tank.

I have had diatoms in the past, like many others. A good option will be to scrape off the diatoms while you do your weekly vac. You may also find diatoms on your decorations. Remove the decos and clean with a scrubber under hot water. Its takes longer the first time, but subsequent maintenance is easier.

Also, since your tank is not planted, you should reduce the number of hours you put the light on.

[Aeonflame]

Increasing light intensity will usually destroy diatoms, though it sounds counter intuitive. As for cyanobacteria, I treated with an antibiotic for gram negative bacteria. Increasing water flow will also help

[rich311k]

I did not realize there where no plants. You have to much light and to many nutrients if you have cyano growing. Cut back on light and feeding.

[Beebz]

Thanks for all the input. I reduced the light to only seven hours a day, and the feeding will be less too. I recently read to clean decorations under almost boiling water to get diatoms off for a while.

The fish are:
4 harlequin rasboras
1 zebra danio
2 peppered cory cats
1 dwarf guarami
2 apistogramma??
1 khuli loach