This IS Diatoms Right?

[KarenJax]

My nassarius snails have stirred up the sand bed and I had another bloom of this:

Could this be the cause of the slight rise in nitrites?

 

[lilduud]

thats exactly what it looks like to me... young tank im assuming?

 

[BL1]

looks like diatoms but, it's unlikely that Nass snails caused it.

 

[Smitty]

That's normal for a young tank...just stay on top of your water changes...with ro water, not tap. :)

 

[Bifferwine]

Yeah that has nothing to do with the snails. Diatoms feed on silicates, which are found in sand and tap water. Once the silicates run out, the diatoms will die off.

 

[KarenJax]

Thanks guys. Yea I'm doing my water changes with RODI water. I'm doing weekly changes. So I guess it'll just be icky looking for a bit :)

 

[Bifferwine]

Yeah, it looks bad, but diatoms are not hurting anything.