Algae and water weeds flourish when excess nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter build up in the water. These nutrients act as “fuel” that allows nuisance algae to grow rapidly, especially in warm, stagnant conditions. Without natural biological competition and nutrient uptake, these plants dominate and reduce water quality.
Diatomix supports the growth of beneficial diatoms, microscopic organisms that naturally absorb nitrogen and phosphorus. It supplies bioavailable silica and essential micronutrients, helping diatoms out-compete nuisance algae and improve nutrient cycling. This reduces the “fuel” that blooms depend on and improves water clarity and oxygen balance — without toxic chemicals.
Yes. Diatomix is formulated to be non-toxic and safe for:
- fish
- dogs, cats and livestock
- birds and wildlife
- pond plants and ornamental systems
Because it works with biological processes rather than killing organisms outright, it does not cause the oxygen crashes associated with algaecide treatments.
Results vary with conditions, nutrient loads and waterbody size, but common patterns include:
- Improvements in water clarity within days
- Reduced nuisance algae within 1–3 weeks
- More stable oxygen cycling and food chain balance over time
Note: Diatomix doesn’t act instantly like a poison — it shifts the ecosystem. Expect gradual but sustained improvement.
Dosing depends on:
- waterbody size (surface area × average depth)
- severity of nutrient pressure
- product formulation
For example, a typical garden pond up to 10 m² is dosed at 5 mL, three times per week. Larger waters or persistent nutrient problems require higher doses or stronger formulations.
We recommend using our dosing calculator or contacting us for tailored guidance.
Yes. Diatomix works well alongside aeration and other mechanical controls. However:
- Avoid combining Diatomix with chemical algaecides at the same time
- If you use treatments like barley straw or dyes, monitor clarity and avoid masking nutrient imbalances
Diatomix strengthens biological uptake, which is the long-term solution.
Garden Pond:
Best for small backyard ponds and ornamental water features.
Concentrate:
Designed for larger ponds, dams, lakes and irrigation storages.
Diatomix IV:
Optimised for systems where silica is limiting diatom growth or where traditional approaches haven’t worked well.
Silution (Silica Solution):
A soluble silica product used with Diatomix where silica deficiency is strongly inhibiting biological nutrient uptake — often in professional or commercial waterbody management.
If in doubt, use the dosing calculator or contact us — choosing the right product first avoids unnecessary cost and time.
Diatomix does not instantly eliminate visible blue-green algae like a chemical might, but it addresses the underlying nutrient imbalance that allows them to dominate.
By supporting beneficial diatom growth and nutrient cycling, Diatomix:
- reduces the scale and frequency of blue-green blooms
- stabilises water clarity over time
- lowers the risk of associated toxins
For severe, persistent blooms, proper dosing and repeated treatments are recommended.
Diatomix supplies nutrients to diatoms that are consumed over time. Regular dosing (e.g., ideally 3× per week) ensures:
- diatoms stay competitive against nuisance algae
- nutrient uptake remains effective
- water conditions don’t swing back toward imbalance
Once your pond has established a good health, the number of doses per week can relax to 2 or 1 times. The dosing volume needs to stay the same per week. Skipping doses can slow progress and allow blooms to re-establish.
Yes — Diatomix is non-toxic and can be used in systems involving:
- livestock watering
- irrigation storages
- aquaculture
- wastewater holding ponds
Always follow dosing guidance, particularly in systems with heavy organic loads or sensitive endpoints.
The term algae is often used broadly, but it actually covers many different organisms.
- Algae (such as diatoms and green algae) are true photosynthetic organisms that form the base of healthy aquatic food webs. Many are beneficial and play an important role in nutrient cycling and oxygen production.
- Cyanobacteria (often called blue-green algae) are not true algae. They are bacteria that photosynthesise and can form dense blooms under high-nutrient conditions.
The key difference is that cyanobacteria are:
- More tolerant of poor water conditions
- Able to dominate when nutrients are excessive
- Capable of producing toxins that harm animals and people
Healthy water management aims to support beneficial algae while limiting conditions that allow cyanobacteria to dominate.
Water testing frequency depends on the system and the problem being managed:
- Garden ponds: Occasional visual monitoring is often sufficient. Testing nutrients is useful if problems persist.
- Farm dams and larger ponds: Testing every few months is helpful, especially during warm seasons or after runoff events.
- Problem waterbodies (blooms, fish stress): More frequent testing (weekly to fortnightly) may be appropriate during active management.
Key parameters to monitor include:
- Ammonia, nitrate and phosphate
- Water clarity
- Temperature and dissolved oxygen (if available)
Testing helps guide dosing and confirms whether nutrient pressure is changing over time
During an active fish kill, the immediate priority is oxygen management.
- If oxygen levels are critically low, aeration or water movement should be addressed first. But Diatomix will start diatom growth almost immediately, and they will produce oxygen to aid the process.
- Diatomix is not an emergency oxygen treatment and should not be solely relied on to stop an active fish kill.
However, Diatomix is appropriate:
- After a fish kill event to stabilise nutrients
- To reduce the likelihood of future oxygen crashes
- As part of a preventative management strategy
Used correctly, Diatomix helps address the conditions that lead to fish kills rather than reacting to them.
In most cases, manual removal is not required, but it can be helpful.
When Diatomix is used:
- Algal pressure is reduced gradually
- Large, sudden die-offs are avoided
- Decomposition occurs at a manageable rate
If there are thick surface scums or floating mats, limited removal can improve appearance and reduce short-term oxygen demand — but it is not essential for Diatomix to work. The other benefit is that removing weed is equal to removing nutrients that are polluting the water. You can manually remove it, or let the diatoms, bacteria and animals remove the nutrients, but it takes a little longer.
Avoid aggressive removal combined with chemical treatments, as this can increase oxygen depletion and stress aquatic life.
Weather plays an important role in water biology:
- Warm, still conditions favour algal growth and increase oxygen stress
- Heavy rain or inflows can add nutrients and dilute treatments
- Cold conditions slow biological activity and responses
Diatomix can be applied in most weather conditions, but:
- Results may occur faster in warmer months
- After heavy rain, re-dosing may be required
- Consistent dosing is more important than perfect timing
Water management is cumulative — Diatomix works best as part of an ongoing strategy rather than a one-off application.
Diatomix is made with an amorphous silica gel of 10-20 nanometer particles. The doses increase the concentration of essential micronutrients to support diatoms growth, and not to cause the death of anything. Hence it is not toxic.
This technology has been used at a range of sites across Australia and New Zealand since 2014 with happy customers and no complaints of any kind.
If Diatomix is swallowed in concentrated form, standard First Aid practices should be started, by inducing vomiting to remove the product. Rinse mouth afterwards.