Can anyone recommend a good silicate absorber?

[V1xIII]

Been having a terrible bloom of diatoms in my 75g for the last month or so, to the point where it's even making my water brown and murky.

Wondering if anyone could recommend some silicate removing filter media that they have had good success with since there seem to be many different kinds on the market.

 

[velanarris]

Best one I've seen is the Oto Catfish. Diatoms soak the Si and then the oto's eat the diatoms.

 

[V1xIII]

Unfortunately, they would just make expensive snacks for my bichir.

 

[velanarris]

Well, the only other way I know of to deal with diatoms is big water changes every few days combined with a water polishing mechanism (even a cheap sponge filter will do). You have to regularly clean/scrub your media on the sponge so that it doesn't clog with a bunch of dead diatoms and further the problem.