I would say what could be most effective, and it is tough in a system without a sump, is to blow the rocks off when you are doing your water changes. You can then siphon out the water with the ditrius suspended in it as much as possible.
i clean off the rocks in my displays not the rear....yet. but theres a lot back there and I feel like that why my water has so many tiny particles in it because they have no where to go.
I feed once a day, and everytime I feed them it looks like they've never been fed ever
Have you done any research on diatom outbreaks? You maybe not have what you think you have....
Have you done any research on diatom outbreaks? You maybe not have what you think you have....
It could be a possibility because you still have a very new system...
Try Carbon in the first chamber.
A skimmer isn't going to solve your problem. In my humble opinion in a 12G with low stock you don't have enough live stuff generating waste to need a skimmer. Water changes will help you.
You may also have micro bubbles. This will decrease over time but the water should not fall from chamber 2 to chamber 3 where the return pump is. If it does, you will get microbubbles via the return.
I use one of these in the first chamber. I emptied the filter media and just use filter floss that I change out weekly. It doesn't do too much, but the floss does get gunked up so its obviously working.
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_Aquar..._oscar_enterprises_mini_micro_dive_clean.html