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Pet Forum / Aquaria / Cichlids / March 2005Brown Rust like coating
I have 4 tanks, in particular a 10 gallon planted tank with 2 very small African mixed cichlids, and 6 black neon tetras. I have been scrubbing the glass about once a week to remove a brown rust looking growth. The pump inlet tube also gets coated with this brown residue, as well as the Aquarium safe polished stones and pebbles. The substrate is Eco-complete for planted aquariums. Some of the larger leaves of some of the plants are also getting a brown deposit. What can I do to get rid of this, without tearing down the whole tank? The tank has been in operation for about a full month and appears to be fully cycled at this point. This message was written on 100% recycled spam. SAM >> samuelREMOVE_THIS@myrealbox.com Oh I forgot to add I also have an Otto in the tank trying to do his additional work of cleaning duties. This message was written on 100% recycled spam. SAM >> samuelREMOVE_THIS@myrealbox.com > I have 4 tanks, in particular a 10 gallon planted tank with 2 very small > African mixed cichlids, and 6 black neon tetras. I have been scrubbing the [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > This message was written on 100% recycled spam. SAM >> > samuelREMOVE_THIS@myrealbox.com I had this in my tanks too. Its brown algae. I got so fed up with seeing it all over everything that i got myself a UV sterilliser.....it does wonders. I have a Pondmaster 11w UV hooked up >I have 4 tanks, in particular a 10 gallon planted tank with 2 very small > African mixed cichlids, and 6 black neon tetras. I have been scrubbing [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > This message was written on 100% recycled spam. SAM >> > samuelREMOVE_THIS@myrealbox.com You may very well have diatoms. This is perfectly normal in a newly set up tank. They typically feed off silica as their main food source and once that is depleted, they will die down. This usually takes a few weeks to 2 months. My 240gal just finished it's diatom cycle and we're near the end of the die off. The rocks have their natural color back, the bog wood and plants are all looking "normal" again. It's really not much to worry about unless it lasts for several months. Then it usually means you have surplus silica somewhere getting in the water (and no, the silicone adhesive is not a source). Another option would be red algae, I usually get this dark maroon algae at the water return spouts. Again, I'm not too concerned about it there so long as it doesn't impede the water flow and grow out of control. The post about the UV can be a good suggestion. I have one on my tank and they can severely help control waterborne algae and parasites (like ick). Justin A sterile tank is a deadly tank. > I have 4 tanks, in particular a 10 gallon planted tank with 2 very small > African mixed cichlids, and 6 black neon tetras. I have been scrubbing the [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > This message was written on 100% recycled spam. SAM >> > samuelREMOVE_THIS@myrealbox.com Quote:You may very well have diatoms. This is perfectly normal in a newly set up tank. They typically feed off silica as their main food source and once that is depleted, they will die down. This usually takes a few weeks to 2 months. That sounds about right, I forgot all about that. It has been over a year since I had a "new" tank. THANKS This message was written on 100% recycled spam. SAM >> samuelREMOVE_THIS@myrealbox.com > You may very well have diatoms. This is perfectly normal in a newly set up > tank. They typically feed off silica as their main food source and once [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > > This message was written on 100% recycled spam. SAM >> > > samuelREMOVE_THIS@myrealbox.com > You may very well have diatoms. This is perfectly normal in a newly set up > tank. They typically feed off silica as their main food source and once [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > silica somewhere getting in the water (and no, the silicone adhesive is not > a source). Are you sure the silicone adhesive isn't a source of silica in newly manufactured tanks? I've heard both ways. Either way, I've had the same experience - diatoms bloom and then die off any any newly setup tank. They're usually easy to rub off of the glass, decorations and plants like anubias and the Otocinclus will take care of the rest.  Signature__ Elaine T __ ><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__>< With newly made tanks I heard a way to "season" them. Fill the tank up and make a brine solution (disolve salt into water until no more will dissolve) and let it sit over night. I don't know how it works, but it was reccomended by my tank maufacturer.... >> You may very well have diatoms. This is perfectly normal in a newly set >> up [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > They're usually easy to rub off of the glass, decorations and plants like > anubias and the Otocinclus will take care of the rest. I've never heard of silicone being a source of silica in the tank. As for new tanks, I don't know, but I'm willing to bet that you would still get a diatom bloom from a silicon adhesive used tank freshly set up. Justin > > You may very well have diatoms. This is perfectly normal in a newly set up > > tank. They typically feed off silica as their main food source and once [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > tank. They're usually easy to rub off of the glass, decorations and > plants like anubias and the Otocinclus will take care of the rest. My new Acrylic Tank has NO Silicone or Silicate anywhere in it and I have the Brown Diatom like the plague. I am hoping it dies off in short time. JOhn ><> > I've never heard of silicone being a source of silica in the tank. As for > new tanks, I don't know, but I'm willing to bet that you would still get a [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] >> tank. They're usually easy to rub off of the glass, decorations and >> plants like anubias and the Otocinclus will take care of the rest. I'm sure it will. The same thing happened to my acrylic tank. Makes you wonder where the silica actually comes from. > My new Acrylic Tank has NO Silicone or Silicate anywhere in it and I have > the Brown Diatom like the plague. I am hoping it dies off in short time. [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > >> tank. They're usually easy to rub off of the glass, decorations and > >> plants like anubias and the Otocinclus will take care of the rest. > I'm sure it will. > > The same thing happened to my acrylic tank. Makes you wonder where the > silica actually comes from. Your tap water! Believe it or not. Oz SignatureMy Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith Then why doesn't a bloom happen everytime you do a major water change? I can understand the regular maintenance water changes, but what about the times when a major change is needed? (say greater than 50%) > > I'm sure it will. > > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Oz > Then why doesn't a bloom happen everytime you do a major water change? I > can understand the regular maintenance water changes, but what about the > times when a major change is needed? (say greater than 50%) I'd say because it's not always present. Silica levels vary from month to month, year to year in most water supplies, from my experience at any rate. It builds up in the tank too. If your tank is new, it will normally happen anyway. Just be patient by scrubbing and maintinence and will go after about 4 to 6 weeks, then you may get green algae, as has happened in my case ;) Oz SignatureMy Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith Precisely the same series of events for me. These days my green algae are hardly growing. I must be doing something right. (^_^; > Precisely the same series of events for me. These days my green algae > are hardly growing. I must be doing something right. (^_^; I found the green stuff occurs right after using liquid fertilizer in the water. I've got it under control/in-balance, sort of - I still have to scrape the glass every week, but there is nowhere near as much as used to be there. I leave some behind for my female sword - she loves pecking at it, and some times prefers it over bloodworms and flake food. It grew madly on my remaining rock, but now it's totally stopped and all the plants I cut back hard because of the intial diatom infestation have flourished to the point where I am now prunning an binning the off cuts -I never thought I'd be doing that ;) Oz SignatureMy Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith > Then why doesn't a bloom happen everytime you do a major water change? I > can understand the regular maintenance water changes, but what about the > times when a major change is needed? (say greater than 50%) Because there are other algae and bacteria established in older tanks that use up other limiting nutrients. Signature__ Elaine T __ ><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__>< |
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