Swamp thing

The brown algae are diatoms. It's caused by excess silicates in new tanks. Diatoms have a cell wall which is made of silica. IOW their cell walls are glass (interesting fact of the day).

 

That IS very interesting Jenn. Is that the extremely fast growing stuff, which looks quite like hair algea but brown? Niether my pleco or the snails seem to feed on it.

 

Oh no - I thought you were talking about brown dust algae which grows on the glass.

 

Haha.... Got that as well! Looks like there's a bit of everything in a new tank!?

 

That is being eaten by snails though... Not as much as I'd like though....

 

So algae has kicked in, everywhere......hmmmm....now I know why this tank is called SWAMP THING ...

The algae on the plants, should I worry or just leave ?

 

@Warr7207

try add a couple Otocinclus Catfish, they love algae, and will munch that stuff day and night and will not destroy your other plants.

beautiful set up btw, keep it up.

 

Thanks @Camcam......no fish yet, only in my 2nd week of the cycle. Waiting for the NH4 to kick start the cycle

 

oh i see, thought they were just hiding behind the jungle , but yeah, ottos are awesome little fish, very very keen on algae, and they are small so keeping 2 or 3 in a tank like yours will be no problem.

 

Any ideas on tetras ? I would like to have a large school. Other than the usual Neons or Cardinals, any other suggestions ?