Rust-coloured stuff in tank

[canuck]

Over the last week or so some kind of rust-colour deposit has been building up on the gravel, plants (plastic) and decorations in my tank. I've tested the water and all the levels are testing fine.

I've searched around these forums a bit and it sounds like this is some kind of algae. The other posts I read indicated it might be a lack of light that's causing it, so I've been leaving the light on longer every day (about 15 hours versus 10-12 before) but it seems to be building up faster, if anything.

I'm going to try to find a stronger bulb, which was another suggestion I found, but I'm wondering if there could be any other reason for this?

I'm also wondering if it is due to low lighting and I put in something brighter, will it go away on its own or do I need to clean everything off by hand?

Lastly, if I do have to clean everything by hand, what is the best way to do this without throwing out the balance in the tank? I've spent the last 3 months or so getting a handle on this new hobby of mine, and I don't want to upset the balance I seem to have reached

I appreciate any advice - I don't know where I would be without these forums to guide me along...

 

[WILDER]

Do you gravel vac and water change weekly, do you over feed the fish,what size tank is it, what fish and which type.

 

[paulthegreat]

If it is an algea then more light is BAD if you do not have live plants then you do not need as much light. Live plants will help to compete with the algea. I use a timer to give my plants about 10 hours of light a day with a two hour break in the middle, I have heard that the break helps to keep down the algea. Overfeeding can also give you an algea bloom. I personally do not care for plastic plants since a lot of fish like/need to nibble on the real thing on occasion.

 

[canuck]

Do you gravel vac and water change weekly, do you over feed the fish,what size tank is it, what fish and which type.

I do gravel vac and change the water weekly (about a 10% change). I don't think I overfeed the fish... I give them enough that it is all eaten in 3 or 4 minutes, twice a day. Would that be considered overfeeding? The odd flake gets caught in the "current" and ends up at the bottom of the tank, but I haven't noticed any great amount building up between cleanings.

I've got 2 red wag platys and 4 black skirt tetras in the tank (29 gal), along with 6 platy fry in a breeder net.

As to the other post regarding plastic vs live plants, how much work is involved in keeping live plants? I would really prefer that, but I figured learning how to manage the fish was work enough, let alone having to deal with live plants as well.

Now that I have an established tank, is it okay to add live plants to the mix?

 

[The-Wolf]

Over the last week or so some kind of rust-colour deposit has been building up on the gravel, plants (plastic) and decorations in my tank. I've tested the water and all the levels are testing fine.

this would be diatoms

to get rid of diatoms you need more light.
either add another source or have the current lights on for longer.

 

[itZme]

I had that problem with brown algae on everything and for a couple days I just scrubbed the stuff with an old toothbrush and it comes off easily. I bought a couple apple snails and a pleco and they really cleared it up overnight. I later found out when I joined these forums that the pleco will outgrow most tanks under 55 gal unless you go with a bristlenose or the other "smaller" types. I think ghost shrimp and Otocinclus will eat it too in case you don't want a pleco.
Check it out here ---> http/badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile76.html

Good luck with your fish

itZme