Brown algae in filter

[Jeddi]

Is this common, and is it normal? Here's a pic. I'm not totally sure it's brown algae since I've never had a tank before now, but that's what it looks like to me.

Pic:

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Sorry for the bad quality. Crappy camera and moving water doesn't take good pics :P

I'm using an Aquaclear 30 filter... It seems to be growing in all areas of the filter-- Under the "waterfall" part, the water intake tube, and everywhere inside the filter, though it's most prominent on the biological filter part. I just don't see how it'd grow there. VERY little light reaches these areas, except for maybe the filter intake tube. The only light that may reach the other areas is a miniscule amount from the actual aquarium lighting and the lighting from the lamp in that room. I don't have a problem with it necessarily, but is it harmful to my filtration at all? It started just several days after I set up the tank (no fish at the time) and it's been there since. At first I thought it was the BB (lol) but I know better now :P It doesn't seem to be clogging up the filter or anything either.

I also have some on the back of my tank. Couldn't get a great picture though...

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Doesn't look like your typical algae to me, and although I've never seen diatom algae I'm assuming that's what it is. I'm going to my lfs today to pick up a dwarf gourami, some shrimp and nerites, and possibly an oto cat...

[Kazenouta]

That definitely appears to be a case of the diatoms :hmm3grin2orange:
Don't worry about it, they'll go away once they've gotten all they can out of your water. If you're worried about the bio-bag just take and swish it around it some old tank water during a WC and that'll clean it up a bit. It won't hurt to give your filter an occasional cleaning either to keep water flow, aeration, and filtration up.

[Jeddi]

That definitely appears to be a case of the diatoms :hmm3grin2orange:
Don't worry about it, they'll go away once they've gotten all they can out of your water. If you're worried about the bio-bag just take and swish it around it some old tank water during a WC and that'll clean it up a bit. It won't hurt to give your filter an occasional cleaning either to keep water flow, aeration, and filtration up.
I want my otos to be able to go to town when I get them, so I'm actually encouraging the brown algae for now :P Do you think if I were to swish it around in the water and let the algae fall, it would spread? Or would it spread more easily by being in the filter and flowing out of it?

[Kazenouta]

Quite honestly you don't need to do a thing to get them to spread. They'll go through your tank like wildfire before you know it

[Jeddi]

Awesome. My otos are going to be pretty happy when they get to their new home. :hmm3grin2orange:

[Kazenouta]

Awesome. My otos are going to be pretty happy when they get to their new home. :hmm3grin2orange:
Yep, just beware; Otos are well known for being finicky when first bought and many of them will die within a short period of time from malnutrition and the like. It's a definite bummer but it's good for you to know before you decide to keep them. I personally haven't had any issue with my Otos but, from reading that seems an exception to the rule

[robflanker]

Yep, just beware; Otos are well known for being finicky when first bought and many of them will die within a short period of time from malnutrition and the like. It's a definite bummer but it's good for you to know before you decide to keep them. I personally haven't had any issue with my Otos but, from reading that seems an exception to the rule
+1

I bought 10 - 5 for me, 5 for the SO.
Of my 5, 3 died within a day and another within a week. Of the SO's 5, all 5 survived a 6hr car ride, lost 1 within a week, another the next but still has 3.

They are def unpredictable but if they survive the first week or two, you should be ok

[Jeddi]

Yup-- That's why I'm waiting till I can get a lot of algae before getting some. When I go to my lfs today I'm going to ask them what they feed them, how long they've had them (since their last shipment) and check how healthy they look. I'll also bring along some algae wafers, zucchini or cucumber for the ride home. :)

[Lady Hobbs]

The only time I ever see my otos is if I break the tank down. I have 2 left out of 4 but haven't seen them now again for weeks. Charcoal in your filter will help with those diatoms for now and then you can remove the charcoal, as well.

[Kazenouta]

Yeah making sure your tank has a good bit of algae is for the best. What you can also do is take some aquarium safe stones (check for foaming with vinegar if you're unsure), put them in a small container with some tank water, cover them with some plastic wrap, and place them in a window that gets heavy lighting. You'll effectively make an algae farm with stones that can be switched out once they're depleted of algae and the process repeated.

[Jeddi]

Yeah making sure your tank has a good bit of algae is for the best. What you can also do is take some aquarium safe stones (check for foaming with vinegar if you're unsure), put them in a small container with some tank water, cover them with some plastic wrap, and place them in a window that gets heavy lighting. You'll effectively make an algae farm with stones that can be switched out once they're depleted of algae and the process repeated.
I have a bowl with 4 stones outside right now. :hmm3grin2orange:

As far as aquarium safe rocks go, is just tresting for vinegar accurate enough? I want to use some anthracite (coal) and some other rocks. None of them foamed but I'm not too sure about them.

[Kazenouta]

Hmm, at this point I might have to leave that question to more experienced aquarists. However, I can say that this is the method I've always used before adding any rocks to my tanks and I haven't had a problem