Is this your typical algae?

[bentz69]

New tank owner here. Ive had this tank for a little over a month. 36 gallon with some barbs, mollies etc and 3 live plants. I cycled the tank with barbs and tetra safe start the first week and ive done 2 20% water changes 2 weeks after the tetra safe start

Current levels are 0-0.25 ammn, 0 nitrite, 40 nitrate, ph 7.6

Ive noticed over the past 10 days that there is a brown (what I guess looks like algae) growing on my rocks, plants and decor. It started out small and has spread over most of the tank. The glass is still clear and so is the water. Ive noticed the fish eating this stuff too.

Is this just your normal algae growing?

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[MCHRKiller]

Just some brown algae, typical with newer setups. No worries.

[bentz69]

^Guess I should of searched first lol but thats what I came up with too. Does this go away on its own or do I need snails to eat it?

[MCHRKiller]

Typically diatoms will subside, but you can get fish/inverts that will eat it. Nerite snails are an excellent choice as with getting 1 you wont end up with 1million.

[angel_love]

Amano shrimp will make short work of that algae, just make sure they are big enough that the fish won't nomnom them.

[bentz69]

If I was going to add a fish/snail to do some clean up, I would probably get a couple of oto's.

Are they really necessary though? Im reading that stuff like this goes away after a few weeks in new tanks?

There is no direct sunlight on this tank but I do run my uv light for about 12 hours a day. Too long?

[ElizabethJKR]

I would also suggest a water change. Nitrates are a little high. Should be under 20ppm.
I would just leave it. Or during a water change, just rub it off with your fingers.

[bentz69]

^I just did a 20% water change about 5 days ago. Time for another already?

[Igotsumfeesh]

Hi there!
I had this in my tank when it was new, and I went out and got a plecos. The fish cleaned it right up, and looked pretty happy to do the job!:19:

[isaactifist]

^I just did a 20% water change about 5 days ago. Time for another already?

Water changes are you friend! You can't really do too many.

[bentz69]

Hi there!
I had this in my tank when it was new, and I went out and got a plecos. The fish cleaned it right up, and looked pretty happy to do the job!:19:

Are plecos the ones that I see in the store that are always stuck on the glass of the tank? I was thinking a few oto's

[Lady Hobbs]

Most of us do 50% water changes regularly. Some even more. But right now during a cycle, it will take more water changes to keep those ammonia levels under control.

Don't get more fish until you have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites.

And watch that stump decoration! I had one and my fish would swim into the thing and get stuck and die. I would close off all those holes so they can't get into the thing. (I crammed a black plastic bag in mine.)

[Furface]

It doesn't look like a problem to me, the type of algae you get will often depend on the mineral balance and ph of your water. As the tank ages this balance can change and different algaes show up.
If you become a longterm fish keeper you will get used to some algae being around as natural and OK. It is simply nature doing what it does everywhere, filling a nitch with a life form. Algae never gives up.

[bentz69]

I did a 50% water change today and cleaned the rocks, plant and decor. Tested the water again and ammonia was at .25, nitrites 0, nitrates 20. Then I did another 50% water change and tested about an hour later. Ammonia .25, nitrites 0, nitrates 10.

Cant seem to get his ammonia to 0 right now but the algae looks a lot better. Ill give it some more time and do more frequent water changes

[Lady Hobbs]

Totally normal in a new tank. Not sure why you only had .25 in ammonia, did two big water changes and it's still .25 unless you have ammonia in your tap water. I used to pull the decorations from my tank, soak them in a mild bleach water, allow them to air dry and put them back in the tank. Those diatoms will probably be gone by the 3rd month.