Brown Hair Algae In A Filter?

[AquaLady]

This is in my AquaClear 70 that's in my 30 gallon planted tank. Should I clean it out or leave it as is?

[sheamurai]

It's not doing any harm, so you could leave it. Most folks just find it unsightly. But the algae is using excess nutrients in your system, so its of some benefit as long as those nutrients persist.

[Cermet]

The reason that stuff grows is because you have excessive nutrients of some type. While if this is only in your filter, it may start appearing in the tank if the nutrients levels climb any more. Could be phosphates of some type since both fish and fish food release this into the tank and substrates tend to absorb this and then slowly release it. You should check the nitrates since that may also be the cause. If the nitrtaes are low (under 3-5 ppm) than very likely the phosphates are high - even large water changes do not easily hold phosphates down for very long. If the stuff starts growing in the tank, I can offer a fix. For now, just check the nitrtaes and consider larger water cahnges.

[AquaLady]

Here's my reading. I took it just now.

[sheamurai]

That looks off, especially for a planted tank. Did you shake the bottle and tube for the full amount of time? Is your test kit expired?

[Cermet]

Nitrates that high are only possible only if your test kit is failing or the tank's water changes are far too small or done too rarely. Consider getting another kit and if that shows such a high result than your water changes are far, far too rare/small or both. Nitrtae levels above 40 ppm can harm fish.

[AquaLady]

I did a thorough cleaning of the filter to get rid of the white stuff. Hard water deposits? I don't see how. I rearranged the plants, trimmed, and propagated. Did a 30% pwc. I see one of my female Tiger Barbs have fin rot? Fins look white at the ends and deteriorating.

[AquaLady]

The test is brand new. Even the strips gave off high readings. I shook and banged the bottle till my arms were sore lol.

[Cermet]

Your tank's nitrates are far too high. This would partly explain the fin rot; more to the point is the amount of water you change in the tank is not enough - you need to do a near 100% water change; then stir the substrate and do an other near 100% water change (I bet a lot of nitrogen and organics are buried in the substrate.)
You may need to do better vacuuming procedures when cleaning the tank (that means also stiring the substrate besides vacuuming the stuff off the top of the substrate) and you especially need to increase both the size and number of water changes for the tank. Nitrates should never get up or exceed 40 ppm. Best (for algae control) to keep them below 10 ppm and under 5 ppm is ideal for most fish.

[AquaLady]

Since the fish are "used" to high nitrates, would it shock the fish with a big wc?