Brown Mould

[Emily]

Hi everyone

Iv got a problem with, well I can only describe as brown mould ?. My tank is spot on when it come's to the testing of the water, and the fish are as happy as Larry in there " ".

But this mould seems to be growning on everything, so do I clean it out, is there some kind of fish I can get to eat it all up Mmm unsure what to do for the best !!..


Reg

Nick

 

[waterdrop]

There are two things I can think of. You may be describing a brown algae or possibly biofilm (or it could really be a brown mold that I've just never heard of )

Biofilm is the normal clearish, brownish, yellowish or grayish film that forms on every surface it can in a natural aquatic environment. This is the film that the bacteria live in. It can usually be easily cleaned off of things but must be kept after as it reforms easily. Hands, sponges etc. usually clean it.

Brown algae is also often one of the easier algaes to rub off with fingers or a sponge. Algae of course is a complicated topic, as algae uses nutrients left over by the main plants and is an increasing problem with higher levels/times of light.

If it truly is a mold, I don't know what to recommend other than initial cleaning and then increased maintenance with gravel cleans and water changes. In all these cases its good to check whether your nitrate test kit is working properly and see whether nitrates are a bit high.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[SOLEXIS]

totally agree. It could be some wastes. Don't you feed too much your fish?

 

[Colin_T]

if it wipes off in sheets and floats around the tank, it could be blue green algae (Cyanobacter bacteria). This stuff smells musty and feels slimy. It can double its size everyday and will grow over everything.
If it is blue green algae then you need to do daily water changes and gravel cleans and suck the stuff out each time. Remo0ve as much of it as possible. Increase water movement and oxygen levels in the tank (by increasing surface turbulence), and reduce the feeding.
If that doesn't work you can try a 3 day blackout whereby you turn the tank lights off and cover the tank with a blanket for 3 days. Then you do a massive water change and gravel clean and this sometimes kills it.
Make sure you wash your hands with soapy water after handling it because it can irritate your skin.

 

[rabbut]

New tank by any chance? If so, it is brown algea, feeding off the silicates being leached by the seals... If this is the case, there is little you can do about it. It will vanish as quickly as it appered in a few months time. Regular large waterchanges will reduce it, but not elliminate it

HTH
Rabbut

 

[SOLEXIS]

New tank by any chance? If so, it is brown algea, feeding off the silicates being leached by the seals... If this is the case, there is little you can do about it. It will vanish as quickly as it appered in a few months time. Regular large waterchanges will reduce it, but not elliminate it

HTH
Rabbut

I agree Rabbut, that is the silicate cause I have bought a water test kit and used a resine against it. I presume you guess which brand it could be!
I didn't know it was the seals... Good info
Thanks