brown 'stuff' on our plants!

[millym]

hi
we had a near disaster with our tank whilst on holiday - light timer didnt work (for 2 weeks) neither did our auto feeder but thats another story............anyway our plants which were very green & healthy looking before this incident are now looking a bit sad i know it was from lack of light but the main prob now is they have brown stuff on them. what is this???is it algae??? how do we get rid of it?? any hints,answers most appreciated
thanks

 

[Rose]

It's diatoms (not a real algae) and all you gotta do is rub it off when it starts to grow where it's not wanted.

Rose

 

[Lateral Line]

Brown "algae", is in fact not algae, diatoms, almost always indicative of low light levels, algae eating fish will eat it, and it will rub off quite easily.

Bad luck by the way!

 

[GoneFishin']

What is the best way to scrape the stuff off? I have brown algae growing on my Moneyworts' leaves. My Plec keeps everything else sparkling clean. I am somewhat hamfisted. So I am worried about wrecking the delicate leaves.

Tom

 

[javajo]

Did you lose many fish while on vacation?

 

[babyfish]

try a cotton bud on the leaves

 

[GoneFishin']

Thanks babyfish.
I wouldn't have thought of that. I'll try a Q-tip.

Tom

 

[millym]

thanks everyone...........javajo we were very lucky - only lost 1 neon & a yoyo who swam into our filter outlet (now safely covered with mesh) whilst away. it was bad enough losing them but we know it could have been a complete wipeout which would have been devastating
we have learnt our lesson though & next time will have everything up running & tested tested way before we leave.