Green Deposit On Plastic Plants

[harrogateweb]

Hi,

I have recently inherited an established 20 gallon tank, to which I have recently added some danios. Tank already contained 3 neon tetras and 3 glowlight tetras.

I recently noticed a strange green deposit on a plastic plant in the tank, note: all plants in the tank are plastic, no live plants. The green deposit looks like green paint ie quite plasticky if i touch it, it comes off... See pics below..

All water tests are normal though I recently had a bad nitrite reading (about 0.5ppm) after a danio jumped into the corner filter and fried itself against the heater.

My questions are

1) what is it ???

2) Will it harm my fish and do I need to do anything about it.

Thanks for your help

 

[Big_eyes]

Is it like a green slimy type substance?

 

[harrogateweb]

Is it like a green slimy type substance?

It looks like green acrylic paint, was thinking it could maybe be algae, but looks plasticy, if i touch it it comes off immediately, pics here :

http/www.harrogatewebdesign.co.uk/aqpics/IMG_0037.jpg
http/www.harrogatewebdesign.co.uk/aqpics/IMG_0038.jpg
http/www.harrogatewebdesign.co.uk/aqpics/IMG_0039.jpg
http/www.harrogatewebdesign.co.uk/aqpics/IMG_0040.jpg

 

[OldMan47]

It is cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae. Start by cleaning off all the stains that you can by scrubbing the plastic in hot water, no soap please. Since you have no real plants in the tank, stop using the tank lights for a few weeks and see if that helps. The fish will get all the light they need from normal room lighting. It won't to turn them on for a few minutes when you feed thew fish but the idea is to starve the cyanobacteria by depriving them of the light they need to grow.

 

[waterdrop]

Agree with OM47. Any progress on the blue-green harrogate?

~~waterdrop~~
Hey, Harrogate is one of the few UK cities I've slept in, what fun!