White 'stuff' On Silk Plants

[pablothebetta]

Already got a bit of an algae issue with my silk plants, and now I have some white stuff on them. I'm really not sure what it is. I did think it was perhaps the algae already on the plants dying, but I'm not so sure. Hopefully these links will work, please do say if they do not. It won't let me insert pics with a URL and the other inserting/attaching media option seems to have dissapeared.

Before:
http/postimage.org/image/tel4zwa8d/8bc1b5e9/

Now:
http/postimage.org/image/cy2m9h0xh/f4ce86e0/

Another image of the 'White stuff'. You can see the algae I've got on the 'leaf' at the back:
http/postimage.org/image/8wgxq2j91/68b13aa9/

Is this 'white stuff' harmful? Could it be some form of fungus or is it the algae dying? If not the latter, how can I get rid of it? I can partially remove it by scrubbing with a toothbrush, but I don't think that's a good long term course of action (even if I am considering replacing the silk plants with real ones to add to my marimo balls, anubias and hygro).

Many thanks

 

[lloyd]

Is it a new up?

 

[pablothebetta]

Been running for a few months. Fully cycled, etc. Admittedly, nitrate levels are relatively high atm as I've been very busy recently and unable to do a water change (around 40-50ppm I think from a test I did earlier today), but I've managed to allocate tomorrow evening for one

Ammonia and nitrite 0, pH 7.6