Brown algae

[Swampman]

Hi I set up a 37 gal aquarium 3 weeks ago. It has a canister filter,led light, heater and plant nutrient substrate. It has spider wood that I didn't boil. The second day the tank was up I started to get brown slime on the spider wood. The tank is heavily planted. Than the slime started growing on the plants. I took out the spider wood and boiled it. Thinking that was the problem. I did a 20% water change on Sunday. Today Tues. the slime returned. I am cycling the tank with 7 Von Rios. What can I do to get rid of this stuff. I set up 4 other tanks and never had this problem. What did I do wrong?

 

[mambee]

I think you have diatoms which should eventually go away. This is common with new tanks.

Once your tank is cycled, you can add some BNPs. Their constant grazing will prevent the diatoms from coming back.