brown dust

[vero]

Hi,

There is brown dust in my tank. It's everywhere: on the fake plants, on the wood, on the bottom, in the filter, but not on the glass. It doesn't stick on anything (if I stir the water it floats and falls back). Is it some kind of algea? What can I do to get rid of it (I vaccum once a week and I stir the water once in a while so that hopefully some gets suck by the filter)?

Thanks
Vero

 

[Yodlem]

thats probably brown algae.

If it's really disturbing you, you can get a fish that eats algae--->http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/cyprinids/chinesealgae.php
but as long as it doesn't take over the whole tank;like up to the point where you can't really see the fish anymore, it shouldn't be too harmful

 

[Lonewolfblue]

Sounds like diatoms. Completely harmless and will go away in a few weeks on it's own. If you want something to eat it, try otos. They love the stuff. Is it a new tank? How long has it been set up?

 

[vero]

Thanks for the quick reply!

I wasn't sure if it was algea. It's not overwhelming, but it bugs me because my gravel is pale.

My tank has been up for over a year. It seems to me that I've always had some of that brown dust but it's been worse for at least a month.

I think chinese algea eater gets too big for my tank (liveaquaria says up to 10"). The Otocinclus Catfish would be my pick.

Aside from getting a fish to eat it, is there something I can do?

Thanks for your help.