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360º

Aquarium Advice FINatic
Joined
May 25, 2010
Messages
581
Location
Edmonton Alberta
looks like theres cobwebs or some kind of stringy stuff growing all over my decor in my tank.

almost looks pinkish or light brown i color.

what could it be?

i do PWC ever 3-4 days
 
here are some pictures


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img_1134586_2_3b4d5bb81ecc6d797ed34ad0af6d71e9.jpg

img_1134586_3_49075b8f9e323e5faf9354d6678e57e7.jpg
 
How long has the tank been set up? What are your lights, those look like like plastic plants?

If it's a newer tank, I'd bet it's the beginnings of diatoms.
 
plants are fake. lights are just normal fluorescent lights tank has been running for about a month and half

what are diatoms and how do i get rid of it?
 
A month and a half is just right for diatoms.

Firstly, cut your lighting back. Secondly, you can scrub them off pretty easily and then suck them up with the gravel vac. Increase PWCs and maybe feed less (for a little while at least). Thirdly, nothing will "fix" them until they go away on their own. I had a 10gal tank completely covered (plants, rocks, substrate) with diatoms, for about a month. Then in ~3 days, they all disappeared.

I've read conflicting information about whether diatoms are really algae, or microorganisms. Wiki says both. This is a good source: About Brown or Golden Diatom Algae - What Makes Brown Algae Grow and Solutions for Eliminating This Problem in Saltwater Aquariums
 
Otocinclus love diatoms. make sure once the diatoms start getting thin (they won't stick around for very long relative to oto lifespan) you start feeding them appropriately.
 
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