HELP.... What is this??

[freude88]

Hello everyone and thanks in advance....

I have this "brown dust" all over my planted tank. I'm almost positive its not diatoms or mulm build up. I do regular water changes and I don't think my fish could poop that much as I don't feed them anywhere near the amount of "dust" that there is in the water. I shake the leaves everyday and it comes off. My HOB filter picks up some of it but then it just settles back down on the leaves. Anyone have any suggestions???

Thanks!

 

[bluebetta26]

Do you have sand by chance? When I had a mix of eco complete and instant aquarium sunset gold sand in my 29 gallon, my anubias plants would consistently be covered with a fine layer similar to what your picture shows. The sand wasn't supposed to be rinsed, so I'm not sure why it happened.

What is your substrate?

 

[freude88]

I have "aqua dirt" from aquarium plants.com capped with black sand.