Tank cleaning

[BigHoss]

I'm starting to get this brown residue on my plastic plants in my aquarium. Should I take them out and clean them? What about the other stuff (rocks, caves, signs, etc..)? Can't really see it on them but if it's on the plants I'm sure it's on everything. I wanted to ask first in case that would mess up the bacteria or anything.

Thanks

 

[Scouser]

May be a case of brown algae.

Can you post a pic?

And yea removing it would be good but it's the parameters of your tank that will just
make it re grow.

 

[BigHoss]

So if it is brown alge how do you stop it and what causes it?

I will post a pic soon

Thanks for responding

 

[BigHoss]

Here's the pics

 

[mfdrookie516]

Probably diatoms. Search the site and you'll get hundreds of thousands of results. Almost every new tank gets them.

 

[maxwellag]

I agree with mfdrookie516, diatoms. I had them a while back, and I just started feeding less, reduced the time the light was on, and cleaned the tank more, and it went away.

 

[bruinsbro1997]

I agree, it's diatoms. They're a nusiance, but after a while it'll go away. That being said, mine didn't go away for four months on the heater until I left the thing in uncholorinated tap water for a day.

 

[BigHoss]

Thanks for the help. I'll try all that.

 

[Wy Renegade]

Diatoms (golden-brown algae, rather than a brown algae) are common in both fresh and saltwater tanks, especially when they are new. However, they are almost constantly present, so even an older, well-established tank can experience a diatom bloom. As was stated, in most cases they go away on their own, however tap water high in silica may cause them to rebloom or may extend bloom length. Once you have an established tank, removing plastic plants and deco to clean the diatoms off will cause no issues. If you're running a HOB filter than doing so during the cycle will also cause no issues.