Is that dirt on my plants?

[Diann62]

My plants, especially the elodea densa, seem to have dirt all over them. When I shook the plant this morning my tank filled with dirt. Should I be shaking it off? Is it the good bacterial and should I leave it alone? This is my first time growing plants. My tank is 110 gallons and the plants have been there for 3 weeks. I have 19 plants in total. My tank is still cloudy, but I hear it's because it's new. I've had it set up for about 5 weeks in total. When should the water clear, and what should I do about the dirt on the plants? Thanks for help...... :)

[jmhart]

Unless the plants were covered in "dirt" when you got them, it's not dirt. I think you have a case of the diatoms. This "brown algae" often comes with setting up a new tank. Water changes and time will take care of it for the patient, but for the slightly less patient, you can add some method of micron filter. If you have a Mag 350, the micron sleeve works quite well.

[grannylvsfish]

ok, I hear this so much.... its a new tank and it goes away.... my tank has been up for a year and it still has diatoms. and no it was not new when I got it.
I am fighting this crap all the time, my plants are covered in it. my tank etc. I have plenty of light, 2+ watts per gallon in fact. I believe i have diatoms in my phaucet water. funny thing is, my other tank had it like forever and still does at times but not as bad.

[svf]

You know, I have pretty heavily planted tanks. I do a 50% weekly water change in all 3 of my tanks. On my two larger tanks - a 37g and a 30g - I have canister filters with a prefilter sponge on the intake. On the smaller tank - 15g - I have a HOB filter, also with the prefilter sponge on the intake. I still get "dust." When I do the water changes, I sort of stir it up a bit to take as much out with the water being changed. What dust is left eventually settles and does not bother anybody. I just refer to it as general plant "schmutz." It seems to collect more on the plants that have a lot of little leaves like ludwigia and cabomba.

[Notophthalmus]

The technical term for that 'schmutz' is 'aufwuchs'. It contains not only diatoms and other microalgae, but fish feces, other detritus, and bacteria. In the wild it is the natural food of many insects, crustaceans, and other small organisms, but these little guys seldom are present in your tank.

[Que]

It is something that gathers on anachris more so than any other plant I have ever had. It's normal.

Q

[jpappy789]

I agree. Anarachis seem to trap that stuff like mad...