artificial plants turning brown

[dsaavedra]

i only have artificial plants in my tank, and lately i've noticed my big 36" bamboo plant is turning brown at the top. i also have some other smaller artificial plants that are starting to turn brown in a few small spots.

the brown coloring comes right off when i rub it with my fingers.

what causes this? my only idea is that uneaten flakes have sunk and landed on the plants and brokedown.

 

[leeser28]

I think it's algae.

 

[vampie]

Either that, or you're so bad at keeping plants that even your fake ones are dying.

 

[dsaavedra]

really? why would it only be at the top of the plant? more light?

 

[Slappy*McFish]

Bingo.

 

[Damodred]

Yep, algae. I have the same thing in my newest tank. I'm going to have some happy nerites.

 

[dsaavedra]

hmmm...

any idea what kind of algae it is?

and how can i get rid of it?

 

[colinsk]

It sounds like Diatoms. They can totally over take the tank for a few weeks then go away on their own. They are quite easy to wipe off. They need silicon to create their exo-structures. Once all of the silicon from your new tank is bound up or removed they can not grow. If you rub off all of the algae and let it settle to the gravel for 30 minutes and do a gravel vac then you will selectivly remove the silicon from the system.

However, I have made nitrite spikes in young tanks doing heavy gravel vacs in new tanks so if the tank is very young you might be better off to just wait it out.

My Platties and Zebra Nerites love the stuff and clean it where ever thay can find it.

 

[jpappy789]

Sounds exactly like diatoms. How old is the tank? It should go away within 6 months of setting up a new tank.

 

[Kashta]

Either that, or you're so bad at keeping plants that even your fake ones are dying.

You're so bad, vampie. :rofl: