Diatoms/ green slime near soil

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GillesF

Member
Nov 1, 2010
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Antwerp, Belgium
Hi guys

I have quite a lot of diatoms near my soil. Not really a problem since it's easily cleaned but it just doesn't look nice. Moreover, it seems that I have some green "slime" near the diatoms approx. 0,5-1cm below the soil.

What causes this? Is this due to organic waste on the soil? I'm using Colombo Flora-Base and the parts that are infected with the green slime are quite dusty (due to crumbling of the clay). I have almost no diatoms/slime at the back of my tank ...
It's the only (living) algae in my tank.

Thanks for your help,
GillesF
 
B

barbarossa4122

Guru Class Expert
Dec 29, 2009
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I had the same thing going on in my tanks about 3 months ago and I discovered that the culprit was the Pfertz micro solution I was using, which went bad. Stopped using it and the "diatoms" disappeared.
 
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Gerryd

Plant Guru Team
Lifetime Member
Sep 23, 2007
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Hi GillesF,

When was the last filter maintenance or substrate vacuum?

Could it be BGA? This can be caused by low N or dirty conditions. I have had both causes in my tank at one time :)

I would look first to your overall maintenance to ensure all is well. No clogged/dirty filters, good dosing, regular water changes, etc.

Is the c02 still performing optimally?

Just review your setup to ensure all is well, first. Then look to other causes.

Too much light and not enough c02???
 
G

GillesF

Member
Nov 1, 2010
404
0
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Antwerp, Belgium
Hi Gerry

Filter was cleaned 3 weeks ago (if I remember correctly, will clean it again this week).
NO3 is about 30ppm, WC of 50% or more every Monday (yesterday I did 75%)
Dosing is good but CO2 isn't stable yet (got my atomizer today so that will improve soon). Light is 24w T5 with reflector on 24g.
I think the problem is the substrate, I've never vacuumed it because I'm afraid that it will suck up all of my HC (which hasn't grown in yet due to the unstable co2). I'm thinking of buying a gravel cleaner which only sucks up the dust/dirt without removing the water. There are no shrimps or snails in the tank (except the snails that come with the plants ofc), only 2 (very lazy) Rineloricaria.
 
T

Tug

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O2?

Hi all,
Green slime sounds like BGA to me as well. You should be able to notice a very distinctive smell if it continues to spread.

Could there be low levels of O2, H2S in the substrate, high level of organic loading for hydrogen sulfide production.

Both problems would produce a distinctly foul oder.

 
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nipat

Guru Class Expert
May 23, 2009
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I have a theory. Why most tanks have it in that particular area, even ADA in Niigata. :gw

Light in the tank bouncing off the glass wall to the substrate area.
Good light + nearly no flow + out of reach of regular cleaning crews + full of debris.
This condition may encourage BGA.

bouncing.jpg
 
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GillesF

Member
Nov 1, 2010
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Antwerp, Belgium
Tug;60063 said:
Hi all,
Green slime sounds like BGA to me as well. You should be able to notice a very distinctive smell if it continues to spread.

Could there be low levels of O2, H2S in the substrate, high level of organic loading for hydrogen sulfide production.

Both problems would produce a distinctly foul oder.

Click to expand...

No oder when I have my nose above the tank. When I removed 75% and the water level was at 25%, the tank did have the typical "aquarium/aquatic plants/fish" smell but that's normal, right?

I had the green slime a few months ago too and I put some on my finger but it didn't smell. I then removed it manually and it hasn't come back in that specific spot (left side of the glass)
 
T

Tug

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I suppose it could be Rhizoclonium. It's soft and slimy. :eek:

In any case, the remedies are often the same. Adjust light, improve water flow (O2, nutrients & CO2) to that area and clean up. In this case CO2/flow to that area might need to be improved.
GillesF, do you have the link to the gravel cleaner you mentioned? It sounds like a neat idea, especially if it would suck up the occasional snail or two.​
 
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D

dutchy

Plant Guru Team
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Jul 6, 2009
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It's very common to have BGA in the substrate where it's exposed to light. Covering it with tape for a few weeks will help, at least for a while.

regards,
dutchy
 
B

Biollante

Lifetime Charter Member
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Jun 21, 2009
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Healthy Happy Substrate

Hi,

As Dutchy points out any place the substrate is exposed to light something is going to grow. Some use cabinetry to hide it.

For many years I cleaned it, bamboo skewers work well at water change time. :rolleyes:

Basically it just fades to black for me and I have come to regard it as positive, good for the substrate.

  • Then many consider me crazy anyway...:eek:
Biollante
 
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