what is this??

[akestler]

There is some red stuff all over one side of my tank that just started appearing a few days ago. It started out with just a little on the leaf of my silk plant, and then more and more of it started appearing. Now it's all over the leaves of the plant, some on the divider, some on the tank wall, and some on the gravel. It's only on one side of the tank. (I have a divided tank) As you probably know if you've read my other "what is this?" posts, I've had a number of problems with just this side of the tank, and absolutely no problems with the other side. Just doesn't make sense to me. Here's a picture of the plant leaves with the red stuff.



Can anyone tell me what this stuff is and how to remove it, if it needs to be removed? Also, if anyone has any ideas as to why I'm having so many problems with just one side of the tank, that would be much appreciated too!

[amanichen]

Can anyone tell me what this stuff is and how to remove it, if it needs to be removed?

Is it red or brown? Red and brown are two different things.

Also, if anyone has any ideas as to why I'm having so many problems with just one side of the tank, that would be much appreciated too!

Which side is the filter on? Which side is the light on?

[akestler]

It's red. Not a bright red or anything, more of a rusty red. My roommate thought it WAS rust, until I pointed out to her that none of the materials in the tank rust. The filtering is a little difficult to explain because of the divided tank situation, but here goes my best try. The intake tube is on one side of the tank, and the filtered water comes out on the other side. The side with all the problems is the one that the filtered water comes into, not the one with the intake tube. The light is more on the problem side. It's a fluorescent bulb.

[amanichen]

It's red algae then.

It's favoring one side of the tank because that side has more light, and a better flow of oxygenated water.

The second page of this article has a table summarizing how to deal with photosynthetic microorganisms such as red algae:

s94779296.onlinehome.us/website/Fish/faqs/algae.html

[akestler]

Thanks amanichen, that article was helpful. Do you have any suggestions on how to get it off of the gravel? I can wipe off the walls and the plant, but the gravel presents a more difficult situation. I have a snail in the tank, so he may take care of some of it, but he's a pretty lazy snail. I know snails aren't supposed to be particularly active, but this one is REALLY lazy! LoL I'm getting off the topic. Anyway, is there any way to get it off of the gravel?

[amanichen]

akestler said:

Anyway, is there any way to get it off of the gravel?

Exposure to boiling hot water should do it.