Is this algae or a nutrient deficiency?

[onlywei]

It’s all over my S. Repens. If it’s an algae, I don’t recognize it. Does anyone know what this is?

[knee]

Have you tried rubbing it off? What's the texture like?

[onlywei]

On 3/2/2023 at 4:25 PM, knee said:

Have you tried rubbing it off? What's the texture like?

The S Repens leaves are so soft I haven’t been successful at rubbing any off.

My Panda Garra and hillstream loach also don’t touch it.

[knee]

You can cut one leaf so you can observe it better. The anubias seems like it also got affected. Can you try checking on that leaf instead? Their leaves are harder so you can put some pressure on it

[JoeQ]

To me that looks like brown algea.

[Lennie]

It looks like the algae @Irene was dealing with back in the days.

Check this video out!

 

 

Edited March 3 by Lennie

[Ninjoma]

I think it's brown diatom algae. Is the tank or the substrate relatively new? 

[onlywei]

Is there such a thing as brown algae that isn’t diatoms? I had diatoms in the tank before but it has all gone away months ago. 

[nabokovfan87]

You can see it all over the rocks as well.

That's black beard algae to me in the early form. (see last 2 photos)

Once it grows in and gets a bit denser, this is what it looks like:




I believe this is staghorn algae, but it could be either BBA/Staghorn:


Here's a much older photo of the algae on some seiryu


Same stuff on the edge of caves, again, further back in time:


Same timeline as the photo above, gives you an idea of the color spectrum of this stuff:

THESE are brown diatoms on the seiryu.  It's a bright, bright, bright brown.


 

This is the original location where the BBA started in my tank.  On a cave, source of iron, substrate in the new tank has iron as well.... Obvious formula for algae success.

This is when it's thin, diatom like, and you just have this very stubborn immovable coloration:


Here is red lava rock with a similar discoloration, again full of minerals for the algae to feed on.

Edited March 4 by nabokovfan87

[nabokovfan87]

Ultimately, it could be caused by too much phosphate in the water or excess nutrients.  How new is the tank?

[onlywei]

On 3/3/2023 at 9:04 PM, nabokovfan87 said:

Ultimately, it could be caused by too much phosphate in the water or excess nutrients.  How new is the tank?

The tank has been set up for 4 months. It has gone through the diatom phase already since I did have diatoms all over and now they are gone.

I have a lot of green algae and also this dark brown algae as shown in the photo.

[nabokovfan87]

On 3/3/2023 at 6:07 PM, onlywei said:

The tank has been set up for 4 months. It has gone through the diatom phase already since I did have diatoms all over and now they are gone.

I have a lot of green algae and also this dark brown algae as shown in the photo.

How often do you change water, how much, how is filtration setup, lighting setup?

[onlywei]

On 3/3/2023 at 9:09 PM, nabokovfan87 said:

How often do you change water, how much, how is filtration setup, lighting setup?

I change water once a week. Sometimes 25%, sometimes 50%.

It’s a 75g tank with both an under gravel plenum as well as a Fluval 407 for filtration. I am also injecting CO2 and I have a Chihiros WRGB2 at 50% for my light.

[nabokovfan87]

On 3/3/2023 at 6:11 PM, onlywei said:

Sometimes 25%, sometimes 50%.

Keep it consistent.  I'd say change closer to 50% each time, but I understand that isn't easy all the time.

On your 407, how are the trays setup?
Insert = foams
Bottom tray = ?
Middle tray = ?
Top tray = ?

Have you considered adding the spraybar option to the tank so that you can optimize the circulation for the CO2 diffuser?  What about using an in-line diffuser as an option as well given that you have a canister? (if you're using one already, awesome)

The light I am not familiar with, but in my understanding it's extremely effective / powerful.  Once everything else is verified and checked off the list, then we can dive into the light issues, if there are any.

[onlywei]

The 407 has 4 trays:

1) sponge

2) polyfil

3&4) bio rings

I do use a spraybar for my filter outlet and an inline diffuser for my CO2. I also have a ceramic diffuser inside the tank as well.

[nabokovfan87]

On 3/3/2023 at 6:21 PM, onlywei said:

I do use a spraybar for my filter outlet and an inline diffuser for my CO2. I also have a ceramic diffuser inside the tank as well.

so you're diffusing it using both methods?  Given the tank size it makes sense.

How does the drop checker usually look for you?

[onlywei]

On 3/3/2023 at 9:30 PM, nabokovfan87 said:

so you're diffusing it using both methods?  Given the tank size it makes sense.

How does the drop checker usually look for you?

It’s green. Not bright green but solid green.

[MattyM]

On 3/4/2023 at 9:27 AM, onlywei said:

It’s green. Not bright green but solid green.

What ferts are you dosing to keep up that amount of CO2? 

Also, this may be worth a read: https://www.2hraquarist.com/blogs/freshwater-aquarium-plants-guide/how-to-grow-staurogyne-repens - there's a certain type of melting that this plant is prone to.