I ahve just set up a new tropical freshwater tank 7 weeks ago but have an unsightly brownish rust red slightly slimy stuff growing all over my plants and decor I cant get rid of it.Any idea what it is and how i can get rid of it?Any help would be great. Thanks.

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First off, you should try lowering the amount of light, but not so much that it will affect your plants. If there is sunlight reaching your tank, try blocking off that source and just having the aquarium lights. Alternatively, if you have 2 or more lights you can set your lights on timers so that one light turns on at the regular wake up time, and then the other turns on 2 or 3 hours later, then turns off 2 or 3 hours earlier. This means there is less light for 4-6 hours of the day, but still enough for your plants.

Another thing that can cause algae is phosphates. There is a phosphate remover that you can buy that you add straight to your filter called Green-X. I have used it in the past with much success.

Before adding the Green-X to your filter, try cleaning as much of the algae off as possible and doing a 10% water change. Then add the Green-X to your filter and it should help keep the algae population down.

Also, if you don't already have one, a pleco is a nice addition to algae covered tanks because they will eat some of it.

I hope this helps.

i hope you got permission to post that reply grandad?

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WHO'S YA DADDY

does thet look better tel

much better mate

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WHO'S YA DADDY

thank you tel.didn,t think I would end up with a autobiography.