55 Gallon Tank Rocks

Hi
Please can some help me. We have had our tank for 9 months or so now. But recently (2 weeks ago) changed from fake to live plants and put in some Aqua Roche, we also had to upgrade our live as it wasn't a full spectrum light so the plants started to meltwater!
But I have now noticed that the top area of all the rocks is going brown/green.
That water parameters are all fine except nitrate around 30ppm, so going to do a 50% change tomorrow.
Is this a normal process for rocks, should I turn the light down. Its currently on 50% from 9am till 6pm

 

It’s just algae growing so it’s normal especially with it being that close to the light.

 

Ok thanks. So it's fine to just need to leave it?

 

Looks like Diatoms. They will eventually go away. Something may have went off balance switching stuff around. Being that close to the light you may always have some sort of algae on top of them. Yes its ok.

 

Thank you

 

You can clean it off if you want to. It wont hurt anything though. Nerite snails will take care of it really well.

 

Will they be compatible with the rest I my fish?
Otos x6
Rasboras x4
Guppys x8
Corydoras x9
Black Neon Tetras x4
Zebra Danios x4

 

Well your ottos should clean it up good. I think you would be ok if you want one but I think your crew will have it covered.

 

Cool I'll see how it goes. The otos don't tend to feed off the rocks at the minute mostly bottom and glass. But they might in time once they realise it spreads down the rocks a bit and they realise it's tasty

 

If not the Nerites will eat off the rocks and glass mostly. Look up a Red Racer Nerite they are pretty sweet looking little snails. There are a bunch of different colors.

 

I'll look them up. Will they breed like mad in my tank?

 

No they will lay eggs but they do not hatch in fresh water. You will ever only have what you buy.

 

My nerite snails are my champion rock cleaners.