Tank being Invaded by unkowns

Help..I am getting an orange algae that looks rust colored over the top of all substrate (natural colored pebbestones). This has spread now to 1/2 my plastic plants and tonite I noticed it has started on the glass aquarium. I know gunnie told me that this can happen and will eventually leave. How long till it goes. Is there anything to add to tank to help. Also all my suction cups (holding heater,intake, and outtake lines) have a white gunk around each of them. I have a 75 gallon tank set up for almost a month.Everything was brand new when purchased. All water level readings are still at zero but Ph is like 7.6 o n the upper reading test. Bought 2 danios and 5 white clouds to cycle. I added 5 tiger barbs about 5 days ago to help with cycle. 2 of the tiger are missing and the other 3 seem fine. All my original fish are fine. I am thinking of doing a water change and cleaning all items in aquarium but am open to any suggestions..This is the ugliest stuff I have seen. My other tank at my office is fine and had know problems. The water source is the same city water but at two different locations (5 miles apart) I would be very indebted to anyone that has had this experience and could tell me how to fix...Thanks Love this site

 

I am sorry to see that you are having all this trouble and I can assure you that Gunnie is one of the most knowledgeable people about fishkeeping that I know and has taught most of us on this site most of what we know. I had the problem with both of my newest tanks and I will tell you that the best solution I found was a couple or 3 Otos. They made quick work of fixing the problem - although it is a cosmetic problem and not dangerous to plants or fish at all and will disappear on its own with patience. But the thing with new owners is they tend not to have much patience and want to have beautiful looking aquariums right away and there really is not anything wrong with that. you can also get into the tank and wipe the walls down with a soft cloth but that will now help the gravel and plants much.

Now the problem with Otos. You are not going to be able to put them into the tank until the tank is FULLY cycled as they are VERY sensitive to the water quality as far as Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates go. When the tank is cycled for a tank the size of yours you could easily support a school of 4 or 5 and that way it would not take a long time to get the problem cleaned up but it would need to be with the understanding that when the growth is gone you will need to feed them algae wafer or veggie rounds to keep them healthy and happy. They do not eat flake food, no matter what you may be told at the Fish store or Pet store where you may buy them. If you want to know more about these sweet little fish you can visit the Otocinclus Board under the Catfish section of this forum under the Freshwater Fish - Species Specific or go to their own website at:

otocinclus.

I own 5 of these little beauties and while they may not be the most colorful fish, they are some of the most peaceful and sweet fish I know of. They do however need to be kept with others of their own kind.

Rose

 

Thank-you Rose..While I have been known to be a bit impatient I was just needing the answer you provided...As long as it will leave sometime I'm good with that..I will get the Oto's as soon as soon as tank cycles...the way its going now that should be by next Christmas. Also any ideas on missing tiger barbs..I guess I could start by removing all items in aquarium and cleaning them to make sure they are not there. Also all appeared to be in the same good health when added (by the book). Now 2 are gone and 3 are having a seemingly good time with all the tank-room. I agree Gunnie is very impressive on his abilities to help others..

 

First of all I am not trying to embarrass you but if you look over to the left hand side of the posts you will see that it specifies the sex of the member and Gunnie is a female. You are not the first one who has made this assumption so do not feel awkward.

Also, I have learned something about fish and that is that until the bodies are found, don't count them out, especially if you have plenty of hiding places in the tank. I have found my little dickens' in the strangest places when they have disappeard for sometimes weeks at a time. Especially the Otos. They will hide under plants or in caves or around the floor under things and if they are dead in there your ammonia levels would be going through the roof. I am guessing they have found them a hiding place and you just haven't found it. I never did find mine until I gave up and took everything out of the tank and there they were. BUT then I realized I would never do that again. I would try to realize that they could take care of themselves unless I found one floating. the cost of putting everything back and the mess it made and the fact my plants were never the same made my minde up for me. The little stinkers.

Rose

 

From what I've been reading, this is normal in a new tank (by a new tank I mean the one just cycling or shortly after the cycle). It's some type of red algae that will go away pretty soon. If you can't wait, you can gently wipe it off the decor, etc ... I remember when I was cycling my 10 gallon tank, I also had a reddish "substance" accumulating on my tank walls, decor, and filter. I didn't know what it was at the time, now I know it were the red algae. I wiped the substance off, and afterwards it never came back.

 

Thanks a lot for suggestions and my apoligies to Gunnie...I knew that but forgot