White specks growing on tank glass

[PixelCh1ck]

After doing a weekly water change I noticed these white specks all over the tank glass. They look like little flowers that flow back and forth with the water. What could this be?? I have a betta, African dwarf frog and 2 corydoras.
Ph- 7.6
Ammonia- 0
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- 40
I've added some close up photos. It will not allow me to add a video.

 

[Myyyman]

Your nitrate is a little high, what percent water change did you do? If it's definitely inside the tank it'll be some sort of algae. If it was outside I'd say it was dry tank water. I'd do another water change, maybe 50%. An otto is always an option to get rid of it depending on your tank size. Sorry this is all I can tell you.

EDIT: Actually, to tell you the truth, I've seen this before in my tank, but my pleco ate it.

 

[StarGirl]

So what does these look like from the side?

 

[DoraCory]

I had that same thing when my tank was new, but never found out what it was.
It's either disappeared on its own or my pufferfish have eaten it.

 

[MacZ]

Your nitrate is a little high, what percent water change did you do? If it's definitely inside the tank it'll be some sort of algae. If it was outside I'd say it was dry tank water. I'd do another water change, maybe 50%. An otto is always an option to get rid of it depending on your tank size. Sorry this is all I can tell you.

EDIT: Actually, to tell you the truth, I've seen this before in my tank, but my pleco ate it.

It's some biofilm/algae growth, it is not worrysome. This is how film starts. As little spots that grown bigger and finally form a closed surface.

Also, would people please stop seeing Otos just as cheap anti-algae tools? For every Oto to survive in our tanks longer than 6 months we most likely have to buy 3-5 or more that will die in that time.

 

[PixelCh1ck]

So what does these look like from the side?

Like little dandelion flowers. They sway back and forth. Every speck is exactly the same

 

[DuaneV]

If you have 40ppm nitrates AFTER your weekly water change, you should do another of 50%. Next week, test and see how high your nitrates are and do your water changes according.

The specs look like some kind of biofilm to me too. I take it you're not scrubbing the glass?

 

[Myyyman]

It's some biofilm/algae growth, it is not worrysome. This is how film starts. As little spots that grown bigger and finally form a closed surface.

Also, would people please stop seeing Otos just as cheap anti-algae tools? For every Oto to survive in our tanks longer than 6 months we most likely have to buy 3-5 or more that will die in that time.

I am not suggesting you use them solely as tools, but I'll ask you this; if you buy a catfish to live in your tank happily, is it okay if it cleans your tank or is that bad? It's like buying a filter and then realising it has multiple heads, you don't buy it for the heads, but you get them anyway, a bonus.

 

[MacZ]

I am not suggesting you use them solely as tools, but I'll ask you this; if you buy a catfish to live in your tank happily, is it okay if it cleans your tank or is that bad? It's like buying a filter and then realising it has multiple heads, you don't buy it for the heads, but you get them anyway, a bonus.

If you buy that filter and they tell you there are multiple pumps in there that will all break after two weeks and the last will never have full capacity, will you still buy it?
It's about the fact how many usually die after a short period and how many people don't have the luck to find sources for them where that doesn't happen.

 

[Myyyman]

If it dies and there was nothing you could about it because it came from a bad source that's not a bad thing, it lived the lifespan it was always going to live and helped you clean your tank. Anyways, I don't mean just ottos, but catfish in general. But over all I agree with MacZ, I guess I've just never had an otto that died in under six months.

 

[MacZ]

If it dies and there was nothing you could about it because it came from a bad source that's not a bad thing, it lived the lifespan it was always going to live and helped you clean your tank. Anyways, I don't mean just ottos, but catfish in general. But over all I agree with MacZ, I guess I've just never had an otto that died in under six months.

It's fine, I don't want to argue. Fact is, most people that have/had Otos lost 50% within the first weeks and often they died out within less than six months and most often we can't even do anything about that.
Yes, it's nice if an animal does actually help you with maintenance, but many people don't grasp that they are animals nontheless and expect them to "work" without fail or even don't count them in the bioload of their tanks. I think the way you phrased that could bring a beginner to exactly this utilitarian mindset and that in turn only makes it more miserable for the animals.