[1coowigg]

Hello, I have recently started up my first planted aquarium (running on 2 weeks). It is heavily planted and I have no fish besides 2 cherry shrimp. My concern is that all of the bigger leaves have some sort of heavy sediment on them and I fear it's interfering with photosynthesis. I have been seeing quite a bit of snails on the glass and a log but I get em' with tweezers every chance I get. I'm running two 20 gal filters that hang on the back and they both have decent flow, which I've reduced to prevent unsettled plants from uprooting. I also fertilize with Seachem Flourish and root tabs. 2 types of substrate: regular sand and a fine soil-type substrate designed for plants. No water changes yet, I'm getting on that tomorrow. I'm just wondering if anyone has encountered the same problem and has found a fix or if anyone knows what is is to begin with. Thanks in advance

 

[chrispena33]

Diatoms. Normal in a new tank. Should go away in a couple of weeks.

 

[BruceF]

If you have no fish and it is sediment change all the water and fill the tank very slowly. How big is it? Check that the flow from your filters is not too strong.

edit. I guess youwill need to put the cherry shrimgp in another container with some tank water while you do this.

 

[1coowigg]

Diatoms. Normal in a new tank. Should go away in a couple of weeks.

What exactly are Diatoms? Are they harmful?

 

[lochaber]

I imagine it's just mulm/detritus, and that plant happens to be in an area of little current, so stuff settles out of the water column there.

I find some snails are good for keeping sediment off, but then they can make their own mess, so it might just be trading one problem for another.

Get a cheap turkey baster, and either use that to blow/puff the stuff of the leaves, or try and draw it up and dispose of it.

 

[greaser84]

I agree with lochaber its mulm/detritus. No big deal. Diatoms are not harmful, ugly yes harmful no.

 

[1coowigg]

Thanks for the replies guys! Helps a lot

 

[1coowigg]

I imagine it's just mulm/detritus, and that plant happens to be in an area of little current, so stuff settles out of the water column there.

I find some snails are good for keeping sediment off, but then they can make their own mess, so it might just be trading one problem for another.

Get a cheap turkey baster, and either use that to blow/puff the stuff of the leaves, or try and draw it up and dispose of it.

Was just watching a newly hatched RCS when I noticed what seems like a really thin, white worm. Almost like white strand of hair. I looked more closely and there's about 30 of them on the glass. Has me a little worried. Any ideas if they're harmful?