Red growth

I have curious growths in my 75 gallon tank. They grow to about a 1/4
to 3/8 inch diameter, dark on the circumference and lighter in the
middle. So far they only appear on the two ends just at the boundary
of gravel and water. It has been a couple of years since the first
ones showed up. I removed the 2 I could see with a razor blade, but
they have come back and the tank has 5 or 6 on each end now.

Do they pose a threat? Any one know what they are?

dick

On Fri, 05 May 2006 04:48:19 -0500, Dick
wrote:

I have curious growths in my 75 gallon tank. They grow to about a 1/4
to 3/8 inch diameter, dark on the circumference and lighter in the
middle. So far they only appear on the two ends just at the boundary
of gravel and water. It has been a couple of years since the first
ones showed up. I removed the 2 I could see with a razor blade, but
they have come back and the tank has 5 or 6 on each end now.

Do they pose a threat? Any one know what they are?

dick


I would guess it's some type of algae. Does the appearance seem
inconsistent with that guess?

is this a sal****er aquarium, where this happens?
"Dick" wrote in message
news
I have curious growths in my 75 gallon tank. They grow to about a 1/4
to 3/8 inch diameter, dark on the circumference and lighter in the
middle. So far they only appear on the two ends just at the boundary
of gravel and water. It has been a couple of years since the first
ones showed up. I removed the 2 I could see with a razor blade, but
they have come back and the tank has 5 or 6 on each end now.

Do they pose a threat? Any one know what they are?

dick

Dick wrote,
I have curious growths in my 75 gallon tank....
Any one know what they are? ..........

Likely red beard algae, due to high nitrAtes and pH levels.

Do they pose a threat? ........

The beard algae doesn't, but it's cause does. Sounds like your not
doing enough water changes and gravel vacs. If it a planted tank, at
least 20% weekly water changes should be done. In non-planted tanks,
two 20% weekly water changes should be done................... Frank

On Fri, 05 May 2006 10:48:41 GMT, Charles
wrote:

On Fri, 05 May 2006 04:48:19 -0500, Dick
wrote:

I have curious growths in my 75 gallon tank. They grow to about a 1/4
to 3/8 inch diameter, dark on the circumference and lighter in the
middle. So far they only appear on the two ends just at the boundary
of gravel and water. It has been a couple of years since the first
ones showed up. I removed the 2 I could see with a razor blade, but
they have come back and the tank has 5 or 6 on each end now.

Do they pose a threat? Any one know what they are?

dick


I would guess it's some type of algae. Does the appearance seem
inconsistent with that guess?

Algae forms are quite broad so it was my general guess.

dick

On Fri, 5 May 2006 08:26:08 -0600, "UnworthyDuDe"
wrote:

is this a sal****er aquarium, where this happens?
"Dick" wrote in message
news
I have curious growths in my 75 gallon tank. They grow to about a 1/4
to 3/8 inch diameter, dark on the circumference and lighter in the
middle. So far they only appear on the two ends just at the boundary
of gravel and water. It has been a couple of years since the first
ones showed up. I removed the 2 I could see with a razor blade, but
they have come back and the tank has 5 or 6 on each end now.

Do they pose a threat? Any one know what they are?

dick

Funny, I included freshwater in the original draft, then noticed that
the group is called "rec.aquaria.freshwater.misc" and decided not to
include it. Freshwater it is.

dick

On 5 May 2006 15:19:20 -0700, "Frank" wrote:

Dick wrote,
I have curious growths in my 75 gallon tank....
Any one know what they are? ..........

Likely red beard algae, due to high nitrAtes and pH levels.

Do they pose a threat? ........

The beard algae doesn't, but it's cause does. Sounds like your not
doing enough water changes and gravel vacs. If it a planted tank, at
least 20% weekly water changes should be done. In non-planted tanks,
two 20% weekly water changes should be done................... Frank

These appear to be single cells and lay flat to the glass.

The ph is 7.8, I do two 20% water changes weekly. The tank has heavy
low light plant growth, no CO2. The tank has been running for 3 1/2
years and I have 4 other tanks that are similar except they are 29 and
10 gallon compared to the 75. The red "things" do not appear in any
other tanks.

I find it especially strange that the growths do not appear along the
front of the tank. I can't see any difference with the two ends.

What ever they are their growth is slow and none have exceeded a 14
inch diameter nor have they grown in height, no branches, just flat
circular bodies.

dick

Dick wrote,
The ph is 7.8, I do two 20% water changes weekly. The tank has heavy
low light plant growth, no CO2.....

Sure wouldn't be high nitrAtes.

These appear to be single cells and lay flat to the glass....

I have seen diatoms rust color instead of brown. With two 20% weekly
water changes, they just might be diatoms - due to the excess silicate
and silicic acid in the tap water. You might want to try something like
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals 'Algae Destroyer', but for a few spots, I
wouldn't. A friend breeds bettas and guppys - uses bare tanks and used
to have diatoms all over the place. He now fills a 30 gal. plastic
trash can through a couple of cups of carbon, then pumps his change
water from there - no diatoms.

I find it especially strange that the growths do not appear along the
front of the tank. I can't see any difference with the two ends....

Mabe a light difference. Tanks been up and running for that long, what
ever it is, it isn't harmfull. What I find strange is that they don't
grow in the other tanks. When my friend comes by Mon. to take care of
my planted tanks, I'll ask her what she thinks it might be - when it
comes to plants and algaes, she is really sharp................ Frank
...................... Frank

On 6 May 2006 13:37:05 -0700, "Frank" wrote:

Dick wrote,
The ph is 7.8, I do two 20% water changes weekly. The tank has heavy
low light plant growth, no CO2.....

Sure wouldn't be high nitrAtes.

These appear to be single cells and lay flat to the glass....

I have seen diatoms rust color instead of brown. With two 20% weekly
water changes, they just might be diatoms - due to the excess silicate
and silicic acid in the tap water. You might want to try something like
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals 'Algae Destroyer', but for a few spots, I
wouldn't. A friend breeds bettas and guppys - uses bare tanks and used
to have diatoms all over the place. He now fills a 30 gal. plastic
trash can through a couple of cups of carbon, then pumps his change
water from there - no diatoms.

I find it especially strange that the growths do not appear along the
front of the tank. I can't see any difference with the two ends....

Mabe a light difference. Tanks been up and running for that long, what
ever it is, it isn't harmfull. What I find strange is that they don't
grow in the other tanks. When my friend comes by Mon. to take care of
my planted tanks, I'll ask her what she thinks it might be - when it
comes to plants and algaes, she is really sharp................ Frank
..................... Frank

The word Diatom flashed through my mind also, but I don't really know
what they are.

Not appearing in the other tanks when they are similar environments
and all of the tanks have shared fish over the years, is part of the
mystery. You also mention another mystery, why only on the ends?

I see nothing to worry about, but find the growths,, shall I say
"mysterious?"

dick

On 6 May 2006 13:37:05 -0700, "Frank" wrote:

Dick wrote,
The ph is 7.8, I do two 20% water changes weekly. The tank has heavy
low light plant growth, no CO2.....

Sure wouldn't be high nitrAtes.

These appear to be single cells and lay flat to the glass....

I have seen diatoms rust color instead of brown. With two 20% weekly
water changes, they just might be diatoms - due to the excess silicate
and silicic acid in the tap water. You might want to try something like
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals 'Algae Destroyer', but for a few spots, I
wouldn't. A friend breeds bettas and guppys - uses bare tanks and used
to have diatoms all over the place. He now fills a 30 gal. plastic
trash can through a couple of cups of carbon, then pumps his change
water from there - no diatoms.

I find it especially strange that the growths do not appear along the
front of the tank. I can't see any difference with the two ends....

Mabe a light difference. Tanks been up and running for that long, what
ever it is, it isn't harmfull. What I find strange is that they don't
grow in the other tanks. When my friend comes by Mon. to take care of
my planted tanks, I'll ask her what she thinks it might be - when it
comes to plants and algaes, she is really sharp................ Frank
..................... Frank

I just read a little on Diatoms and looked at some pictures of a few.
Certainly seem possible. I have never seen an individual move nor
divide, but they obviously multiply.

http://hjs.geol.uib.no/diatoms/Marbles/index.html-ssi

I have Siamese Algae Eaters and Clown Loaches in the tank, but they
show no interest.

dick