My first real serious attempt at a live planted tank!!

[xxUnRaTeDxxRkOxx]

The "brown cover" you're referring to is Diatom Algae, it's normal for newer tanks, and eventually goes away as the tank matures. It's caused by silicates in the water, and can be easily wiped off, but Otocinclus algae eaters love it, I'd say go with some of them and they'll go to town on it.

 

[INTHECOWBOYSWETRUST]

The "brown cover" you're referring to is Diatom Algae, it's normal for newer tanks, and eventually goes away as the tank matures. It's caused by silicates in the water, and can be easily wiped off, but Otocinclus algae eaters love it, I'd say go with some of them and they'll go to town on it.

Hey Mike, Thanks again for the reply buddy... Sorry it took me so long to see it but I have not looked at this Thread in awhile because no one was answering anything I asked. I looked around at all the LFS around here and can not find any of those kind of algae eater, Regular pleco's will eat the plants too won't they?

It has gotten really bad now and I try to clean it off the best I can but it just comes right back!! I guess I have never had this problem because I always let the tank cycle good before I even turn on any lights... Every time I test the water it shows everything is good with it!!

 

[big54bob]

Commons are as useful for eating algae as a hockey puck is as useful for football players.

Either get nerite snails, amano shrimp, SAEs, otocinclus catfish, or bristlenose plecos. all of these are great for controlling diatoms and other algae.