How does diatom spread and affect plants in a tank?

[Dodofish]

I am curious to find out more on how diatom spread and affect plants in a tank.

I believe my tank is badly affected, and it seems that the old leaves are the ones that got affected.

If you have an article, please share with me.

Thank you.

[Urban Aquaria]

The fluffy brown algae that grows in new cycling tanks are commonly called diatoms. These usually disappear after a few weeks though, usually when other types of algae take over. If you have shrimps and otocinclus in the tank, they will eat it up quite quickly... so you probably wouldn't see much of it (or any at all).

Old or weak leaves usually get algae because they have started to rot and release nutrients back into the water column, since the leaves are not growing anymore, algae basically grow on it and feed from the released nutrients. Its best to cut away and remove those old/weak leaves. Thats one of the reasons why focusing on growing healthy plants is the best defense against algae, there are less weak/rotting leaves for them to feed on.

[thebaldingaquarist]

I have never seen diatoms on leaves before. can share a picture of it?

Like what UA mentioned, algae on leaves means the leaves are not growing. If the leaves should be growing and not, then you have a problem. if they appear to be rotting, then its time to trim them off.

[Urban Aquaria]

So far i've only ever seen brownish algae coating plant leaves in a friend's tank until it looked unsightly... though i guess its because the tank housed mainly large fishes, with thin sand bottom, a few java ferns on driftwood and the tank light is only occasionally on when he is viewing the fishes. The tank didn't have any shrimps or otocinclus (those would all be eaten by the large fishes and there is no where for them to hide anyways), so there were no inhabitants who are able to constantly clean algae off the leaves.

[Redember]

I have setup my tank 1 month ago. Recently it has just completed cycling and I have diatoms all over. It looks like brown patches all over the leaves and gravel. Bought 4 otocycnlus cats and they cleared my tank within 3days.

[Dodofish]

I have never seen diatoms on leaves before. can share a picture of it?

Like what UA mentioned, algae on leaves means the leaves are not growing. If the leaves should be growing and not, then you have a problem. if they appear to be rotting, then its time to trim them off.

sorry for the late reply. I just came back from my in camp training and was really busy. Anyway, recently I was trying to decommission the tank and I accidentally broke it.

Don't think I have any photo for now, it's all messed up.

now I need find another tank!

if anyone want a old cracked tank, with 6kg of mixed substrate, pm me before 11am tomorrow