They are the filamentous diatoms formerly known as Synedra, now more correctly Fragilaria spp.It's only really affecting my hair grasses. I have 2 little ottos and some shrimp in there now but they don’t seem interested in eating it.
Give it a clean and see what happens.I haven’t cleaned it since set up. I’ll give it a go.
Just an internet myth, and another way for unscrupulous companies to part us from our money. There is always enough soluble silica for diatom growth, and the amount of it in solution has nothing to do with glass or quartz (silicon dioxide (SIO2)) sand, they are totally insoluble.I read something about filter medium causing it by adding silicates.
Biohome is fine, the person who sells it has made all sorts of fairly laughable claims about "effective pore space", but it works the same as any other sintered glass media. Have a look at <"Biological media....">.I have Biohome which is made from scinteted glass.
I usually have a mix of sintered glass and coarse sponge, but it probably doesn't make any difference. Some people have <"dish washing scrunchies and toy soldiers"> in their filters.If I leave the coarse sponge in my filter will it be safe to chuck out and replace all the Biohome?
cheers DarrelPlants quickly uptake NH3/NH4 as nutrition, so we really don't need all that specialty stuff. The higher the plant mass the more thoroughly the job is done - and they pump Oxygen back into the water and sediment, which supports a more efficient bacterial load, so who cares if someone is selling overpriced special magic media with a gazillion square meters of surface area? That has no advantage whatsoever. A fish only tank is a different story because there is no method of NH3/NH4 removal other than the filter media.
So hobbyists coming from a fish only background worry needlessly about the wrong things. Put lots of plants in the tank and do all the things that foster their health. They, in turn, will make the tank healthier.
Welcome to the Green Side. Clean up crews never clean up the stuff you want them to do (actually they do but can get overwhelmed). Ottos & shrimps do better in groups of at least six. It gives them more confidence. You know when things are right - tank spotless and you have to feed the clean up critters.I have 2 little ottos and some shrimp in there now but they don’t seem interested in eating it