Weird funk in my tank forming (pictures included_

[PaulU]

I have a 55 gallon tank and latly about last week this odd colored stuff is forming on all the surfaces i do have pictures its easy to get off with my finger.

[ZeroSystem]

Looks to me like brown algae, aka daitoms. It usually grows in response to fish waste and light, which means it's present in many fish tanks. Although not pretty, it's harmless. I'll bet a Bristlenose Pleco would help clean it up a bit.

[Judge]

I agree with Zero, looks like diatoms to me.

[PaulU]

I got 2 small plecos and they are cleaning the tank up great two of my undergravel filter pipes are clean as the day o got them now. I was just worried because it spreads so fast, probably because i have no live plants?

( i was stupid enough to buy 2 snails and my chiclids bullied them dead lol!)

[ZeroSystem]

Although live plants can certainly help out compete the 'algae' for it's food source, keeping live plants in an african cichlid tank isn't easy. Most plants will get torn to sheds. Some people have had luck with Java Fern and Anubis, however mine still got beat up pretty bad. They did last longer than most plants did though!

If the algae is growing back exceptionally fast then it could be a water quality issue. High nitrates (which can be caused by not doing enough water changes, overstocking, overfeeding or all of the above!) can certainly lead to a ton of brown algae, especially if you combine that with a lot of light. Low powered lighting left on for long periods of time combined with nitrates will grow diatoms/brown algae quite well.

P.S. I know you've already purchased the pleco's, and I'm not sure if you got the bristlenose or common variety, but if possible look into getting the bristlenose type! They are much better algae eaters, stay smaller, and are better defended against aggressive fish like Cichlids.

[PaulU]

well i had 2 plants for a while and htey ate the crap outta them i just have a moss ball and fake plants and what not but i put them in my 29 tall planting tank i grow my plants in