Brown Growth on Plastic

[bennett]

I've got a couple plastic sword plants in my dicus tank. There's a dark brown growth on some of the leaves. My pleco in there doesn't go near it. Any idea what it is? I've rinsed off but it comes back.

[Carol_Roberts]

Diatoms.
Not exactly algae and bacteria will grow on it. I no longer use plastic or silk plants in my discus tanks because I tired of wiping it off all the time. By the way, don't try washing your silk plants in the washing machine - lol, all the leaves come off.

[bennett]

Harmful? or just Ugly :)

[iceskater]

I just had some black staining on my silk plants. It came off rather easy with a sponge and tank water. Used the rough scrubbing part.

Karen

[Wahter]

the brown growth might be diatom algae - you can either increase the amount of lighting, get some ottocinclus, or use a diatom filter.

[Carol_Roberts]

it's easy to rinse your plastic plants under hot, chlorinated tap water. The brown diatoms will wipe right off.