How to identify bio bacteria?

Question

I have a overhead filter.
I am very confused if its bio bacterial growing or is it algae.
I did add bio bacteria when i cycle the tank.
The tank is now about 2 months old.
The filter's wall is surrounded by brown, tiny particals.
The area where water flows out of the filter(waterfall) is covered by brown particals too.
In simple words my whole inner filter is covered by brown particals., including the bacterial house.
My walls of the tank is crystal clear.
The water is also crystal clear.
I on a PL light around 8 hours a day.
But it appers a little brown which i believe is due to the drift wood.
Can someone tell me how to identify bio bacteria and algae bloom?

Answer 1

The beneficial bacteria you want growing in the tank are too small to be visible, so what you're seeing may be algae, diatoms, or an overgrowth of a different bacteria (although any of these can have the beneficial bacteria growing on them as well). Any of this can cause a buildup in the filter, so it should be cleaned every few weeks to once a month. Since you'll also have the "good" bacteria in the substrate in the tank, as long as you don't clean the filter and the gravel the same day, you won't be losing a large amount of the bacteria you want at any one time. Also, the "good" bacteria is adhesive and attaches to the gravel, you you won't lose it all simply by doing a partial water change and using a gravel vacuum.

When you do clean your filter, put the filter pad/media in a separate container of tank water or dechlorinated water and rinse it out in this - if you clean it under the tap, any chlorine will kill the bacteria - and this will preserve some of the bacteria that was in the filter.

Answer 2

The brown particles are the matts of beneficial bacteria. That's it. Algae can be lots of colors. Green is what you want to see and keep in the aquarium. Other colors include a redish or rust color, black, or purple. No other color besides green is good. But easy to fix, scrape it off and change the water directly, it will eventually go away. However, green algae cannot be completely gotten rid of and shouldn't be. Its too good for the fish and the water to waste time getting completely rid of it. When you start to see little green specks on the glass and ornaments you know the system is running great and you are doing things right. Green is a good thing.