Strange charcoal colored dust on plants

Hey all.

I have a 80L tank running with a strange dust collecting on leaves. It comes right off if wiped or brushed but i have no idea what it is. I researched algae and it didnt match any i see.

Water is changed regularly. I do 30-50% water changes weekly, throwing in a couple small changes if needed too. I vacuum substrate every change. No ammonia, nitrates or nitrites readings. Tank is home to a betta, 4 bronze corydoras, ten tetra and 2 assassin snails.

Lowtech setup SunSun HR500 tank. Dophin 1200 internal filter plus the internal head filter. Not sure what the lights are but they're low tech LED. Not more than 20w. Enough to grow easy plants and keep fish. .

Recently had a little brownish/green algae forming on the walls but cleaning seems to keep it in check. Tank is Treated with scape liquid carbon daily and seachem liquid flourish every 6-8 days. Feeding happens once a day, i switch up between flakes, wafers and blood worms..



Sorry for poor photos.

What is this dust

It's not furry or stringy.. looks like charcoal powder

 

This might sound like a stupid question but what substrate do you have in this aquarium?

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Not stupid at all. Perfectly valid.
Initially i had gravel, very coarse, but i wanted cories and then plants. So i added JBL manado natural substrate as well.

 

Bump. Water change day. If there's something i should try, please advise.

@MariaS any ideas

Note that in adding the new substrate i also took out a bit of gravel.

 

I was thinking that the corries miggt be kicking up dust from the substrate but that is clearly not the problem here.

I googled a bit about algae last night but can't find anything that fits. On the few placces that they mentioned the same thing nobody had an answer or explination for it. Only that it goes away after a while.

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If you run your finger on the leaf how does it feel?
Does it come off easily or does it stick to the leaves?
Does it rub of into your finger and what does it look like on your finger?

 

Hoping it does go away. Going to do the water changes etc and keep cleaning as best possible

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It rubs off with ease and dissipates on my finger...
Having said that if i aim the powerhead at the leaves it doesn't just blow off..

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Are you using activated charcoal in this tank? And if you are does the water first flow through the charcoal and then through the filter floss?

 

Hey, no, no charcoal.
Filtration is your standard DoPhin 1200 plus the internal head filter which has the standard filtration mesh supplied with tank and some filter media, the white cylindrical ones you get at pet shops. Have avoided activated carbon. Was trying to stay semi low tech.

 

Had to ask. Is your tank covered? Could it not be something from the environment that is falling in?

 

Tank covered all the time

Feel free to ask away.. whatever gets us to the solution

 

Is the dust on the complete plant or just some areas? Bottom, top, left, right?

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It seems to form everywhere. In the opposite corner of the tank I have a few other small plants which show the same dust on it...
I did have my impeller making noises last week. After a clean the noise was less but still apparent. Another clean today may help there. I am wondering if there is possibility of moving parts within the pumps that could chip away at the plastic or something. But then again when I wipe the 'dust' off and bring my finger to the surface I see nothing.

 

I had a similiar when i started my tank up again . It was especially noticable on plants with large leaves . I could only determine that it is fine particles in the water ,these particles must have come from the substrate in my case . How long has your tank been running ?

 

Hi RSA,

My tank has been running for 2 months and 12 days. I read somewhere that it may also be a bacteria flourish.

 

At this stage I am most concerned about the hesalth of my fish and plants. So if it is a natural occurrence I am not phased. Although I must say it isn't exactly aesthetically pleasing.

 

@Reedfish, @Barry Roux, @DoubleDutch, @SalmonAfrica
Sorry to be a pest guys. I am just really keen to see if anyone knows what to do here.

 

Clean off the leaves as best as possible. Do the water change. Take pics and see if it happens again.

Once off vs. Recurring

Just as a starting point...