freshwater problems

[darkreef]

So I took the rocks out and realized that my tank had this orangish brown algae growing on the walls . It was like a film until I noticed it all over my plants deposited in wiggley lines on decorations . So I wiped everything down and did a big water change(75%) . And turned down the lights to only 8 hours . The next day I was showing my boyfriend because it came back because we were looking hard we noticed tiny white worms moving like mosquito larvae. Now I stoped doing feedings hoping my RTBS will eat them and will continue to do 10% water changes (vacuuming gravel) . I don't know what to do because medications are poisonous to crustaceans. And algae chemical solutions are poisonous to plants .

[Caine]

Sounds like black beard algae.

Seachem Excel is a Glutaraldehyde based antibacterial agent that is also a mild algaecide as well as a liquid carbon source that plants can use in place of CO2. Do as much manual removal as you can and dose Excel. The algae will hate it and your plants will love it and the shrimps should be indifferent towards it.

[reef-keeper]

If you grab rock out of the river you should search on how to condition them for your tank. I have a planted discus tank and use only RO/DI water for top up and major water changes. I add seachems fluorite tabs every 3 months. As for the algae how long are your lights on? And low cost food add really high phosphates that also cause the algae build up.