brownish purple stuff growing on substrate

[cslawso]

what is this stuff? snails wont eat it and its kind of ugly. it doesnt feel slimy or anything. thanks for the help

 

[clarkiiboi]

If it's a new tank (a few months old) then it could be diatoms. It looks more like a brown dusting over the substrate. Could also be cyanobacteria (red-slime algea), that is usually dark red, but it can be other colors. It will fold back or clump up if messed with. Nothing eats cyano, you have to find the source and correct it. HTH

 

[chris17]

I agree, but if it is just diatoms, then your hermits/snails should eat it, and keep it under control........

 

[houseplant]

what could be some of the sources to create this .. also does it give a kinda of carpet look to it???