algae and bacteria

Question
Hey, my tank finally completed its cycle I'm so excited! But i was looking at my tank today and their is a bunch of stuff growing all over the place. I don't know what is algea what is bacteria and what is good or bad in my tank! on my airrock (I added to my tank because of medication i was using earlier for ich) the tube around my air rock anyway has a brownish growth on it. I don't know if this is the good bacteria sense it is only growing on the airrocks tube which is where there is alot of oxegyn for the bacteria to grow, or is the growth a sort of algea I should get rid of? Also there is some sort of white slimy stuff growing around my filter, the part that sucks up their air and goes into the filter. I don't know what good bacteria looks like or bad growth. I don't want to mess with anything becuase it took my so long and so much work to keep my fish alive during the beggining of the cycle (all my fish had something and one even died of fin rot) i don't want to mess up the cycle again. So if you could help me maybe on the sorts of bacteria and or algea i should be on the look out for and what i shouldn't clean. THANKYOU

Answer
Hey,
brown algae and the brown slime should be cleaned. it happens in every tank and isn't your fault, it's just part of having a fish tank. but it starts to quickly spread around through the tank and then gets all over the place and pollutes the tank.
the slime is very common on filters, which is where you said you saw it. Whenever you switch your filter cartridges (amonia, nitrate, spongy thing) just swipe off all of the slimey stuff. it can take a while sometimes if there is alot, but it normally doenst take too long. also, if you see any growing on rocks, get a new toothbrush (you can use an old one, but im not sure if toothpaste would harm the fish so i would just buy a new one that is cheap... it doesnt have to be any thing special just a regular toothbrush) and scrub the rocks with soapy water. this is more for the big ornamental rocks, not gravel.

you dont need to worry about cleaning all of it, and having a little bit all of the time is ok. it isnt harmful unless there is alot, so just stay on top of it and it will never get too bad and wont be harmful. it is much more of a hassal when you let it go and everything gets covered with the crap... its a pain.

green algae is ok to have in the tank as long as there isnt a lot. if you do notice a ton on a rock, just do the toothbrush method. you dont need to worry about green algae as much as he brown stuff, but alot will also pollute the tank.

keeping the tank light off for a good portion of the day (at least 12 hours a day) and not over feeding will help reduce algae. you can get snails and catfish, but you cant really rely on them to clean your tank. they help a little bit and are actually pretty good to have in the tank's environment.

there are algae killer medicines you can get that will help somewhat, but scrubing things down is the best way to help get rid of it. the meds normally just stop them from spreading but i have never had them successfully clean my tank.

***if anything is EVER growing on your fish, this is BAD. immediatly get medicine for whatever it is (you might need to research whatever it is first... feel free to ask me) before it spreads on the fish and to other fish and causes death. anything that grows on fish spreads very quickly and kills very quickly.

as long as your water is clear in your tank and you dont have too much of either algae, you don't have much to worry about. just be on the look out for pollution.

good luck with the tank!! =]
best wishes, chelsey