What, is this?!

[Murloc]

In all my years of having tanks ( a whapping 6 years lol ) I have not encountered or seen this, ever. Not in my tanks, not in anyone else's tanks not anywhere. Maybe I have just had an easy streak my whole life with FW tanks?

Anyways, Last night my water was still a bit cloudy when I turned the lights off. I figure it has only been cycling 3 days, give my tank time, it will clear up. At about 4:30am last night I noticed that my water looked really clear. I turn on my lights and I see this stuff on my Manzinita. It was too late at night to do anything about it so I just went to bed. It is only growing where there is bark on the wood. I boiled this wood for a good 4 hours + while I was setting this tank up. It is only on the wood, and only on the parts that have bark. Also, since the appearance of this Fungi / Algae (?) my water has become perfectly clear.

So, what is this new devilry? Should I take the wood out, clean it off? Get new wood? Just leave it? ( it doesn't look bad it actually looks pretty cool. )

[Murloc]

The only thing I can find on this is that is it some kind of fungus. I can't find a species name to save my life. Some people take it out, and boil their wood. That doesn't always work. The most success I have seen is people putting in a clean up crew of snails and shrimp. I'm still unsure as to exactly what to do with this stuff, hopefully someone has experience with it.

[silent069]

I had this very same problem in my aquarium when I added my first piece of drift wood. Lasted for well over a month but it either died off or was eaten by my shrimp. ( I don't think my neons ate it)

Its not pretty to look at so I used the tube I syphon out water with to suck off the excess growth with water changes.

You could try taking it out and boiling it or just stick it out as I did. Either way I think you are safe.

[mpfsr]

its nothing to worry about.. You can remove it and clean it off but it will come back until it runs its course. Some wood takes long to stop then others I have had pieces last up to 4 months most 1-2 just rub it off and rinse it.

[ZebraDanio12]

I'd say fungus...looks like it to me..

[Betta man]

Fungus or algae. I have had algae that looked like that.

[Redhead305]

happened to me its a fungus that grows on bark especially manzanita or malaysian woods

[Murloc]

Ok, thanks for the reassurance haha. I will stick it out, let it run it's course and also suck off some extra when I do a water change. I'm sure a few shrimp or placo would help me out as well.. I have 3 snails in there, and they are going to town on it! 3 snails, quickly turns into 300 snails, so I am going to take the patient road. Also adding more plants should help some. Thanks guys !

[grogan]

Throw a wood eating pleco in there. They will destroy that stuff.

[Murloc]

Originally Posted by grogan Throw a wood eating pleco in there. They will destroy that stuff.

I will get one tomorrow... The closest LFS is 30 minutes away. There is a petco 5 minutes away... *sigh* I might sacrifice my morals... Just this once... I put a small goldfish in there, I just watched him pick a good section clean!

[BettaGuy]

I wouldn't throw another fish in there if I was you since your tank is only 3 days into cycling. Add the pleco in a week but no sooner or else you might poison your fish with an amonia spike since goldfish are huge pooping machines. If you do decide to add the pleco now stay on top of your water changes untill the bacteria had enough time to build up in the filter. People do this different ways but I would change 25% every second day.

[grogan]

Originally Posted by BettaGuy I wouldn't throw another fish in there if I was you since your tank is only 3 days into cycling. Add the pleco in a week but no sooner or else you might poison your fish with an amonia spike since goldfish are huge pooping machines. If you do decide to add the pleco now stay on top of your water changes untill the bacteria had enough time to build up in the filter. People do this different ways but I would change 25% every second day.

You can't cycle a tank without an ammonia source. What better way than a iron tuff bushy nose pleco? The fish will clean the driftwood and aid in the cycle. Two birds, with one stone.

[BettaGuy]

Originally Posted by grogan You can't cycle a tank without an ammonia source. What better way than a iron tuff bushy nose pleco? The fish will clean the driftwood and aid in the cycle. Two birds, with one stone.

But he already has a goldfish in there which is providing nutrients for the bacteria. If he adds a pleco now there might be too much nutrients, and not enough bacteria to handle them. I would wait a week before adding the pleco. Otherwise there might be an amonia spike.

[Murloc]

Originally Posted by BettaGuy I wouldn't throw another fish in there if I was you since your tank is only 3 days into cycling. Add the pleco in a week but no sooner or else you might poison your fish with an amonia spike since goldfish are huge pooping machines. If you do decide to add the pleco now stay on top of your water changes untill the bacteria had enough time to build up in the filter. People do this different ways but I would change 25% every second day.

Ohh yes. I was going to switch em. I don't like gold fish, not that don't have their own personalities and what not.. They really are "huge pooping machines" and make a mess. And I don't want Goldfish in my tank... Then again, I don't really want a normal looking placo in there either. Going to call some places tomorrow and see if they have any "rarer" ones. Preferably:

Leopard frog Pleco L-134
L-48 Gold Spot Pleco
Gold Nugget Pleco L-81
Leopardus Pleco L-114

I don't really want any fish in there right now period. But I guess one wont hurt. I think one Placo vs. one goldfish is better, and would eat lots, poo less.

[BettaGuy]

That sounds like a good plan to me.