Raven Posted August 14, 2010 Report Share Posted August 14, 2010 On the bottom of the drift wood there is stuff that clings to the drfit wood and to gravel. Its kind of white and fluffy looking and i have no idea what it is. The drift wood was boiled and baked before adding it to the tank and has java moss growing on it. I'm afraid to disturb it too much in case whatever is under there causes some sort of illness. Does anyone know what it could be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strayner Posted August 14, 2010 Report Share Posted August 14, 2010 Sounds like the normal bacterial bloom that grows on new driftwood. It's happened to me, and many other people, and it won't cause problems, it will go away with time. Some fish will even eat it with no ill effects, lol. If it really bothers you you can scrub it off, but it stinks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted August 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2010 ewwy. i wonder who would eat it.... looks pretty gross to me. can be removed?? does it clog filters or anything? removing it sounds very messy, and sounds like it would cloud the water super easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted August 14, 2010 Report Share Posted August 14, 2010 That sounds normal on new driftwood. You can try sucking it off with the gravel vac or brushing it off with the gravel vac sucking up the bits as you do it. Or if its securely attached just remove the driftwood and scrub it. I think plecos should help keep it down but it eventually goes away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted August 14, 2010 Report Share Posted August 14, 2010 Ottos love the stuff, as do many barbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werner Posted August 15, 2010 Report Share Posted August 15, 2010 It's actually a fungus- you can read about it here(scroll about half way down the page). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted August 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2010 so the white stuff is a fungus?? i'm not sure how i'm supossed to treat it. When the next water change comes in a couple of days i'll re read it and try something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vince0 Posted August 15, 2010 Report Share Posted August 15, 2010 so the white stuff is a fungus?? i'm not sure how i'm supossed to treat it. When the next water change comes in a couple of days i'll re read it and try something. it says to leave it as its beneficial, or use a toothbrush to brush it off with the intake of you siphon right over top of the area your scrubing so the spores get sucked up. IMO i would just leave it as its a natural source of food for the fish in the aquarium, also stated in the article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strayner Posted August 16, 2010 Report Share Posted August 16, 2010 It's actually a fungus- you can read about it here(scroll about half way down the page). Saprolegnia is actually an Oomycete and therefore not a 'true' fungus, it is more closely related to the brown algae. I shouldn't have said bacterial bloom though. (sorry to sound like a smart @$$, I work in a laboratory that studies fungus, haha) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strayner Posted August 16, 2010 Report Share Posted August 16, 2010 so the white stuff is a fungus?? i'm not sure how i'm supossed to treat it. When the next water change comes in a couple of days i'll re read it and try something. You do not need to remove it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werner Posted August 16, 2010 Report Share Posted August 16, 2010 Saprolegnia is actually an Oomycete and therefore not a 'true' fungus Oomybad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strayner Posted August 16, 2010 Report Share Posted August 16, 2010 Saprolegnia is actually an Oomycete and therefore not a 'true' fungus Oomybad :& Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted August 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2010 should i try exposing it then? its pretty much just under the wood where no one can get at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vince0 Posted August 16, 2010 Report Share Posted August 16, 2010 id just leave it, the more you change things in your tank, the more you'll stress your fish. sounds like your tank is still getting settled, and your better off letting things do just that. IME it'll eventually go away, but it takes time. The wood in my tanks had that stuff on it for 6 months, i just planted a low light plant in front of it so i wouldn't see it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted August 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2010 Its been running for 5 months or so, and when i rearranged the tank a few weeks ago it caught me off guard. Never had this happen before. As long as it would harm anyone i'll leave it alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.