how can I get the algea off my driftwood?

jakevwapp84 · 07-31-2012, 09:24 PM

Ive notice some yellow brown algea on my driftwood what sould i do.

pH-6.8
amonnia-0
nitrite-0
nitrate-0-2

**Trickerie** · 07-31-2012, 09:46 PM

Does it looks fuzzy, and was the wood recently introduced? If so, its normal and will go away on its own. Some fish even eat it

jakevwapp84 · 07-31-2012, 11:21 PM

no its not funny but i recently moved it from one tank to another which was being cycled for CRS

CatB · 07-31-2012, 11:38 PM

can you take a picture?

jakevwapp84 · 08-01-2012, 12:05 AM

i cant right now my camera broke but is very fine brownish algea that is starting to cover the top of my driftwood

shinycard255 · 08-01-2012, 12:10 AM

If you rub it, does it come off easy? If so, it is diatoms

jakevwapp84 · 08-01-2012, 12:36 AM

some of it comes off but theres some in the cracks in the wood

Mark13 · 08-01-2012, 06:07 AM

Buy a small plastic bristle brush, such as that used to scrub dishes, from the Home Aisle at Walmart or Target. Remove the wood and scrub it with the brush. The bristles will be able to get into most of the cracks.

The wood will become smoother as if you were sanding it because you will be removing a layer of about 1/16 inch thick. Do the scrubbing while water is spraying or running over the wood, to keep debris from splattering all over.

This method works especially well on water-soaked wood. If you need to do this on a dry piece, then definately run water over it while scrubbing, as this will prevent the bristles from causing the wood fibers from raising up like hair. If this "hair" does not stop, you must soak the dry wood for two or three days, then scrub.

Indian fern · 08-01-2012, 06:28 AM

brushing it with soap and water will remove it. If you have mollies or shrimps, or algae loving fishes, that should be gone.

specks · 08-01-2012, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indian fern

brushing it with soap and water will remove it. If you have mollies or shrimps, or algae loving fishes, that should be gone.

Soap is not an option. You would not want to kill your fish, right?

shinycard255 · 08-01-2012, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indian fern

brushing it with soap and water will remove it. If you have mollies or shrimps, or algae loving fishes, that should be gone.

Soap is BAD. Don't do that!

I would suggest giving it a H2O2 dip and then brushing it while it's in the dip. You can probably do a 4:1 water:H2O2 ratio and be fine as long as no plants are attached to the wood. If there are plants attached to the wood, pull them off the wood and do the dip.

Plants are sensitive to H2O2 and some will melt if kept too long in the mixture

jakevwapp84 · 08-02-2012, 10:31 PM

Is there any way to clean the driftwood with chemicals in the water i have juvinile CRS will they solve the problem?

07-31-2012, 09:24 PM	#1
jakevwapp84 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: New York Posts: 216	how can I get the algea off my driftwood? Ive notice some yellow brown algea on my driftwood what sould i do. pH-6.8 amonnia-0 nitrite-0 nitrate-0-2

08-01-2012, 12:10 AM	#6
shinycard255 Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (18/100%) Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Chicagoland Area Posts: 1,375	If you rub it, does it come off easy? If so, it is diatoms __________________ *The Fraternity of Dirt #42* Who would have thought that plants like dirt?! Tanks: 60G \| 5.5G \| Evolve4

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07-31-2012, 09:46 PM	#2
Trickerie Nerd (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: May 2012 Location: West Palm Beach, FL Posts: 707	Does it looks fuzzy, and was the wood recently introduced? If so, its normal and will go away on its own. Some fish even eat it

07-31-2012, 11:21 PM	#3
jakevwapp84 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: New York Posts: 216	no its not funny but i recently moved it from one tank to another which was being cycled for CRS

07-31-2012, 11:38 PM	#4
CatB Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,013	can you take a picture?

08-01-2012, 12:05 AM	#5
jakevwapp84 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: New York Posts: 216	i cant right now my camera broke but is very fine brownish algea that is starting to cover the top of my driftwood

08-01-2012, 12:36 AM	#7
jakevwapp84 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: New York Posts: 216	some of it comes off but theres some in the cracks in the wood

08-01-2012, 06:07 AM	#8
Mark13 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 22	Buy a small plastic bristle brush, such as that used to scrub dishes, from the Home Aisle at Walmart or Target. Remove the wood and scrub it with the brush. The bristles will be able to get into most of the cracks. The wood will become smoother as if you were sanding it because you will be removing a layer of about 1/16 inch thick. Do the scrubbing while water is spraying or running over the wood, to keep debris from splattering all over. This method works especially well on water-soaked wood. If you need to do this on a dry piece, then definately run water over it while scrubbing, as this will prevent the bristles from causing the wood fibers from raising up like hair. If this "hair" does not stop, you must soak the dry wood for two or three days, then scrub.

08-01-2012, 06:28 AM	#9
Indian fern Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Philippines, Manila Posts: 460	brushing it with soap and water will remove it. If you have mollies or shrimps, or algae loving fishes, that should be gone.

08-02-2012, 10:31 PM	#12
jakevwapp84 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: New York Posts: 216	Is there any way to clean the driftwood with chemicals in the water i have juvinile CRS will they solve the problem?