Grey wispy/slimy looking algae?

MarcelVal · 02-17-2013, 10:04 PM

I have a new tank I have just setup a week ago. I have some plants in there and added more yesterday. A few days ago I noticed a slimy looking grey stuff attached to a rock and substrate. I did a 1/3 WC and vaccumed up a bunch but there is still more that I missed or grew back overnight.

This is from before WC/vac. Can anyone tell me what this is? I have been hunting for info but can't seem to nail down what this is. It flows and moves with the water.

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GeToChKn · 02-17-2013, 10:31 PM

Happens in new tanks, is the wood new in the tank as well? It's common on newly submerged wood and goes away on its own.

Darkblade48 · 02-17-2013, 10:37 PM

It looks almost like the fungus that you would find growing on new pieces of driftwood.

While aesthetically displeasing, it is harmless and will go away on its own with time. Some fish/shrimp like to nibble on it as well.

MarcelVal · 02-17-2013, 11:28 PM

There is some manzanita branches which I soaked for about 2 weeks and didn't show any sign of this. Also it is not on the wood, but on the substrate/rocks.

I hope you are right, in the mean time I hope you are right. As I am one week into fish less cycling the tank I am running ammonia at 4ppm (added from bottle) and currently reading 0 ppm nitrites and 0-1 ppm nitrates.

I will keep dosing excel every other day to see if that helps and I'll vacuum it up if it gets too nasty.

GeToChKn · 02-18-2013, 12:08 AM

It's common in new tanks, and although the wood soaked, it wasn't in a tank with plants and substrate and bacteria growing. It will go away, water changes won't make go away any quicker.

MarcelVal · 02-18-2013, 01:33 AM

Thanks GeToChKn. I really appreciate your advice and you have set my mind at ease.

02-17-2013, 10:04 PM	#1
MarcelVal Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Southern California Posts: 11	Grey wispy/slimy looking algae? I have a new tank I have just setup a week ago. I have some plants in there and added more yesterday. A few days ago I noticed a slimy looking grey stuff attached to a rock and substrate. I did a 1/3 WC and vaccumed up a bunch but there is still more that I missed or grew back overnight. This is from before WC/vac. Can anyone tell me what this is? I have been hunting for info but can't seem to nail down what this is. It flows and moves with the water. [/URL] __________________ Wherever you go, there you are.

02-17-2013, 10:31 PM	#2
GeToChKn Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,113	Happens in new tanks, is the wood new in the tank as well? It's common on newly submerged wood and goes away on its own. __________________ 20g platy, , 2 x 10g shrimp, 3 x 20g shrimp, 7.5g shrimp and 1 great dane/mastiff puppy. Sump Pimp #2 My Tanks and my shrimps

02-17-2013, 10:37 PM	#3
Darkblade48 Moderator (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 7,063	It looks almost like the fungus that you would find growing on new pieces of driftwood. While aesthetically displeasing, it is harmless and will go away on its own with time. Some fish/shrimp like to nibble on it as well. __________________ Anthony A Primer to Pressurized CO2 and A Primer to Planted Tanks Eheim Pimp #362 - Eheim 2213 x2, Eheim 2028, Ehein 2217, Eheim surface skimmer and Eheim autofeeder. Victor Pimp #33 - HPT272-125-350-4M

02-17-2013, 11:28 PM	#4
MarcelVal Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Southern California Posts: 11	There is some manzanita branches which I soaked for about 2 weeks and didn't show any sign of this. Also it is not on the wood, but on the substrate/rocks. I hope you are right, in the mean time I hope you are right. As I am one week into fish less cycling the tank I am running ammonia at 4ppm (added from bottle) and currently reading 0 ppm nitrites and 0-1 ppm nitrates. I will keep dosing excel every other day to see if that helps and I'll vacuum it up if it gets too nasty. __________________ Wherever you go, there you are.

02-18-2013, 12:08 AM	#5
GeToChKn Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,113	It's common in new tanks, and although the wood soaked, it wasn't in a tank with plants and substrate and bacteria growing. It will go away, water changes won't make go away any quicker. __________________ 20g platy, , 2 x 10g shrimp, 3 x 20g shrimp, 7.5g shrimp and 1 great dane/mastiff puppy. Sump Pimp #2 My Tanks and my shrimps

02-18-2013, 01:33 AM	#6
MarcelVal Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Southern California Posts: 11	Thanks GeToChKn. I really appreciate your advice and you have set my mind at ease. __________________ Wherever you go, there you are.

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