snott and algae--need ID's/advice

[steak]

There are white, mucus-like strands of something growing on my filter sponges and on my filter, itself. It thrives in areas of moving water.

I'm also getting some serious algae growth. Is anybody familiar with these creatures? What are their names?

Nitrates ~15-20ppm
pH~ 6.6

[littlefish]

is the first time I see such thing growing in a tank don't know what it is but let's hope there are some people here they do know.

[Axelrodi202]

That is cyanobacteria. It's a very hardy and difficult to get rid of algae, as it is toxic to anything that eats it. It is possible to clean out the whole tank and have it return full force in a matter of days. You can start combatting it by increasing flow. Some people have used complete black outs, where they cover the sides of the tank with black paper to prevent an light from coming in. Also, if the problem gets too desperate you can always use some antibiotics to kill it, but this may harm your biological filter too.

[steak]

I didn't know a flow increase would help the algae. I'll definitely try that out. Thank you. Anyone know about the white goo?

[Diegosaenz]

Originally Posted by steak

I didn't know a flow increase would help the algae. I'll definitely try that out. Thank you. Anyone know about the white goo?

I have that white goo too, I wonder if its good or bad, lets hope for a good answer!

[steak]

Right?! I think it's some type of nitrogen fixing bacteria; it has to be consuming either nitrogen or oxygen, but it can't be CO2. Someone with this stuff needs to break out a microscope. If I can do that, I'll definitely post some pics and whatever other info I can gather.

[nicholas542]

the white could possibly be a fungus, and the cyanobacteria can be tamed just takes time. Cleaning it up manually works ok. I think a uv sterilizer will get rid of it too, but it also kills helpful bacteria aswell. I could be wrong with the freshwater aspect, but when I had a salt tank it worked.

[Darkblade48]

A UV sterilizer will not get rid of BGA, as UV will only get rid of free floating algae (i.e. green water).

[Kathyy]

It might help. During my long ago super infestation where I siphoned BGA off all the plants on a daily basis for weeks I would see very fine short strands of BGA floating looking to land again in spite of my care to get all of it off without knocking it loose. Long shot but perhaps those were small enough to be killed by UV.

[Diegosaenz]

the white gooey thing only sticks to my plastic intake and outake (just the black plastic part) pipes and the tubbing that goes inside of the tank to the co2 diffuser, other than that I have no problems with it.

[nicholas542]

A uv sterilizer should kill BGA when it blooms. UV radiation kills algae aswell as bacteria. So why wouldn't it kill off BGA

[Clare12345]

I have that white cloudy stuff too. Only on the CO2 hose where it comes into the tank.

[Darkblade48]

Originally Posted by nicholas542

A uv sterilizer should kill BGA when it blooms. UV radiation kills algae aswell as bacteria. So why wouldn't it kill off BGA

A UV sterilizer will kill off any free floating algae. If the cyanobacteria is free floating and happens to pass through the UV, then it will die.

However, if it is already on (say) the plants and/or substrate, it will not be killed by the UV, as it does not pass directly through the UV sterilizer.

[steak]

Yea...I'll enjoy the alga before I go buying a UV sterilizer for a freshwater tank. I figure the alga will work itself out. Also, the algicide Poly(oxyethylene(dimethylimino)ethylene(dimethylim ino)ethylene dichloride) did not even touch the algae I have pictured up top.

I hear you all on the white stuff: I get it in my CO2 diffuser and on my filter. It looks like they live with O2 and CO2, so I believe they're facultative aerobes. I also believe they are eating nitrogenous compounds---either ammonium, nitrite, or nitrate. I believe they're excreting nitrite, nitrate, or N2 (elemental nitrogen). I don't know if aquatic fungi are that much different than terrestrial fungi, but if the white stuff IS fungi, it doesn't grow or look like fungi...so I'm really putting my money on nitrifying or denitrifying bacteria; particulary Nitrosomonas, Nitrobacter, or Pseudomonas. Those are the only genera of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria I know, though.

[acropora1981]

in saltwater tanks they use an antibiotic marketed as Red Slime Remover or Red Slime Killer by Ultralife I think? It kils cyanobacteria, at least the marine red stuff. Maybe it would also work here?