What is the world is this

deathdealerdelta · 11-09-2012, 08:59 PM

Ok so from my post earlier I started a completely new tank with no fish just some java moss, dwarf hairgrass, and a piece of driftwood with another one waiting until the moss take hold.

A few days ago I noticed something weird that I though just might be a slime coat additive that I added. Until I talked to my LFS and the expert there didn't have any idea what it was.

Does anyone know what this stuff is?

I am running a DIY CO2 setup, could it be the yeast making its way into my tank?

Below are 2 pictures one is of my bubble stone that disperses the CO2 bubbles, another is of 2 spots where this hazy white crap is pooling in certain places, you can see it just to the left and in front of the dwarf hairgrass. I have circled it so you can see it better.

KrazyFish · 11-09-2012, 09:56 PM

I don't know what exactly it is but it is familiar to me. In my experience, this stuff often accumulates on manzanita branches as they acclimate to being submerged in a new aquarium. Its definitely some type of biological process, but it is harmless. It always disappears on its own eventually. It seems to be pretty normal in a newly set up tank.
You can manually remove it and it may come back, but eventually it will disappear for good.

discuspaul · 11-09-2012, 10:14 PM

I don't believe that's what it is and it may not be harmless.

What you describe is a bacterial fungal-type growth, which is harmless, and comes out of new wood placed in a tank, but remains attached to the wood. It can be manually removed, but will likely come back, and in time will eventually disappear. It is off-white, greyish in color.
You would not find that type of growth in the locations you see in the pics above unless you made a point of removing it from the wood, placed it in those areas, and saw to it that it stayed there.
This is completely something else, and appears to have a bluish tinge.
I could be a yeast residue that has made it's way into the tank, as the OP suspects, and if so, it is likely harmless.
deathdealer, have you tried removing it with a vacuum ?

AoxomoxoA · 11-09-2012, 10:25 PM

By-product "snot" from diy co2.

flesxruoyxllik · 11-09-2012, 10:27 PM

i see this all the time with diy co2 but never seen it with compressed co2.

+1 for some type of bacteria

AoxomoxoA · 11-09-2012, 10:41 PM

OP states he is using diy co2, & it's clearly coating his airstone where the co2 line is run, & not on the wood or anywhere else.

AoxomoxoA · 11-09-2012, 10:42 PM

I'm more concerned about the other white stuff in the 2nd pic...

KrazyFish · 11-09-2012, 11:05 PM

Its true that it is in an odd spot compared to what I have seen. And since I have not used DIY CO2 (only pressurized) I must defer to others. But it does look very similar to the stuff I have seen grow on manzanita in a new set up.

deathdealerdelta · 11-10-2012, 12:10 AM

There for a time is was also on a piece of my driftwood, almost like a aura, but I boiled my driftwood before it ever touched my tank, I boiled and cooled it about 10 times. I didn't place it anywhere and it is really slimy to the touch. I have no idea what this is and neither does my LFS.

deathdealerdelta · 11-10-2012, 12:11 AM

I have also checked my co2 setup and there is no trace of the stuff anywhere else besides the 2-3 spots on my substrate, the air stone and at one point on the driftwood

deathdealerdelta · 11-10-2012, 12:13 AM

And not to turn this conversation into an explicit one but the only way I can describe the action of agitating the stuff is the look of someone having spilled his load into my tank, lol. If that makes sense.

flc · 11-10-2012, 12:15 AM

It looks like a zoogleal mat, which forms in reponse to new nutrient inputs.

It's common in flocculant wastewater treatment processes and completely harmless.

deathdealerdelta · 11-10-2012, 12:28 AM

Ok well all of this is a breath of fresh air, I thought I would have to restart my whole tank over again. Thanks guys and gals for the advice and input.

11-09-2012, 08:59 PM	#1
deathdealerdelta Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: USA Posts: 29	What is the world is this Ok so from my post earlier I started a completely new tank with no fish just some java moss, dwarf hairgrass, and a piece of driftwood with another one waiting until the moss take hold. A few days ago I noticed something weird that I though just might be a slime coat additive that I added. Until I talked to my LFS and the expert there didn't have any idea what it was. Does anyone know what this stuff is? I am running a DIY CO2 setup, could it be the yeast making its way into my tank? Below are 2 pictures one is of my bubble stone that disperses the CO2 bubbles, another is of 2 spots where this hazy white crap is pooling in certain places, you can see it just to the left and in front of the dwarf hairgrass. I have circled it so you can see it better. Attached Thumbnails

11-09-2012, 10:27 PM	#5
flesxruoyxllik Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: spencerport new york Posts: 103	i see this all the time with diy co2 but never seen it with compressed co2. +1 for some type of bacteria __________________ nothing here but disappointment dont call me an Aquarist no, I dont have any axe body spray cause im not a d***** bag youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/abassnamedhank Sebastian the bullheads journal http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=198343

11-09-2012, 11:05 PM	#8
KrazyFish Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Binbrook, Ontario, Canada Posts: 425	Its true that it is in an odd spot compared to what I have seen. And since I have not used DIY CO2 (only pressurized) I must defer to others. But it does look very similar to the stuff I have seen grow on manzanita in a new set up. Last edited by KrazyFish; 11-11-2012 at 05:12 PM.. Reason: wording

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11-09-2012, 09:56 PM	#2
KrazyFish Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Binbrook, Ontario, Canada Posts: 425	I don't know what exactly it is but it is familiar to me. In my experience, this stuff often accumulates on manzanita branches as they acclimate to being submerged in a new aquarium. Its definitely some type of biological process, but it is harmless. It always disappears on its own eventually. It seems to be pretty normal in a newly set up tank. You can manually remove it and it may come back, but eventually it will disappear for good.

11-09-2012, 10:14 PM	#3
discuspaul Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 1,588	I don't believe that's what it is and it may not be harmless. What you describe is a bacterial fungal-type growth, which is harmless, and comes out of new wood placed in a tank, but remains attached to the wood. It can be manually removed, but will likely come back, and in time will eventually disappear. It is off-white, greyish in color. You would not find that type of growth in the locations you see in the pics above unless you made a point of removing it from the wood, placed it in those areas, and saw to it that it stayed there. This is completely something else, and appears to have a bluish tinge. I could be a yeast residue that has made it's way into the tank, as the OP suspects, and if so, it is likely harmless. deathdealer, have you tried removing it with a vacuum ?

11-09-2012, 10:25 PM	#4
AoxomoxoA Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (15/100%) Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Austinburg, Ohio Posts: 863	By-product "snot" from diy co2.

11-09-2012, 10:41 PM	#6
AoxomoxoA Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (15/100%) Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Austinburg, Ohio Posts: 863	OP states he is using diy co2, & it's clearly coating his airstone where the co2 line is run, & not on the wood or anywhere else.

11-09-2012, 10:42 PM	#7
AoxomoxoA Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (15/100%) Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Austinburg, Ohio Posts: 863	I'm more concerned about the other white stuff in the 2nd pic...

11-10-2012, 12:10 AM	#9
deathdealerdelta Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: USA Posts: 29	There for a time is was also on a piece of my driftwood, almost like a aura, but I boiled my driftwood before it ever touched my tank, I boiled and cooled it about 10 times. I didn't place it anywhere and it is really slimy to the touch. I have no idea what this is and neither does my LFS.

11-10-2012, 12:11 AM	#10
deathdealerdelta Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: USA Posts: 29	I have also checked my co2 setup and there is no trace of the stuff anywhere else besides the 2-3 spots on my substrate, the air stone and at one point on the driftwood

11-10-2012, 12:13 AM	#11
deathdealerdelta Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: USA Posts: 29	And not to turn this conversation into an explicit one but the only way I can describe the action of agitating the stuff is the look of someone having spilled his load into my tank, lol. If that makes sense.

11-10-2012, 12:15 AM	#12
flc Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 71	It looks like a zoogleal mat, which forms in reponse to new nutrient inputs. It's common in flocculant wastewater treatment processes and completely harmless.

11-10-2012, 12:28 AM	#13
deathdealerdelta Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: USA Posts: 29	Ok well all of this is a breath of fresh air, I thought I would have to restart my whole tank over again. Thanks guys and gals for the advice and input.