Is this bacteria, or fungus?

hughitt1 · 08-12-2006, 02:11 AM

background:

I just started setting up a 30gal tank about a week ago. I Picked up some nice looking driftwood off of ebay, and after getting it mostly watter-logged set it up and filled the aquarium. Unfortunantly, just after i was able to get it set up i had to go away for a week. Before i left i added a few plants (Hygro polysperma, Bacopa, etc), and set the lighting (~2.2 wpg) timer for 11 hours / day.

When i came back today , the driftwood was completely covered in several different growths which look nothing like any algae i've seen before. There are two that are white / green and somewhat translucent, and a third that is brown, shorter and looking more 'hairy' than the other two. I'm thinking that the driftwood i picked up may not have been cured properly- almost nothing else in the tank has been affected.

pics

I'm going to try and clean off the stuff tommorrow and do a partial water change, but i kinda doubt that will help. Anyone have any idea what the stuff may be, or how i can get rid of it?

Thanks,
Keith

Lissette · 08-12-2006, 02:39 AM

Does it sway? Does it look like snot? Most likely it's fungus. The other stuff is probably BBA, but not sure.

P.S. It looks a bit moldy too. Try brushing it off thoroughly with a toothbrush. Take care that it's not rotting.

Momotaro · 08-12-2006, 04:43 PM

New aquarium? New wood?

Looks like a bit of fungus with some diatoms thrown in to me!

Give it some time and the fungus growing on the wood will vanish. Add some oto cats and they will eat away the diatoms.

Mike

hughitt1 · 08-12-2006, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Does it sway? Does it look like snot? Most likely it's fungus. The other stuff is probably BBA, but not sure.

It doesn't sway under the normal conditions, but when water was run directly over it, it *sort of* sways. The white and green stuff looks like snot for sure- the brown stuff more like algae. It is new wood, and a new set up.. One other thing i noticed was that while i was attempting to waterlog the driftwood for about a week before i added it to tank, it did not grow any of that stuff, but once i had it in tank with plants + light, it grew.

I brushed it off as best i could this morning and did a ~30% water change. I'm going to start cleaning it off regularly, and once tank is cycled and platies are in for a bit, i will probably add an oto or two (i love otos). Hopefuly the stuff won't grow back by then :P

Btw-- Any idea of what species of fungus / diatoms it may be?

Thanks for advice!

Lissette · 08-12-2006, 10:43 PM

Sorry, I don't really know what species of fungus. Maybe someone else can say.

But it's the same fungus that some people see when they place new wood in the tank. Now that the wood is getting some light, all manner of things will be growing on it until you balance things out.

08-12-2006, 02:11 AM	#1
hughitt1 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: U.S. Posts: 147	Is this bacteria, or fungus? background: I just started setting up a 30gal tank about a week ago. I Picked up some nice looking driftwood off of ebay, and after getting it mostly watter-logged set it up and filled the aquarium. Unfortunantly, just after i was able to get it set up i had to go away for a week. Before i left i added a few plants (Hygro polysperma, Bacopa, etc), and set the lighting (~2.2 wpg) timer for 11 hours / day. When i came back today , the driftwood was completely covered in several different growths which look nothing like any algae i've seen before. There are two that are white / green and somewhat translucent, and a third that is brown, shorter and looking more 'hairy' than the other two. I'm thinking that the driftwood i picked up may not have been cured properly- almost nothing else in the tank has been affected. pics I'm going to try and clean off the stuff tommorrow and do a partial water change, but i kinda doubt that will help. Anyone have any idea what the stuff may be, or how i can get rid of it? Thanks, Keith __________________ Keith Open.nfo

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08-12-2006, 02:39 AM	#2
Lissette Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: us Posts: 372	Does it sway? Does it look like snot? Most likely it's fungus. The other stuff is probably BBA, but not sure. P.S. It looks a bit moldy too. Try brushing it off thoroughly with a toothbrush. Take care that it's not rotting.

08-12-2006, 04:43 PM	#3
Momotaro Doesn't like Kool-Aid (View User Tanks) PTrader: (52/100%) Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Hawthorne, New Jersey Posts: 10,110	New aquarium? New wood? Looks like a bit of fungus with some diatoms thrown in to me! Give it some time and the fungus growing on the wood will vanish. Add some oto cats and they will eat away the diatoms. Mike

08-12-2006, 10:43 PM	#5
Lissette Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: us Posts: 372	Sorry, I don't really know what species of fungus. Maybe someone else can say. But it's the same fungus that some people see when they place new wood in the tank. Now that the wood is getting some light, all manner of things will be growing on it until you balance things out.