terrarium: mold on top of soil

schmuttis · 04-04-2008, 08:46 PM

Hi,

I have an all glass coffee table terrarium that I made several years ago. Recently it's developed a mold-like slime on top of the soil surface. I was hoping someone would be able to tell me what has gone wrong after being fine for so long.

The bottom of the table is a breeder fish tank with the black rim removed and the top is a solid piece of glass.

The table resides in my sun room but get indirect sunlight.

Thanks for taking your time to read this and any suggestions that you might have.

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**FrostyNYC** · 04-04-2008, 09:23 PM

If this is this is the first time this has happened and its a long-time setup, I suspect something changed in the terrarium environment.

A temperature increase? Overwatering?

schmuttis · 04-04-2008, 10:25 PM

That's what I would ask too - what's changed? But for the life of me I can't figure that out. I rarely water the terrarium - it has it's own rain cycle - rain drips down off the top. I don't think I've opened it for at least 4 months. I only open it when plants need trimming and the sides need cleaning for better viewing. The floor is heated with radiant heat and that temperature hasn't changed. The sun has shifted directions now since it's spring here in PA but that has happened other years.

Could the soil have degraded over the years that might cause this?

If anyone else has any suggestions, I'm all ears.

patm · 04-10-2008, 03:58 AM

What does this stuff look like, and how much of it is covering your substrate? Pics?

-Pat

**fishscale** · 04-10-2008, 04:59 AM

Hmmm, sometimes I have some problems with mold when doing emersed growth.

I have heard that using a bit of erythromycin will work.

schmuttis · 04-11-2008, 01:32 PM

Not the greatest of pictures - sorry. My camera does an auto focus so the slime isn't shown really well.

**ashappar** · 04-11-2008, 02:45 PM

some natural solutions to mold in terrariums include cinnamon sprinkled on the surface and a tea made from peat moss. I tried cinnamon once and it did control the fungus. I found it hard to completely get rid of it in a wet environment, but I didnt keep the terrarium long enough to experiment much. I just made it into another aquarium to feed my chronic multiple tank syndrome.

schmuttis · 04-11-2008, 03:15 PM

I have loads of cinnamon so I'll try that first. If nothing else the terrarium will smell nice.

The strange thing is that this has been the same moist environment for years and now I'm just having the problem.

Many thanks.

honor · 04-11-2008, 03:31 PM

mold might of just finally snuck in there.

04-04-2008, 08:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
schmuttis Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Churchville, PA Posts: 14	terrarium: mold on top of soil Hi, I have an all glass coffee table terrarium that I made several years ago. Recently it's developed a mold-like slime on top of the soil surface. I was hoping someone would be able to tell me what has gone wrong after being fine for so long. The bottom of the table is a breeder fish tank with the black rim removed and the top is a solid piece of glass. The table resides in my sun room but get indirect sunlight. Thanks for taking your time to read this and any suggestions that you might have.

04-10-2008, 03:58 AM	#4 (permalink)
patm Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: RI Posts: 121	What does this stuff look like, and how much of it is covering your substrate? Pics? -Pat __________________ 0.4.0 D. leucomelas 0.1.0 D. imitator 0.0.3 D. tinctorius 'Alanis' TANK PICS

04-10-2008, 04:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
fishscale duckweed. it's bad, mmk. (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10) Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 3,222	Hmmm, sometimes I have some problems with mold when doing emersed growth. I have heard that using a bit of erythromycin will work. __________________ Eheim Pimp #254, Eheim Wolverine #1 55 Gallon Work in progress 10 Gallon Shrimp Tank 10 Gallon Planted QT 20 Gallon Shrimp Tank (Work in progress)

04-11-2008, 01:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
schmuttis Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Churchville, PA Posts: 14	Pictures Not the greatest of pictures - sorry. My camera does an auto focus so the slime isn't shown really well.

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04-04-2008, 09:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
FrostyNYC Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NYC & Long Island, NY Posts: 333	If this is this is the first time this has happened and its a long-time setup, I suspect something changed in the terrarium environment. A temperature increase? Overwatering?

04-04-2008, 10:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
schmuttis Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Churchville, PA Posts: 14	That's what I would ask too - what's changed? But for the life of me I can't figure that out. I rarely water the terrarium - it has it's own rain cycle - rain drips down off the top. I don't think I've opened it for at least 4 months. I only open it when plants need trimming and the sides need cleaning for better viewing. The floor is heated with radiant heat and that temperature hasn't changed. The sun has shifted directions now since it's spring here in PA but that has happened other years. Could the soil have degraded over the years that might cause this? If anyone else has any suggestions, I'm all ears.

04-11-2008, 02:45 PM	#7 (permalink)
ashappar bryophyte (View User Tanks) PTrader: (20) Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: indiana, USA Posts: 338	some natural solutions to mold in terrariums include cinnamon sprinkled on the surface and a tea made from peat moss. I tried cinnamon once and it did control the fungus. I found it hard to completely get rid of it in a wet environment, but I didnt keep the terrarium long enough to experiment much. I just made it into another aquarium to feed my chronic multiple tank syndrome.

04-11-2008, 03:15 PM	#8 (permalink)
schmuttis Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Churchville, PA Posts: 14	I have loads of cinnamon so I'll try that first. If nothing else the terrarium will smell nice. The strange thing is that this has been the same moist environment for years and now I'm just having the problem. Many thanks.

04-11-2008, 03:31 PM	#9 (permalink)
honor Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Los Angeles California Posts: 227	mold might of just finally snuck in there.