Belgianbiscuit Posted June 7, 2012 Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 Hi, I am cycling my tank. I have no fish yet. I have about a dozen plants and now I noticed that there is white stuff which looks a lot like onion skin hanging of every plant. My tank has been running with filter and heater since Sunday. Yesterday I did a 20% water change and I did not notice anything then. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted June 7, 2012 Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 got a photo? if it's some sort of gunky build up you might be able to clear it by adding extra circulation/current Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belgianbiscuit Posted June 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted June 7, 2012 Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 New filter and pipe work or second hand, looks like it could be dry biofilm from the pipework? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belgianbiscuit Posted June 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 Brand new filter and media. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted June 7, 2012 Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 White filamentous (hair) algae? Looks like this ? http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/foru ... 1217428085 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belgianbiscuit Posted June 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 Not sure Graham. There seems to be a lot more in that picture. If it is that, what is causing it and how do I get rid of it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted June 7, 2012 Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 BTW, how are you cycling your tank? If you didn't add any ammonia, you might be able to put in a goldfish to eat up all of this algae for you ....though you'll have to watch it carefully in case it takes to your plants once it polishes off the algae. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belgianbiscuit Posted June 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 Haven't added anything other than filtration and plants. Just tap water but pH is ok. Was going to buy a few neons today to help with the cycling but then I noticed the problem and thought it would be silly to add neons. I don't wanna be stuck with a goldfish :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted June 7, 2012 Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 Happy to lend you a goldfish too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belgianbiscuit Posted June 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 Not sure if it is related, I also noticed a bit of white on my piece of driftwood. This looks more like salt. I got the piece from Himitangi. I ringed it thoroughly and even put it through a cycle in dishwasher. Without soap that is ;-) Thanks Phoenix may have to take you up on the offer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted June 7, 2012 Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 What are the NO3 levels in the tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belgianbiscuit Posted June 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 Haven't had the chance to measure nitrate yet. Or ammonia and nitrite for that matter. Don't have any test kits yet. Do you suspect NO3 levels are to high/low? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted June 7, 2012 Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 It depends on how you started your tank cycle. With no fish one wouldn't expect any ammonia. If you used some type of soil or compost as your substrate, your nutrients and nitrates might be quite high causing this algae. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted June 7, 2012 Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 White filamentous (hair) algae? Looks like this ? http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/foru ... 1217428085 Looks more like a sheet than a filiment to my eye. :dunno: Agree with Blueether that it looks just like dry biofilm... Maybe some sort of coating on the pipework that is coming away, after having softened in the water for a while? a filter sock (read:pantyhose) on the output would soon let you know... Whatever it is, I doubt that it would be too harmful, but just scoop out all that you can, do a few W/C, stiring up the stuff... Scoop Change Combo! YAAAY... :thup: :slfg: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belgianbiscuit Posted June 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 Just gravel that came from other tank but I rinsed it well. I have added a pinch of dry food twice. Read that this helps with cycling. I brushed some of the stuff off plants earlier and it is visibly less. Will be interesting to see how much is there tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted June 7, 2012 Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 Just PM me and we can sort out said goldfish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted June 7, 2012 Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 i had weird whitey algae on my wood from a beach, in the end I got rid of it due to paranoia :smln: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=47747&hilit=windelov Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted June 7, 2012 Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 Just a suggestion to read up on cycling. Whether fishless or with fish, you have to add something to the tank in order for it to cycle. Hmmm, when I came back here I thought I read other posts of yours, do you have other tanks???? Keep us posted on the white "stuff". Take care, Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belgianbiscuit Posted June 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 I brushed it off a second time last night and this morning it was pretty much all gone. I don't think algae would disappear like that? Will be interesting to see what it is like when I get home tonight. Caper, yes I have a post open about cycling and was about to throw some fish in my tank when I noticed the white stuff. Sophia, My driftwood does not look as scary as the one in your picture ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted June 8, 2012 Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 I brushed it off a second time last night and this morning it was pretty much all gone. I don't think algae would disappear like that? Will be interesting to see what it is like when I get home tonight. Algae wouldn't... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted June 8, 2012 Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 I think it's weird wood stuff and that is my technical opinion :sage: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheepsnana Posted June 8, 2012 Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 While it was still soaking outside, That weird algae was growing on my large piece of driftwood from the beach, along with some mossy green algae. I gave the wood a brush down with an old toothbrush, did a 100% water change, and never saw it again. Then I moved it inside and :smot: flooded the lounge. :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Is the "white stuff" gone now Belgianbiscuit??? Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belgianbiscuit Posted June 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2012 Hi Caper, Yes it has disappeared. Pretty much brushed it off a few times and did a 20% water change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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