Help - white fungal (?) growth on Rocks

Hi,

I have a 20+ gallon fresh water community tank.

I have had the same rocks and gravel in there since I started this tank
(about a year and a half ago) - and tested them with dilute acid (or
looked them up) to make sure they were safe.

Have 3 ottos, 4 zebra fish, 5 gold barbs, a large 6" catfish and a
medium Angelfish all which are healthy. I also have some live plants
(Amazon Swords and Brazilian elodea) that are doing fine. My tank has
been stable since Christmas when I added an under-gravel filter during a
major cleaning.

I have an outside AquaClear mechanical filter with Foam, Charcoal and
BioxMax cartridges. I do all routine maintenance including 1/3 water
change every month and I use Hagen Waste Control, Aquaclear and Cycle as
recomedended as well as plant food once a month.

Recnetly, I've been getting a stringy off white growth on a large rock,
some drift wood, and the surrounding gravel but noting else really. I
don't know if it is bacterial or fungal or otherwise - but it seems to
be some sort of biofilm . . . perhaps mixed in composition?

The tank seems healthy otherwise. Fish are perky and plants are fine.
Tank water is crystal clear and does not smell.


Can anyone help me identify this. Has taken about a month to build up a
bit and I'd like to know how to best treat it in case it becomes a major
problem.

Thanks,

Trev

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In article kitschy-7842E8.22442516042007@shawnews,
Trevor Stenson wrote:

P.S. - the growth is not at all cottony.

TS

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Just a 'wood fungus'
oto's not eating is weird an ancistrus (bristlenose plec) prob would!
I'd try just gravel vac the tank a bit more.
It's important to lift up the under gravel filter plate and suck out the
collected mulm every few weeks.
Not doing so leads to 'old tank syndrome' with high levels of nutrients
disolving outta the sludge into the water.
I wouldn't treat with chemicals!
gravel vac, filter clean, 25% water changes, bristlenose..... yes
chemicals.... no
But yea it ain't gonna hurt ya fish in a hurry



"Trevor Stenson" wrote in message
news:kitschy-7842E8.22442516042007@shawnews...
Hi,

I have a 20+ gallon fresh water community tank.

I have had the same rocks and gravel in there since I started this tank
(about a year and a half ago) - and tested them with dilute acid (or
looked them up) to make sure they were safe.

Have 3 ottos, 4 zebra fish, 5 gold barbs, a large 6" catfish and a
medium Angelfish all which are healthy. I also have some live plants
(Amazon Swords and Brazilian elodea) that are doing fine. My tank has
been stable since Christmas when I added an under-gravel filter during a
major cleaning.

I have an outside AquaClear mechanical filter with Foam, Charcoal and
BioxMax cartridges. I do all routine maintenance including 1/3 water
change every month and I use Hagen Waste Control, Aquaclear and Cycle as
recomedended as well as plant food once a month.

Recnetly, I've been getting a stringy off white growth on a large rock,
some drift wood, and the surrounding gravel but noting else really. I
don't know if it is bacterial or fungal or otherwise - but it seems to
be some sort of biofilm . . . perhaps mixed in composition?

The tank seems healthy otherwise. Fish are perky and plants are fine.
Tank water is crystal clear and does not smell.


Can anyone help me identify this. Has taken about a month to build up a
bit and I'd like to know how to best treat it in case it becomes a major
problem.

Thanks,

Trev

--
SCTV Locations:
http://members.shaw.ca/pumpkin27/iwebber2

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In article ,
"swarvegorilla" wrote:

Just a 'wood fungus'
oto's not eating is weird an ancistrus (bristlenose plec) prob would!
I'd try just gravel vac the tank a bit more.
It's important to lift up the under gravel filter plate and suck out the
collected mulm every few weeks.
Not doing so leads to 'old tank syndrome' with high levels of nutrients
disolving outta the sludge into the water.
I wouldn't treat with chemicals!
gravel vac, filter clean, 25% water changes, bristlenose..... yes
chemicals.... no
But yea it ain't gonna hurt ya fish in a hurry




Thanks,

That seems to make sense as I believe it started on a piece of driftwood
(that I didn't mention).

I keep it in there for the oto's and my Feather Fin Synodontis.

I'd like to get a bristenose plec but my tank is at its limit for fish
and plant life. The Synodonitis is full grown now. I think and that
tank is probably at the limit for his size. He seems happy and active
(when he's not hiding in his cave - upside down of course).

If I ever have to replace my bottom feeders or algae eaters I like to
get a bristlenose. I understand they don't grow that large (?).

Thanks for the advice on the fungus, et cetera. Sound like a bit of
elbow grease (not literally) should take care of the problem.


Cheers,

Trev

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