Is this a type of algae???

[Rocky998]

In principle you shouldn't encourage any fungal growth in your tank

I definitely agree but sometimes you cant control it. This was a new piece of wood and my tank is cycling meaning there is probably a bunch of nutrients for it

 

[Colin_T]

Most new wood will rot to some degree when put in water. This can encourage fungus to grow. When the wood stops rotting and stabilises, the fungus stops. In the mean time just take the wood outside and hose it off whenever there is fungus on it. And if any fish start acting strangely, do a big water change.

 

[Rocky998]

Most new wood will rot to some degree when put in water. This can encourage fungus to grow. When the wood stops rotting and stabilises, the fungus stops. In the mean time just take the wood outside and hose it off whenever there is fungus on it. And if any fish start acting strangely, do a big water change.

Will do! I'll rinse it off tomorrow, before the plants come in. Thanks!

 

[itiwhetu]

To suggest that any wood that produces fungus will give you problems is not a statement I agree with. The OP is using redmoor wood, widely used in the hobby.

Manzanita, mopani, red moor plus various others I've used over the years most have produced some kind of fungus at first soaking. All of the afore mentioned are commonly included in aquascapes and in all my years of fish keeping the only time I've heard of fungus killing fish is in this thread. (Every day's a school day) I'm not disputing what others are saying in terms of some fungi being toxic, but speaking from my own experience I've never experienced or heard of fungus seen in aquaria being of detriment to any live stock. In fact I've had set ups where shrimp and snails feast on the stuff... Maybe I'm just lucky...

Ultimately the decision is yours to make based on the advice given in this thread, feel free to do additional research too. But I echo the above and strongly advise against any kind of soaking, wood is porous so whatever you soak it in will end up in the wood and slowly leech back out into the after column.

Fungus grows because there are nutrients within the wood feeding it, eventually they will be depleted and it will no longer have a food source and starve until it no longer exists.

So, when you have fungus on leftover food you just leave it in the tank, and it won't cause any harm to your fish

 

[Rocky998]

So, when you have fungus on leftover food you just leave it in the tank, and it won't cause any harm to your fish

When you see fungus on a tree branch in the river do you remove it? Food can be different though because the fish are eating it but snails and shrimps love that stuff... Nature's clean up crew. Now, if I saw fungus on a fish that's different but if its growing on wood, its totally ok cause its natural. I'm probably justs going to siphon it out when the water change comes up

 

[Byron]

When you see fungus on a tree branch in the river do you remove it? Food can be different though because the fish are eating it but snails and shrimps love that stuff... Nature's clean up crew. Now, if I saw fungus on a fish that's different but if its growing on wood, its totally ok cause its natural. I'm probably justs going to siphon it out when the water change comes up

I don't know what is going on here. You cannot compare the river habitat with an aquarium. Toxic fungus on wood in a river is not likely to harm any fish, because the water volume is so immense compared to the aquarium. It is not a question of fish eating toxic fungus, but of the toxic fungus affecting the water quality.

There are many spe3cies of fungus, some are toxic and some not. Comparable to mushrooms (which are a fungus). Many mushrooms are edible, but there are some that are deadly toxic. You cannot be so foolish as to say all fungus/mushrooms are safe.

Second, the toxic fungus affects the water. In my case, the water became somewhat hazy a day or two after the branch was put in the tank, and the fish became lethargic and respiration was very rapid. I had the good sense to relate this with the addition of the wood, especially when I saw the white slime-like fungus on the wood. I removed it and did a 80% water change, fish back to normal. I discussed this with a marine biologist online in the forum I then belonged to, and she explained things. A couple of other members relayed similar experiences, andf the biologist said in her experience this seemd common with certain types of wood, espe3cially graperoot/grapewood. It so happened that a week or two later I was in a local fish store and overheard a customer describing the death of his cories, with exactly the same symptoms (fungus on new piece of wood, lethargy, death, slightly cloudy water).

I did not say all fungus was toxic. I said some species are toxic and in an aquarium this toxin cannot dissipate elsewhere so it slowly impacts fish.

 

[Rocky998]

I don't know what is going on here. You cannot compare the river habitat with an aquarium. Toxic fungus on wood in a river is not likely to harm any fish, because the water volume is so immense compared to the aquarium. It is not a question of fish eating toxic fungus, but of the toxic fungus affecting the water quality.

There are many spe3cies of fungus, some are toxic and some not. Comparable to mushrooms (which are a fungus). Many mushrooms are edible, but there are some that are deadly toxic. You cannot be so foolish as to say all fungus/mushrooms are safe.

Second, the toxic fungus affects the water. In my case, the water became somewhat hazy a day or two after the branch was put in the tank, and the fish became lethargic and respiration was very rapid. I had the good sense to relate this with the addition of the wood, especially when I saw the white slime-like fungus on the wood. I removed it and did a 80% water change, fish back to normal. I discussed this with a marine biologist online in the forum I then belonged to, and she explained things. A couple of other members relayed similar experiences, andf the biologist said in her experience this seemd common with certain types of wood, espe3cially graperoot/grapewood. It so happened that a week or two later I was in a local fish store and overheard a customer describing the death of his cories, with exactly the same symptoms (fungus on new piece of wood, lethargy, death, slightly cloudy water).

I did not say all fungus was toxic. I said some species are toxic and in an aquarium this toxin cannot dissipate elsewhere so it slowly impacts fish.

I can agree, I am going to clean it by simply using the gravel vac to suck it off when I do the water change

 

[Rocky998]

This video helped me out a lot.

 

[StandbySetting]

So, when you have fungus on leftover food you just leave it in the tank, and it won't cause any harm to your fish

Apple's and oranges, we're not comparing the same thing. Left over food is a different subject entirely. I'd be more worried about the ammonia from left over food.

 

[Byron]

This video helped me out a lot.

This is all very nice, but it bears no relevance whatsoever to fungus. Throughout he is talking about mold. I have been warning of toxic fungus which is a very different thing. Everything I said previously still applies.

 

[Rocky998]

This is all very nice, but it bears no relevance whatsoever to fungus. Throughout he is talking about mold. I have been warning of toxic fungus which is a very different thing. Everything I said previously still applies.

Fungus and mold are the same thing? I thought?

 

[Rocky998]

Just looked it up and I found that mold is a group of the fungi species

This is all very nice, but it bears no relevance whatsoever to fungus. Throughout he is talking about mold. I have been warning of toxic fungus which is a very different thing. Everything I said previously still applies.

 

[Byron]

Just looked it up and I found that mold is a group of the fungi species

Yes, and mold (mould) seems to be harmless. But other species of fungus can be toxic, like the mushroom example. Any aquarist is wise to be aware of the toxic fungus compared to the non-toxic fungus and mold.

I don't know if any submersed mold can be dangerous; we certainly know that mold in your house is very dangerous and it costs a lot to have experts come in to remediate mold when it is bad.

 

[Rocky998]

Yes, and mold (mould) seems to be harmless. But other species of fungus can be toxic, like the mushroom example. Any aquarist is wise to be aware of the toxic fungus compared to the non-toxic fungus and mold.

I don't know if any submersed mold can be dangerous; we certainly know that mold in your house is very dangerous and it costs a lot to have experts come in to remediate mold when it is bad.

Our house is relatively new and when we moved in, there were no signs of mold... Our house is about 5-6 years olf

 

[Byron]

Our house is relatively new and when we moved in, there were no signs of mold... Our house is about 5-6 years olf

I didn't say there was...my point was that the type of mold that can grow in damp places behind the walls of a bathroom that has a leak from the shower or tub (as an example) once discovered can cause very serious sickness to people. Obviously this mold is not "safe." That doesn't mean the mold (if it is mold) on the wood in your tank is toxic, or safe, whichever. You have to realize the possibility and be aware of it.

The toxic fungus that can appear on some types of wood is deadly. That is fact. So be cognizant of it, and don't shrug it off. You don't know, and nor do I.