white stuff on driftwood in cycling tank?

[katienewbettakeeper]

exactly what the title says. Is this a biofilm or some kind of algae/fungus? i removed some of it like a week ago ( just the top bit, it was getting very long) and it was back the next day. Some more info: I have one bulb with low lighting about a foot above the tank, just so i can see what’s going on. The aquarium has a pretty strong musty sort of smell, but i suppose that could be due to the bacterial blooms? Also this will be a planted aquarium with one betta, and ive been cycling for about a month.

thanks!

 

[OliveFish05]

Did you soak the driftwood first? How long has the driftwood been in the tank? My best guess would be that it is Most likely biofilm. Most new driftwood will do that, I use a toothbrush to brush it off. It’ll come Back a few times, but eventually it will go away. It looks exactly like it did on mine.

 

[katienewbettakeeper]

Did you soak the driftwood first? How long has the driftwood been in the tank? My best guess would be that it is Most likely biofilm. Most new driftwood will do that, I use a toothbrush to brush it off. It’ll come Back a few times, but eventually it will go away. It looks exactly like it did on mine.

I boiled it before placing it in at the beginning of the cycling process, it floated for about four days and then sunk.

 

[Byron]

The white fluff is a fungus. Fungi can collect on the biofilm on the wood (or other surfaces that are moist or wet) or a fungus can originate from within the wood itself. Some fungi are harmless, while some are toxic. An analysis by a microbiologist would determine which by identifying the fungus species (there are I don't know how many). Most fungi that occur on wood in an aquarium are harmless (at least according to aquarists), but there are others that will kill fish within a few days (and other life forms too). I had the latter once, and know of others.

 

[Boundava]

IDK about fungus. When you add new wood to a cycling tank (without fish/inverts) it usually gets a mean slimy whitish coating from bacteria. Spiderwood does a fantastic job of growing these slimy capsules and even after cleaning it off it will come back until the beneficial bacteria sets up tenancy in the tank and/or you have some shrimp/snails or fish that find it to be a pure delicacy!

 

[katienewbettakeeper]

IDK about fungus. When you add new wood to a cycling tank (without fish/inverts) it usually gets a mean slimy whitish coating from bacteria. Spiderwood does a fantastic job of growing these slimy capsules and even after cleaning it off it will come back until the beneficial bacteria sets up tenancy in the tank and/or you have some shrimp/snails or fish that find it to be a pure delicacy!

i sure hope that’s what it is!

 

[davros]

Anyone else see a dogs head in the driftwood? nice piece!

 

[Stan510]

It means there was live tissue in the wood. Usually any suckermouth cat will eat that. If the wood is TOO raw? Then you risk poisoning the water...it will smell also. Take it out and give it the whiff test.

 

[katienewbettakeeper]

It means there was live tissue in the wood. Usually any suckermouth cat will eat that. If the wood is TOO raw? Then you risk poisoning the water...it will smell also. Take it out and give it the whiff test.

what do you mean by it being “too raw”? didn’t know that was a thing. there is a definite smell, sort of musty, idk how to describe it. is there a way to test if the water is poisoned?

 

[Stan510]

If the fish are reacting is one way to tell. You could test for ammonia. Wood will always have a smell when you take it out of water.If its a bad smell? Then it's no good. It needs longer to cure in the sun or you could spend hours boiling the wood and making water changes. People used to do that before stores even sold wood for aquariums and long before wood got expensive.

 

[katienewbettakeeper]

If the fish are reacting is one way to tell. You could test for ammonia. Wood will always have a smell when you take it out of water.If its a bad smell? Then it's no good. It needs longer to cure in the sun or you could spend hours boiling the wood and making water changes. People used to do that before stores even sold wood for aquariums and long before wood got expensive.

I do keep getting an ammonia reading of .25ppm, but my tank is not completely cycled so i can’t be sure if that’s the wood or another ammonia source. It’s not a good smell, almost moldy, but i’ve heard that beneficial bacteria can smell bad (and fungus i imagine) I bought it from a pet store and boiled it beforehand for about half an hour. I don’t have any fish yet, it’s a ten gallon that i’m planning to have a single betta in it. I think if the coating is still there when i’m done cycling and doesn’t seem to be reducing, I might give another try at boiling it (sun drying isn’t an option where i live, too overcast)

 

[Stan510]

That sounds about right. One more boling episode and it should be fine. Wood that smells musty is normal so you are on the right track.