What is this growth?

[Matt W]

Can anyone identify this for me?

http://testing.codewalkers.com/tanks/funk.jpg

[aquariumfishguy]

I'm unsure if there is a proper term for this stuff, but it looks like a form of bacterial algae of some sort. I hear about many people having this in their aquariums and even though I've never had it, I would like to think its one of those "common problems". I have heard of this occuring in newer tanks more than anything. I will look around the Internet for more info and post it if possible. ;)

[Matt W]

Thanks...

A little more info. This is occuring in a tank that has been set up for 5 months or so. It is a 20g that is lightly stocked with just some small shell dwellers. I feed only once a day, and lightly at that. Light only stays on on this tank for maybe 5 hours a day...

[SnakeIce]

do you have any of that growing on the glass?.... or can you tell how the stuff grows

I have an algea that looks similar but it grows from a small hard spot and the whole thing looks sort of like a brush... if it is that it is a little harder to get rid of manually than some other algaes you can get the 'bristles' off easy but it grows back from the hard disc

[kveeti]

Is that growing on wood? I'm not really sure, but there is some mention of fungi on wood here http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/aquascaping/wood.shtml
about halfway down.

[Matt W]

No, none on the glass. It is growing only only fake rock...

The stuff is VERY difficult to remove. I have taken the fake rock out of the tank and scrubbed it with a tooth brush and barely gotten any of it to come off....

[aquariumfishguy]

Matt, I called a friend of mine and he told me that he's not sure what the proper name for this stuff is, but he said that many people call it "white algae". He seems to recall a time when his brother had this in his tank and they bought 2 "Siamese Algae Eaters" to help clean things up. According to his brother, the fish were able to take care of everything. :eek:

I'm not sure how accurate this info is, but my friend is what I consider an expert in this field. If you have the room for a few Siamese Algae Eaters and your tankmates will get along with them, maybe you should give it a shot? Good luck! :)

[aquariumfishguy]

Here is some more info provided by my friend Robyn Rhudy of www.fishpondinfo.com
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Cloudy or Green Water:
A frequent question of new aquarists is why their newly setup tank turns cloudy. There are many possibilities to consider. Either something is growing (bacteria if white, algae if green), something is being added (bad water, too much food, too many fish and their wastes), or something is leaching (gravel, ornaments, driftwood). In any case, it is a good method of attack to change 30-50% of the water every few days until the water is again clean. Adding fresh carbon may also help. Without diagnosing and treating the cause, however, the problem will return. Some reasons that water may be cloudy in a newly setup tank and solutions include the following.

1. The gravel was not properly rinsed. Remove the gravel and rinse well.
2. The gravel or other ornaments contain limestone or other leaching materials. Remove the offending materials.
3. Driftwood was not properly treated and is leaching. See the driftwood section for driftwood treatments.
4. Bacterial blooms are common in new tanks and make the water appear milky. Change 50% of the water every few days until water clears up. Add liquid bacteria to help the good bacteria out- compete these bacteria. Bacterial blooms are often fed by excess fish food and fish wastes but many also be common in certain tap waters high in these bacteria or the foods that they like.
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So from that article, you can get somewhat of a confirmation that the "white algae" isn't techically algae rather, its a bacterial infestation.

[Tom.E]

It looks like the early stages of Audouinella growth. Some of the tufts in the pic look like they’re filling in with color already.


Tom

[Sensei_the_dojo]

If it's growing ONLY on the fake rock, you might consider removing the rock and boiling it. My guess is that a nice boiling bath will kill that stuff.

[Slappy*McFish]

Looks like BBA to me. The lights may make it appear grey/bluish, but it's form distinctly resembles brush algae. I second the boiling of the rock to kill the stuff...if you can't boil it directly, then pour scalding water on it. Hydrogen peroxide will kill it very effectively, as well.