Slime Mold, Diatoms, Fungus or Algae? (Photos)

[Noverourheads]

I've started to notice a slime, mucus like substance located mainly on my Amazon Sword. Can you tell me if you've ever seen something like this and how I can go about treating it and removing it?

Collection of photos are located here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55905504@N06/

Specs:
5 Gallon tank with 1 Crown Tail Betta and two 1" Albino Catfish.
Aqua-Tech 5-15 gal HOB filter
1 Amazon Sword
Tetra Heater 5-15 - maintains 78 degrees
red gravel substrate
15 watt incandescent aquarium light - light is on approximately, 8-10 hours per day.
25% water change per week, religiously.
Substrate vacuum and cleaning 1 a month.
0ppm Ammonia, 0 ppm Nitrite, 40 ppm Nitrate approx. (The master kit is not that easy to read accurately), 7.8 PH
Tank has been setup and running for about 11 months now.
The Amazon Sword was added about 6 months ago.
I've never used a fertilizer.

I've noticed a light brown slime located mainly around the base of the Amazon Sword, but also on the leaves to a lesser degree.
It's quite similar to mucus and has a foul odor.
It can be removed from the plant easily, as it doesn't have any adhesive qualities. Once it detaches from the leaves either with my assistance or due to the water disruption caused during water changes, it's gets sucked into the intake tube and clogs the filter pad with concentrated, thick brown mucus slime.

The Betta seems not to mind whatever this substance is. He eats normally and hangs out under the leaves of the amazon sword despite the mucus slime. I went to the LFS and was told it was likely algae, but after some google searches, I'm not so sure. He recommend Algae Destroyer Advanced. Please tell me if you've ever seen anything like this and what I can do to treat it. One sight suggested it could be a fungus and to treat it with Meth Blue. Another site said it could be a form of Diatoms or Blue-Green algae.

The rest of the tank seems okay, but this awful slime and smell must go. What am I doing wrong? Could this be due to over feeding? I won't lie, I know I'm guilty of that.

Thanks for any help or advice you can offer.

Chrissy

 

[Slappy*McFish]

That is a unhealthy looking Sword. I'd suspect the slime to be deteriorating leaves and probably a rotting root base/crown. Gently pull the plant up until the crown is above the gravel. You don't want it buried. Make sure you're using an appropriate light spectrum and give the plant a root tab.

 

[Noverourheads]

It's amazing how one post on this site can generate such a simple answer! One LFS and two nationwide chain stores tried selling me Algae Destroyer Advanced, Methylene Blue and\or Blue-Green Algae Destroyer. I had the same pictures and info as I posted on this site and not one of the "experts" had any idea what it was.

I removed the Amazon Sword last night and replaced it with a plastic plant for the time being. I also replaced the incandescent light with a full spectrum light. I'll monitor the tank but as of now that awful smell and mucus is gone.

If all goes well, eventually I'll try live plants again. I could kill a silk plant so I have no idea what processed me to think I could manage an aquatic plant!

Thank you so much for the reply.

Christy

 

[rockhoe14er]

Yeah plants can be tough. I wouldn't give up just yet get some nice Anubis nana it can grow really well on a piece of drift wood. Anubis is a great low maintenance low light plant. Plants can add a lot to a tank. Most fish stores don't have a lot of experience with plants IME that's why they can't give you good advice. They also don't really have a selection because plants can be difficult. But if you just start looking at some low light plants they can be quite rewarding.

Fake plants are also awesome too.

 

[Buff]

It's amazing how one post on this site can generate such a simple answer! One LFS and two nationwide chain stores tried selling me Algae Destroyer Advanced, Methylene Blue and\or Blue-Green Algae Destroyer. I had the same pictures and info as I posted on this site and not one of the "experts" had any idea what it was.

I removed the Amazon Sword last night and replaced it with a plastic plant for the time being. I also replaced the incandescent light with a full spectrum light. I'll monitor the tank but as of now that awful smell and mucus is gone.

If all goes well, eventually I'll try live plants again. I could kill a silk plant so I have no idea what processed me to think I could manage an aquatic plant!

Thank you so much for the reply.

Christy

Yeah, Christy, the difference is that the stores' answers involved just selling you something... The good folks here aren't out to profit from your situation. I second that anubias on driftwood is EASY to do, and the driftwood doesn't need to be large. A 4" - 6" piece can do anubias and some moss, and your tankmates will appreciate it. Especially the catfish...