What is this?

[Plan-B]

I found the stuff in the pictures growing in my tank the last few days. It’s a very thin and transparent film of some kind. I would like to know if it’s algae or cyanobacteria (Blue-green, slime or smear algae) or something else. I am currently doing a fishless cycle in this tank so nitrate levels are 0 and ammonia levels are high. I’m very worried that the household ammonia I am using is not so pure and this is a side effect I’m seeing. The tank has been exposed to excess light as I left the light on over a few nights. If it is cyanobacteria, will it decrease as nitrates start to form? What are my options for removal and cure?

Sorry about the quality of the pictures and thanks for any help,
Plan.

 

[sguthrie]

I'm fairly certain that it's perfectly harmless fungus that you can knock off with the end of your gravel cleaner when siphoning water during your cycle.

 

[JSchmidt]

I've had that in new tanks of mine, too. I don't know exactly what it is... I assumed it was a fungus, too. It doesn't seem to harm anything, and it always goes away on its own as the tank matures. I leave it alone unless it gets too heavy. Hard stuff to remove manually... it's quite sticky.

HTH,
Jim

 

[bartman]

I had it too when setting up my tank. Is that peice of wood coated?

It went away as fast as it showed up. I changed the water at the end of the cycle, dumped the stuff out of the canister and have not seen it since.

 

[daveedka]

Same here, I vaccumed mine when it was reachable, seems to coincide with new tanks and driftwood, and goes away quickly.
dave