I Have Hairy Wood

[Aqua Tom]

I turned my tank lights on today to check everything out & some of my bogwood has sprouted hair.

I imagine this is hair algea. Is it dangerous & how come it has grown when I hardly ever have the tank lights on?

 

[myrtle]

It's not hair algae. I think new tanks or new wood tends to sprout this stuff, though I've never had it myself. If it were me I'd take the wood out, give it a good scrub in hot water and pop it back in. I may be wrong but I think I read somewhere that plecs will eat it. Please don't take this as gospel though as I can't remember where I read it!
Hopefully someone else who has dealt with this stuff before will be along soon top advise better!

 

[Aqua Tom]

Well I am redesigning my aquascape later today so will give it a good clean then.

 

[JoshuaA]

Has happened with Mopani and some other driftwood I have, I believe its just a natural formation and has never caused any harm for me. Although it does look unsightly. Best to remove it if you are concerned about its appearance otherwise it's probably fine to leave it alone.

 

[Aqua Tom]

Has happened with Mopani and some other driftwood I have, I believe its just a natural formation and has never caused any harm for me. Although it does look unsightly. Best to remove it if you are concerned about its appearance otherwise it's probably fine to leave it alone.

aha, the growth is definitely only on my mopani, I have a mixture of woods & the actual bogwood seems fine.

 

[JoshuaA]

Yeh my bogwood didn't have any growth on it even though it was sitting next to it.

 

[mbsqw1d]

found this article: http/www.ehow.co.uk/about_6642654_wood-fungus-aquarium.html

I've heard the 'strapping a syphon tube to the end of a (cheap, new) toothbrush' and cleaning it off that way works v. well..