Is this normal?

[Fishfaced]

I'm using fish flakes for a fishless cycle.
These tiny mould like spaws have appeared
(Green fluff)
Would you remove them or leave it run it's course?

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I'd probably leave it alone. I get all kinds of funky growths in my natural tanks when I'm waiting for them to settle down so I can add fish. They go away with time.

 

[Colin_T]

It looks like blue green algae, get rid of it now or it will spread.

You can use a hard fish pellet or a dead piece of bait or prawn to cycle the tank. Just take it out each day and replace it when needed. Prawn holds together better than flake and doesn't cause blue green algae outbreaks.

 

[Fishfaced]

Hmmm got two bits of advice that don't agree...?

Crap.. what to do....?

 

[Fishfaced]

It looks like blue green algae, get rid of it now or it will spread.

You can use a hard fish pellet or a dead piece of bait or prawn to cycle the tank. Just take it out each day and replace it when needed. Prawn holds together better than flake and doesn't cause blue green algae outbreaks.

I was going to use a prawn but I heard your house starts smelling like a fish mongers. Didn't like the thought of that.
I'll see about getting the pellets.

 

[Essjay]

The easiest way to use prawn is to put it in a fine mesh bag. That makes it a lot easier to remove and replace with new prawn when it begins to smell.

 

[Fishfaced]

That's an idea.
How about those stick on pellets, would they be a better alternative to flakes?

 

[Essjay]

The stick on pellets tend to be dried live food; I would stick with flakes/pellets/prawns. There's nothing to say you can't put flakes and pellets in a bag, that would stop them sitting on the bottom of the tank growing mouldy.

 

[Fishfaced]

I did initially think of a small mesh pouch. I just didn't know how best to make sure it was clean enough to go in the tank.

 

[Fishfaced]

The stick on pellets tend to be dried live food; I would stick with flakes/pellets/prawns. There's nothing to say you can't put flakes and pellets in a bag, that would stop them sitting on the bottom of the tank growing mouldy.

Would you remove the mould?

 

[Essjay]

If there's mouldy food on the bottom of the tank it needs to be removed and more food added.

They make mesh bags to hold carbon granules in an external filter. Though I make my own when I need them. I bought a length of net fabric from a shop that sells dress making fabric and cut a circle out. Then I run some knitting yarn about a cm in from the edge and pul that tight to gather the circle into a bag. The yarn strings can then be looped round something to hold the bag in place.
Before using it I just run the home made bag under the cold water tap for a few minutes.

 

[Fishfaced]

If there's mouldy food on the bottom of the tank it needs to be removed and more food added.

They make mesh bags to hold carbon granules in an external filter. Though I make my own when I need them. I bought a length of net fabric from a shop that sells dress making fabric and cut a circle out. Then I run some knitting yarn about a cm in from the edge and pul that tight to gather the circle into a bag. The yarn strings can then be looped round something to hold the bag in place.
Before using it I just run the home made bag under the cold water tap for a few minutes.

Thank you!

 

[Colin_T]

I was going to use a prawn but I heard your house starts smelling like a fish mongers. Didn't like the thought of that.
I'll see about getting the pellets.

It only does that if you leave it in the tank for too long. If you replace it each day, it doesn't smell.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Hmmm got two bits of advice that don't agree...?

Crap.. what to do....?

Welcome to fish keeping! ha ha ha Sorry for the confusion. There's usually more than one right way to do something. Removing it would be the safest bet, so if in doubt, throw it out. (Words to live by) I tend to let things run their course unless they are obviously causing a problem.

 

[Fishfaced]

Welcome to fish keeping! ha ha ha Sorry for the confusion. There's usually more than one right way to do something. Removing it would be the safest bet, so if in doubt, throw it out. (Words to live by) I tend to let things run their course unless they are obviously causing a problem.

Good rule of thumb
Thanks