Mold Growing On Emersed Driftwood

[RainboWBacoN420]

Hey there,
I've been setting up a little low level brackish tank for a crab this past week. I have a nice piece of branchy driftwood, half emersed and half submersed. But the emersed part seems to have mold growing on it? It's a white, short, cottony fuzz growing in a few parts. I've started to notice it after I placed an acrylic lid over the tank to trap humidity in for the plants I'm growing emersed.
I am not sure what exactly the humidity levels are, of the temperature of the air inside the tank. The water stays at about 74-75 degress Fahrenheit.
How can I correct this issue? I really don't want to get rid of the driftwood but I feel like I might have to. I've read that sunlight can prevent mold, should I try to see if sunlight would help since my tank is placed under the window?

 

[Byron]

Branch wood purchased in a fish store can be one of several species.  Grapewood is very risky for toxic fungus.  I had issues with this a few years back, and I know of others who have had fish die from this.  Not all fungus is toxic, obviously, but without analysis to determine the species of fungus, you've no way of knowing.  In my case, it was fully submerged; the water became a bit cloudy over the day and night following the addition of the branch (in a 90g tank), and the fish were respirating very rapidly and the cories became lethargic to extreme.  Had I left it, the fish would have been dead in probably one to two days further.
 
I'm not suggestion this is what you have, only pointing out the risk.
 
Byron.

 

[Mark Z.]

I had something growing on my manzanita (branchy) driftwood also when I first put it in my tank. It looked kind of like a fungus, sort of light colored and maybe a half inch thick all over the wood. I was concerned about it and wiped some of it off, but after a week or so it disappeared. I don't know if the snails ate it or if it went away on its own. Maybe give it a week or so and see what happens.

 

[RainboWBacoN420]

I've actually began to soak it in hot saltwater.
One thing I've read, and I had to research hermit crab tank advice just to get some information in regards to humidity and mold growth. But I guess there's not enough air flow in the tank and too much humidity. I already have a lot of holes in the lid, but I guess it's not enough. Some advice that was given was airstones to bring in some air from the outside. So I'm going to try that and see if it helps, but I think I might have to go without the wood or else mold will just start to grow again. Which really bites, I had Riccia moss and anubias petite all over the wood, and it was looking nice.

 

[RainboWBacoN420]

So... I think I made a mistake in purchasing this hydrometer. It's National Geographic and I think it's... Well, it's not the best. The humidity level had stayed at 99% for the longest time since last night. It's been fluctuating today from 99% to 83% to 88% and just keeps bouncing up and down. I'm not entirely sure what's happening here.
I think later on I'm going to invest in a heat lamp. But I'm not sure how I'm going to apply it to the system. I'll need a mesh screen won't I? If I do that, how will I obtain humidity in the tank? It would certainly bring in air flow, but the humidity would diminish greatly, right? Another problem would be fitting a top that can allow the intake and outlet tube of the filter to still be where they are..
I don't how how I'm going to work this out, there's a lot of tweaking to do.

 

[brandoncw]

IMO your getting to worried. I had the same thing growing on my driftwood for about a week or two. just a layer of white fuzzy mold. The same thing happened when i put a fresh new piece in the tank. i never had any losses of anything. the mold just turned brown and i took it out washed it off and the mold hasnt came back since
best of luck

 

[RainboWBacoN420]

IMO your getting to worried. I had the same thing growing on my driftwood for about a week or two. just a layer of white fuzzy mold. The same thing happened when i put a fresh new piece in the tank. i never had any losses of anything. the mold just turned brown and i took it out washed it off and the mold hasnt came back since
best of luck

Was it emersed? Because that's the thing, I know white fuzz happens on submersed wood when it's first introduced.

I've had it soaking in saltwater for about a week now, I'm going to put it in the oven and see if that'll help. Or I may just hold off and wait until I get the humidity/temp controller I ordered. Because I tried a humidity checker, and it would always fluctuate or stay at 99% no matter what changes I made to let more air in. So I'm not sure if it was the checker or the actual humidity. Either way, the product I ordered should keep the humidity in check.
The checker I used was National Geographic, and I honestly don't think it was accurate....

 

[Far_King]

I had some azaelea root which developed mould all over it - the fish loved it!
 
It went away after a couple of weeks and there was no harm done.  However different wood may have different mould...