Problem With Whitish Slime

[Irf]

Hi all,

I've had my tank for around 3 weeks now. It's been cycling with no fish for two weeks, and I just recently added some zebra danios. The plants have been in the tank for a week before the fish.

I have some basic rocks and a piece of bogwood bought from the aquarium shop. In addition I bought a piece of Mopani hardwood from the shop and have been soaking and rinsing it for several days.

I put this log into the tank three days before the fish, and just before the fish went it I noticed a white slime had covered part of the log. I got worried and took the log out before adding the fish. I rinsed, scrubbed, rinsed and soaked the log again before putting it back in. I thought the issue was over, so I attached some Java Moss to the log.

Unfortunately the slime has reappeared, and I think there is some on the moss and another plant nearby now as well.

Does anyone know why this is happening, and if it's serious? If so, what can I do?

Many thanks from a worried newbie!

Irf.

 

[Graeme Edwards]

No need to worry

That is to be expected, its been a common thing when i have bought mopani if its really bad i keep scrubbing it if not i leave it and it eventually goes away.

I think what it is, is bacteria feeding on still semi green/live/not full dead and dried wood, once the food for the bacteria has gone the white goo should too.

I think im right im saying that bog wood( the dark black to brown stuff) is from actual boggy/wet conditions so is ready ( so to speak ) to use where as Mopani wood has been dug up DRY from the desert ( From dried ancient bogs) and sand blasted.


Iv had the same thing on my Mopani wood and its had no effect on the plants, fish or water quality, it just isn't nice to look at.
It does go with time.

Hope this helps
Graeme.

 

[Irf]

No need to worry

That is to be expected, its been a common thing when i have bought mopani if its really bad i keep scrubbing it if not i leave it and it eventually goes away.

I think what it is, is bacteria feeding on still semi green/live/not full dead and dried wood, once the food for the bacteria has gone the white goo should too.

I think im right im saying that bog wood( the dark black to brown stuff) is from actual boggy/wet conditions so is ready ( so to speak ) to use where as Mopani wood has been dug up DRY from the desert ( From dried ancient bogs) and sand blasted.


Iv had the same thing on my Mopani wood and its had no effect on the plants, fish or water quality, it just isn't nice to look at.
It does go with time.

Hope this helps
Graeme.

Thanks Graeme - that's reassuring to know! I was on the point of taking it out permanently! I looked this morning and there seem to be bubbles forming within the slime, so you must be right in saying that it's bacteria.

Because of what you say regarding it not affecting the plants, then perhaps I have a different problem with them?

I'll have a trawl through the forums to find similar issues, and then post again if necessary.

Thanks again,

Irf.