Weird White Stuff Floating Around In Cycling Tank

[unspoken930]

Well, I did a 50% water change yesterday and was about to add a few fish to the tank when I noticed these weird floating white particles. The only way i can describe them is theyre about as thin as paper, theyre whiteish cream-ish colored, and they break if you touch them and go into smaller particles. They remind me of the white stuff in hot and sour soup (not the tofu, but the other stuff) and thats the best description I can give you.
I did get a few pictures, but they dont tell much. Hereres the best one though

 

[Lord Zogat]

Well, I did a 50% water change yesterday and was about to add a few fish to the tank when I noticed these weird floating white particles. The only way i can describe them is theyre about as thin as paper, theyre whiteish cream-ish colored, and they break if you touch them and go into smaller particles. They remind me of the white stuff in hot and sour soup (not the tofu, but the other stuff) and thats the best description I can give you.
I did get a few pictures, but they dont tell much. Hereres the best one though

If your water temp has been jacked for the past while when you were cycling, then check your heater for calcium build up. I had tones of it flaking off and it might sound like what your describing as far as color and it breaks up. But all of mine sunk to the botom and did not flot. Even a gravel cleaner had a hard time pulling up larger peices due to weight. I had to break them apart with the side then suck up the smaller bits.

 

[unspoken930]

Well, theres nothing on my heater, its clean. This stuff seems to be comming from the substrate, then floating around in the current.

So, once I gravel vac it it should go away I assume? That is, if its what your desscribing becuase I dont think mines comming from the heater.... but I dont know i guess it could be.

Im not sure whats producing it, since I rinsed my gravel before putting it in the tank, however its Seachem Flourite as I'm planting, so would that have anything to do with it?

 

[Lord Zogat]

Check the heater glass tube real well. Mine covers an area of an inch or more, builds up tot he point where it flakes off in large peices. If the glass tube is completely clean (Some calcium will stick and is a bugger to get off), then I would say you might have something else.

But other than the floating bit, it sounds like calcium. I'd hold off on fish until your able to properly identify it.

If no one here responds with a more accurate suggestion, then capture some and take it to your LFS. See what they say.

 

[unspoken930]

I just checked the heater( I took it out and everything) and its very clean. Id take it to the LFS, but I dont think theyd know much since my LFS is a petco and a petsmart. I might take some there anyways though so I can just be sure they dont have any suggestions as to what it is..

 

[InaneCathode]

It's probably just random bacteria or fungus that's thriving in the high temperature, high ammonia atmosphere. Bringing your temp down and doing a big water change when you're ready to put fish in should get rid of it.

 

[unspoken930]

Thanks for the responces