White Algae Or Fungus?

[rebrn]

Hello, well my 5 gallon tank has had its first complete ammonia clear in 12 hours, and the nitrites went from 5 to 0.25 in 12 hours, so I think I might be coming close to finally finishing the cycle in this tank (maybe another couple of weeks). At any rate, up until today I have not noticed any algae in the tank. Today I noticed a very small amount (maybe 1/2 inch if that) of white almost transulent algae clinging to the gravel substrate (only one area cannot see any anywhere else). I am assuming this is algae and not something else. My question is will this clear whiteish algae clear with the final water change? Obviously I will go ahead and gravel vac espically in that area, but is there anything else I need to do?

Edit: I tried to take a picture of it, but it does not show up on the photo at all ... I will try to see if I can find it on line.

Edit 2: I turned the light on to the aquarium to see if that would help get a better picture, no luck, but I did spot some more of it in the gravel at various spots around the aquarium.

Edit 3: This is a photo I found on the net, closest I could find to what I have, only I have much much less and it is on the gravel only.

 

[rebrn]

Thanks OM, looks like I got it to work at the same time you did. This is the first time I have posted a pic using the new layout, so it took me a little bit to figue it out. Thanks again.

 

[OldMan47]

When I saw you had it working, I deleted my own post.

 

[rebrn]

Ok so I grabbed my net and removed the 3 tiny patches of this white "algae" stuff out of the tank. When I got it out it had a greyish appearence to it. It didn't really have a strong order, kinda smelt like soil or the sterotypical "fish tank" smell. Hard to really explain. But it detached from the gravel peices very easily. I have been trying to find out more on the internet but can't really find anything definative. Some sites say algae some say a fungus. My concern is if it is a fungus, do I need to treat the tank before I add fish? And if I do need to treat the tank, should I do it after the cycle is complete or do it now? Finally, if I do need to treat the tank, is that going to mean that my cycle is destroyed. I would hate to have to start all over again

Thanks