Wood Is Still Covered With Mould/fluff

[Deleted member 55926]

Throughout cycling, my wood was covered with mould, and I was told this would disappear once the tank was planted and stocked. However, it seems to have remained, and has in fact overtaken my java moss attached to the wood (it's filled with white fluff).

I noticed when I was cycling that, during the periods where my cycle crashed, the fluff disappeared. So I assume the mould thrives on NO2/NO3 or something like that. Can anybody tell me what exactly feeds the mould? I have noticed the gouramis occasionally nipping slightly at the mould, but I get the impression they're just nibbling at particles caught in the mould, not the mould itself.

How do I get rid of this disgusting-looking mould? Would a pleco eat it? I'm planning to get one soon.

 

[danb]

Throughout cycling, my wood was covered with mould, and I was told this would disappear once the tank was planted and stocked. However, it seems to have remained, and has in fact overtaken my java moss attached to the wood (it's filled with white fluff).

I noticed when I was cycling that, during the periods where my cycle crashed, the fluff disappeared. So I assume the mould thrives on NO2/NO3 or something like that. Can anybody tell me what exactly feeds the mould? I have noticed the gouramis occasionally nipping slightly at the mould, but I get the impression they're just nibbling at particles caught in the mould, not the mould itself.

How do I get rid of this disgusting-looking mould? Would a pleco eat it? I'm planning to get one soon.

Take it out and wash it?

Thats all i do when my bogwood turns green.

 

[Deleted member 55926]

But it's not algae. It's mould.

Funny you should say that though, because my bogwood is clean as anything. It's sumatra bogwood that is mouldy.

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, I think that's what's sometimes meant by saying molds and funguses will go away after cycling - more that they maybe won't usually come back after you clean them off. Maybe there's something about that different type of wood. Its not a type I've heard people talk about.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Deleted member 55926]

Do you think shrimp or a pleco would help eat the mould?

 

[waterdrop]

I know that Plecos like and even -need- wood in the tank but I don't know if they'd consume your mould...

 

[Laura.p]

I have a similar problem with my Mopani root.
It's been in the tank a week and was boiled untill it released no more tannins before it went in the tank.

Now it has a small patch of White jelly-like mould.
My plec hasn't been near the wood yet.

I might scrape it off.

 

[Deleted member 55926]

Laura, if it goes anything like mine, the small patch will overtake the wood soon. Mine was literally covered in white fluff up to an inch long, and it's sort of like jelly, as you said - especially when you take it out of the water.

Well, I took all the wood out and gave it a thorough scrubbing to get all the mould off. It was so bad that when I lifted the wood up out of the tank, loads of gravel was stuck to the bottom by the slimy mould. Unfortunately, within a day of cleaning and replacing it in the tank, I saw the return of a thin film of fluff already over the entire pieces of wood.

I have noticed my gouramis very occasionally nipping at the mould on the java moss, but they are definitely not going to clean it out. I am at my wits end with this. I might just have to get some different wood, which is a real shame because it looks amazing and cost me £30. It's funny that my mopani bogwood is completely unaffected by it.

 

[waterdrop]

wow, I hope mine doesn't do this. Maybe you should try another few sessions of boiling or boiling water after you take it out and scrub it again.. or maybe someone will come along with some other idea for making it less prone to this particular mold. It does not sound nice for the look of your tank! WD

 

[raptorrex]

wow, I hope mine doesn't do this. Maybe you should try another few sessions of boiling or boiling water after you take it out and scrub it again.. or maybe someone will come along with some other idea for making it less prone to this particular mold. It does not sound nice for the look of your tank! WD

I feel the "boiling" may well be the cause. boiling is cooking, this breaks down the fibre content. whilst killing any bacteria in the wood. it gives access to, any that may be in the tank. possibly causing such mould. I have to say, i have never boiled any wood, but have had no mould. did get dark water from the mapani wood though.

 

[waterdrop]

Interesting Raptor, I've not heard this before. I've never actually boiled mine as I don't think I have a pot that big but I've poured boiling water over it and it seemed pretty obvious it was making the tannins come out faster. Actually I need to check on it this weekend, I've kind of forgotten it down in the basement, lol.

It would stand to reason there could be very different amounts of mold spores in different pieces of wood you happen to pick up and I guess different hardnesses and structures of the wood itself.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[fishinadish]

have you tried soaking the wood in salt water this is what i done with my bogwood before adding it to the tank

obviously it would need soaking for a day or 2 in clean water after having it soak in salt

 

[Deleted member 55926]

My mopani bogwood is not affected at all by the mould, and I covered that with boiling water a lot - in fact, more than the wood I have which is growing mould.

I have 3 pieces affected, and by the look of it, the two which have mould all over them are the ones with java moss attached. What I might do is remove the moss, clean the wood again, then see if it comes back. It's possible that the moss reintroduced the mould, as it was impossible to clean off all the mould tangled in amongst the moss. However, I would be surprised if I truly rid the wood of moss simply by scrubbing it off. The mould spores are probably deep in the pores and cracks.

What I don't understand is why the mould is thriving, when the plants should be absorbing all their nutrients.

have you tried soaking the wood in salt water this is what i done with my bogwood before adding it to the tank

obviously it would need soaking for a day or 2 in clean water after having it soak in salt

Not sure I am 100% confident doing that. Worried it would kill the already fragile ecosystem in my tank.

 

[raptorrex]

My mopani bogwood is not affected at all by the mould, and I covered that with boiling water a lot - in fact, more than the wood I have which is growing mould.

I have 3 pieces affected, and by the look of it, the two which have mould all over them are the ones with java moss attached. What I might do is remove the moss, clean the wood again, then see if it comes back. It's possible that the moss reintroduced the mould, as it was impossible to clean off all the mould tangled in amongst the moss. However, I would be surprised if I truly rid the wood of moss simply by scrubbing it off. The mould spores are probably deep in the pores and cracks.

What I don't understand is why the mould is thriving, when the plants should be absorbing all their nutrients.

have you tried soaking the wood in salt water this is what i done with my bogwood before adding it to the tank

obviously it would need soaking for a day or 2 in clean water after having it soak in salt

Not sure I am 100% confident doing that. Worried it would kill the already fragile ecosystem in my tank.

Perhaps look into using heat?
an oven at full wack will kill, virtually, all nasties.

 

[DD2510]

my piece of mopani has developed some of this fluff... will keep an eye on it and see what happens