mcdonald.kk

I got home from work today and went to look at my tank. Something went seriously wrong during the day. The water is cloudy and there is a clear/white algae all over everything. It was most apparent on a new piece of grapevine I had just put in yesterday which was completely enveloped. I immediately removed the piece of wood and am about to do a large water change (about 6 gallons worth in a 20 gallon tank. I took a water sample to test at work. As of this morning my water was as follows: pH 6.2, Total alkalinity 40, chlorine 0, total hardness 75 (GH), nitrite 0, nitrate 0. My tank is still in the process of cycling. I started on Monday morning so it has been 5 days. I used Cycle in setting it up. Since Monday I have added plants (I was told this could actually be helpful in cycling a tank in controlling nitrates etc.). I did add 2 tablets of iron supplement (the dosing recommended 1 tablet/ 10 gallons) around Tuesday or Wednesday for the plants that I added. Around 10 hrs after I first set up my tank (on Monday) my water measurements were: pH6.8, alkalinity 80ppm, hardness 40ppm, 0 nitrates, 0 nitrites. Unfortunately these two water tests were done with different water test kit brands so there is no chlorine reading for Monday. I don't know if all the background info helps but any advice people have would be great. I'm really worried about my tank.

sirdarksol

White is usually a bacteria bloom, a normal part of the nitrogen cycle. It seems like something has gone wrong, but actually, it's things going right.
What happens is that the bacteria begin to outgrow the nitrogen source, dying off almost as quickly as they can procreate. Keep doing partial water changes.
The plants are definitely helpful. They soak up extra nitrogen.
I wouldn't worry about plant supplements right now, and I would stop using Cycle. The general consensus around here is that it doesn't do anything useful.

Things should clear up in a couple of days. Keep us posted.

susitna-flower

Are you doing a fishless cycle?

What is your ammonia reading?

Don't worry about the white "algae", IF it is on a grapevine, it may be something like I have had in a tank before, a plant form much like a mushroom....don't know what it is called, but it was eaten by otoes and bristlenose plecos. OR if it is just cloudy milky water it is as sirdarksol said a bacterial bloom.

sirdarksol

Sorry. Missed the grapevine thing. Susitna's right. That seems to be pretty common.

mcdonald.kk

so should I put the grapevine back in as is? or try to clean it off and then put it in?
Yes I am doing a fishless cycle. I don't know what my ammonia reading is. Since I work at a pet store I always just take my water in to test it.

Barbrella

That reading is going to be very important once you add fish to your tank. One of the best test kits is the API Master kit. You might want to consider getting it! Don't waste your money on the strips. They can be very inaccurate as I found out.

This grapevine - where did it come from? Is it something that was freshly cut, or is it dried?

mcdonald.kk

The grapevine was dried. I bought it at petco. The tag on it says "Made for petco by The Woodsman. Sandblasted heat-treated. No pesticides or chemicals" I got it from their reptile section. I noticed today when I got home from work that the water has maintained its clarity since I did a 25% water change last night. How often should I be doing these water changes? I did notice that this white algae has managed to spread to some of my mopani wood but has not engulfed them yet, just a few spots of fuzz. I'll buy a test kit tomorrow. Thanks for the advice on what is a good brand to get =)

sirdarksol

25% water change once a week.
I would, for the time being, use a toothbrush to scrub off the mopani. Unsure of how to deal with the grapevine (I just pulled mine out of the tank after it went all fuzzy).

mcdonald.kk

Then I'll get a-scrubbing tomorrow. p.s. I also just posted about snails in the beginner section. I'm wondering if there is a connection between this grapevine and the sudden appearance of a snail (perhaps more to come?) in my tank this evening...=( My ammonia is at zero. I have an API master test kit coming in the next day or two. I'll post my readings when it arrives. My grapevine is languishing in a trash bag-I'm not sure what to do with mine either....Thanks for the advice.