Oquorpahe

Ok- so I've just started a new tank (I have a 2 year old 5.5 gallon tank in addition) and it's been cycling for about a week. I just added a large piece of driftwood (Mopani wood, ZooMed brand) after letting it soak for a few days to remove all the tannins. A day after that, the wood has a white film all over it. I ran into this while starting my smaller tank too. Cant remember exactly how I got rid of it then.
Even if I try to scrub/scrape off the film, it comes back. Water changes, no matter how big or frequent seem to stop it. When I had it in my smaller tank, it didnt seem to bother my betta to swim around in it. The water itself isn't cloudy, but there is a fast growing film that is spreading on the surfaces of objects.
Anyway- the tank is new and cycling (fishless) and since there are no fish in it, I"m not super worried about anything yet. I have used some of the Nutrafin cycle stuff, though now I understand its pretty worthless.
anyway- any insight would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

Attached Images

001.JPG (34.3 KB, 75 views)

TedsTank

Looks like a very nice piece of wood!!

Yes, that is a bacterial bloom.....normal to most new driftwood additions. Don't worry at all, it will die off in a while...can take days sometimes. The bacteria are feeding on small organics in the wood. It will probably also help your tank to cycle.

coffeebean

totally normal. mine did that too. my plecos loved it/

prairielilly

Deja vu...see this thread

white slime on new piece of wood

Brimstonepdx

My LFS told me to Boil my driftwood to avoid that. I did and had no white slime. If it will help cycle the tank faster, as stated above, I'd say leave it. Good to know for the future though if you want to add new pieces into a cycled tank later on.

Oquorpahe

Sweet! Good to know all. Thanks for your input. I kinda figured that was what it was, but wasnt quite sure. I would boil it, except that its about 2 feet long haha
I should note too, that for whatever reason, the bacteria has colonized most heavily on the dark stripes in the wood. weird.
Thanks again everyone!

carlos413

Got pic's? We love pic's.

Chrisson

I think the dark strips are some bark left behind so the bacteria is working on it to turn it into ammonia.

TedsTank

Yes the dark parts are considered "softwood" parts of the tree/root (from bark layers, previous growth damage, around knots and holes, etc.) and most the bac's will feed there. Boiling won't prevent a bacterial bloom...all the bacterias are in your tank waiting for food.

Oquorpahe

That totally makes sense about the bacs feeding on the softwood. The bloom has grown quite a bit since my original post. Here's some more pics. The tank is almost done. I need to re-arrange a few plants, and I've been thinking about maybe adding some sand as well, especially if I get a/some dojo loach/es. The water is colored because of the tannins from the driftwood. most of the color is out of the wood since I've soaked it for four days and nights in a seperate container. If the water gets too dark, I'll do a water change, but since there are no fish, I'm not too worried.

When this baby gets cycled, I'm planning on a South East Asian theme. Most of the plants are asiatic, and I'm thinking about zebra danios, cherry barbs, some kind of gourami, a bamboo shrimp, and maybe a dojo (weather) loach or two.

Attached Images

003.JPG (78.4 KB, 50 views)

Oquorpahe

I should also note that my tank is currently on the floor and not on its stand because I'm getting ready to move. lol. Hoping to add fish when I get to the new place. Easier on me and the fish.

TedsTank

Tank looks great and sounds like you have it planned out well....let me give you a heads-up - "THEY" will want pictures!!!!!!