Algae? thick white substance in tank?

Just noticed this in my 40 gal breeder. I've seen and taken care of many different algaes in my time but never like this. It doesn't look cottony, rather it looks like thick white mats of fur. Anyone know what it could be? TIA

Oh and in my tank I have 5 glow fish, 10 rosie minnows, 5 ghost shrimp, and 1 pleco. It has live plants and driftwood with rock and sand substrate. The "algae" is only in one corner on the rocks and glass, no where else.

 

I'm watching this with great intrest
Welcome to fishlore by the way

 

I'm watching this with great intrest

IKR? I'm pretty good at most stuff with aquariums I'm not a beginner but no expert either. I guess I'm"seasoned" lol but never seen anything like this ever...

 

I've been at it s long time and never come across anything like this I'll tag Feohw see if anything springs to mind

 

Right now just hoping those babies from the Alien movies don't start popping out

 

Right now just hoping those babies from the Alien movies don't start popping out

For real! This is crazy! At least theses fish have a couple of hiding places if it does happen! Lol
!

 

For real! This is crazy! At least theses fish have a couple of hiding places if it does happen! Lol
!

Other than looks, has it been affecting anything?

 

Other than looks, has it been affecting anything?

No everything seems healthy. Plants and animals all thriving.

 

I wonder if it is some breed of slime mold?

 

White usually means it's not photosynthetic, so it's not an algae.

My guess is a fungus of some sort. They seem to be the most common lifeforms to "just appear" and then disappear, IME.

 

I wonder if it is some breed of slime mold?

Either that or bacteria colonies.

 

Right now just hoping those babies from the Alien movies don't start popping out

I was thinking the Steve McQueen classic The Blob!! So when it starts getting bigger and fish disappearing put the whole tank in the freezer!!! .

 

White usually means it's not photosynthetic, so it's not an algae.

My guess is a fungus of some sort. They seem to be the most common lifeforms to "just appear" and then disappear, IME.

Would it hurt living stuff?

No everything seems healthy. Plants and animals all thriving.

 

Would it hurt living stuff?

View attachment 793313

If it is a fungus, I'm not sure I've ever seen a fungus growing on something that was toxic. Could be something else though - fungus was just my first reaction!

 

I saw a few tanks in images that looked like that. It never really got named what it was. A fungus. A mold. But it did look just like that around the rocks. The one said she had organic soil underneath the gravel and her husband must have feed too much food while she was gone. The other one everyone said fungus/mold just vac it out. Waiting on Feo....lol

 

Interesting. I’ve never seen this before either; so following out of curiosity. I’m going to make a guess that it’s some sort of mold/fungus growing on food wastes in a corner of the tank that has no circulation. I’ve never seen one so stringy though.
And welcome to Fishlore TeamNotnat

 

I saw a few tanks in images that looked like that. It never really got named what it was. A fungus. A mold. But it did look just like that around the rocks. The one said she had organic soil underneath the gravel and her husband must have feed too much food while she was gone. The other one everyone said fungus/mold just vac it out. Waiting on Feo....lol

Would it be harmful to the living things in there?

 

While waiting for Feohw maybe Vishaquatics has some ideas.
They wrote this article:
Algae Management and Algae Myths in the Planted Aquarium

 

While waiting for Feohw maybe Vishaquatics has some ideas.
They wrote this article:
Algae Management and Algae Myths in the Planted Aquarium

Thank you!

 

Doesn't look like an algae I've seen, it's probably just some sort of bacteria or fungal growth. I'd get it siphoned out ASAP and do a large water change. It is quite strange though, I've never seen anything of the sort in my 10+ years doing this!

 

Doesn't look like an algae I've seen, it's probably just some sort of bacteria or fungal growth. I'd get it siphoned out ASAP and do a large water change. It is quite strange though, I've never seen anything of the sort in my 10+ years doing this!

I agree with never seeing this. What gets me is that the numbers are fine on this particular aquarium. All my aquariums numbers are good. I just don't get this one...

I agree with never seeing this. What gets me is that the numbers are fine on this particular aquarium. All my aquariums numbers are good. I just don't get this one...

Would bacteria/fungus be deadly to the livestock/ plants?

Doesn't look like an algae I've seen, it's probably just some sort of bacteria or fungal growth. I'd get it siphoned out ASAP and do a large water change. It is quite strange though, I've never seen anything of the sort in my 10+ years doing this!

Would bacteria/fungus be deadly to the livestock/ plants?

 

I'd say it's a type of filamentous bacteria, there are many different types, some look different and some look just as yours does. You can compare with this image of Beggiatoa alba (not that it is this specific species, but you can see the similarity).

They are often referred to as sewage fungus. This name comes from it's affinity for polluted waters. Doesn't need to mean your water itself will test poorly, but can show that there is a build up of organic matter in the substrate that is allowing it to survive. This is why it is usually found in aquariums with gravel or rock as a substrate, not always. Because food particles and such fall between the rocks, build up and allow for the growth of this bacteria.

From the cases I've seen in the aquarium, it shouldn't be harmful. Though I have heard that they will deplete oxygen if allowed to grow into a large enough colony. It's important to find and deal with the cause. Which will require water changes and a good vac of that area.

 

I'd say it's a type of filementous bacteria, there are many different types, some look different and some look just as yours does. You can compare with this image of Beggiatoa alba (not that it is this specific species, but you can see the similarity).

They are often referred to as sewage fungus. This name comes from it's affinity for polluted waters. Doesn't need to mean your water itself will test poorly, but can show that there is a build up of organic matter in the substrate that is allowing it to survive. This is why it is usually found in aquariums with gravel or rock as a substrate, not always. Because food particles and such fall between the rocks, build up and allow for the growth of this bacteria.

From the cases I've seen in the aquarium, it shouldn't be harmful. Though I have heard that they will deplete oxygen if allowed to grow into a large enough colony. It's important to find and deal with the cause. Which will require water changes and a good vac of that area.

Thank you for this. Hopefully I can get rid of it.