Questions about my tank and mopani wood

It’s been about a month and my mopani wood is still creating loads and loads of biofilm. I tried sucking some out with my turkey baster: man does it stink so bad lately. Like rotten eggs or swamp water. The tank itself doesn’t smell but as soon as i suck that stuff out into my bucket i can smell it. I hope this is normal??
I’ve also had a huge outbreak of rhabdocoela worms because i’ve been trying to keep the excess nutrients and debris under control but regular water changes don’t seem to be doing much compared to the amount being shed and produced.
My ammonia and nitrite are zero, and nitrates are close to zero

So i guess my main questions are:
-when will my mopani wood stop creating white cotton-like biofilm? (it’s pretty big compared to the 5 gallon tank it’s in, it’s the main center piece of the tank)
-will the bioload and excess nutrients calm down and become more controllable once the wood runs its course? how am i supposed to get rid of all this without taking everything out of the tank?
-Will the water stop smelling like rotten eggs?

P.S. My betta appears to be thriving in this environment and is very active. My two snails are doing well also, so they don’t seem to be in any danger even with the rotten egg smell.
P.P.S. my betta approves of the worms. He likes to eat them as a snack. Talk about population control. LOL.

 

Yes it will eventually stop. How big of water changes ae you doing?

 

Yes it will eventually stop. How big of water changes ae you doing?

around 50% weekly. Did a small one today (<25%) to vacuum the bio film so I guess I could say bi weekly if i’m being generous. The 50% ones i do are usually weekly with a tiny one during the week.

 

Carbon will help take the smell out. There really is nothing you can do until its done its thing. Im surprised your snails are not munching on it.

 

Carbon will help take the smell out. There really is nothing you can do until its done its thing. Im surprised your snails are not munching on it.

They’re all over the wood, plus they’re nerites! honestly thought they would do a better job too. I’m thinking about getting a third snail because there’s just so much of that stuff.
I also do have an activated carbon pouch in my filter, i got a box of them two weeks ago. It worked well the first week, i rinsed it with dechlorinated water during my last water change and since then it hasn’t been doing as well of a job. But it’s only been two weeks! Oh well. I’ll live through what i can; can’t wait til the ugly film clears up.
For now, my betta will have plenty of worm snacks.
Thanks for the responses StarGirl

 

Just remember once the film is gone you still gotta feed 3 Nerites that usually dont eat regular food. Maybe Amano shrimp? The carbon in the cartridges is basically nothing. maybe try some loose carbon in a chunk of unused pantyhose if it will fit in the filter? Carbon is only good until it is full. Then useless.

 

Just remember once the film is gone you still gotta feed 3 Nerites that usually dont eat regular food. Maybe Amano shrimp? The carbon in the cartridges is basically nothing. maybe try some loose carbon in a chunk of unused pantyhose if it will fit in the filter? Carbon is only good until it is full. Then useless.

My filter is a Marina Slim 10 HOB filter.. there is not very much space because it is extremely slim. The pouch of carbon barely fits in there. Wish i could use your suggestion though :/
I was thinking of feeding the snails wafers once the biofilm disappears. I heard that’s what some keepers feed them.
By amano shrimp, do you mean live? If so, i won’t be able to use those… I currently live with my parents and any live food is a no go. Is there anything specific that is frozen or dried that you recommend for snails besides wafers?

 

No Amano shrimp real shrimps. Like regular fish not food. Nerites may eat veggies like Zucchini and spinach.

 

No Amano shrimp real shrimps. Like regular fish not food. Nerites may eat veggies like Zucchini and spinach.

Ohh haha oops. Clearly misunderstood you there. I was scratching my head as to why snails would eat shrimp hahaha. As you can probably now tell, i’m not super educated in the crustacean category.

My male betta ignores the nerites, but shrimp typically make more movement. Wouldn’t he show aggression and become stressed towards them?
Im aware some male bettas are more even tempered and not so angry at anything that moves. I’m really unsure of what Loki would do with shrimp, as it really does depend on his individual personality.

 

Yeah he might. Shrimps just eat stuff. Lol

 

Hello again. Back to this thread for another question/concern: again about my mopani wood. There is still white biofilm but there also has been continual dark brown fuzz growing on the wood only.
I’m worried it’s black beard but I can’t be too sure since i’ve luckily never personally dealt with the nuisance algae. Was wondering if someone can help me ID this for sure? Might be part of decomposition of the wood but i thought i would ask just to be safe.
PS: still no shrimps in the tank, i’m undecided on whether i should get them and i’m also very busy with college this time of year.
Pictures(featuring a photobombing Loki):

 

Hello again. Back to this thread for another question/concern: again about my mopani wood. There is still white biofilm but there also has been continual dark brown fuzz growing on the wood only.
I’m worried it’s black beard but I can’t be too sure since i’ve luckily never personally dealt with the nuisance algae. Was wondering if someone can help me ID this for sure? Might be part of decomposition of the wood but i thought i would ask just to be safe.
PS: still no shrimps in the tank, i’m undecided on whether i should get them and i’m also very busy with college this time of year.
Pictures(featuring a photobombing Loki):

It looks like it. Luckily since it’s probably not heavy (assuming since it’s in a 5 gallon) you can always take the piece of wood out of the tank and put some hydrogen peroxide on the algae. Wait a min and put it back in the tank (quick rinse isn’t necessary but I do). It won’t kill it instantly, but after a few days it’ll turn reddish and you’ll know it’s dead.

 

How did you prep the wood before you installed it?

 

How did you prep the wood before you installed it?

I was brand new to driftwood and had no idea about soaking or boiling beforehand until i had already put the wood in the tank. I had put it in a really cool position so I didn’t want to have to take it out unless i absolutely had to, and after asking I was told it would be perfectly fine and to just expect a ton of biofilm and tannins. I was prepared for the bio load, i do water changes very often, but now that there appears to be black beard growing I will take it out, treat it, and probably boil it in dechlorinated water Any other suggestions about what to do?

 

I was brand new to driftwood and had no idea about soaking or boiling beforehand until i had already put the wood in the tank. I had put it in a really cool position so I didn’t want to have to take it out unless i absolutely had to, and after asking I was told it would be perfectly fine and to just expect a ton of biofilm and tannins. I was prepared for the bio load, i do water changes very often, but now that there appears to be black beard growing I will take it out, treat it, and probably boil it in dechlorinated water Any other suggestions about what to do?

Boiling is good.

 

Mopani wood is be pretty soft with lots of crevices for gunk to hide.
As long as you take it out anyways, brush it to get all the grime out, then cook it. Should take care of any algea at the same time.

 

Mopani wood is be pretty soft with lots of crevices for gunk to hide.
As long as you take it out anyways, brush it to get all the grime out, then cook it. Should take care of any algea at the same time.

Mopani is one of the hardest and heaviest kinds of wood we use in tanks.
It is "fresh" wood harvested as roots and originates from Namibia.

Are you 100 sure it is Mopani Alex?. The rotten egg smell is weird to me cause that points towards anaerobic rotting of something.

Mopani contains a lot.of tanins to preserve amd protect the wood from rotting and other influences from outside.

Boiling damages the woodvibers and in that way let it release this protective tannins / acids and make it rot earlier and the open stucture caused let algae and other stuff attach even earlier.

Algae isn't caused by the wood but only populates places it can find.

So if the rottenegg smell comes from the wood you can better get it out and don't use it. I doubt it is Mopani then.

Boiling won't prevent this and only will make things worse in my opinion.

 

Mopani is one of the hardest and heaviest kinds of wood we use in tanks.
It is "fresh" wood harvested as roots and originates from Namibia.

Are you 100 sure it is Mopani Alex?. The rotten egg smell is weird to me cause that points towards anaerobic rotting of something.

Mopani contains a lot.of tanins to preserve amd protect the wood from rotting and other influences from outside.

Boiling damages the woodvibers and in that way let it release this protective tannins / acids and make it rot earlier and the open stucture caused let algae and other stuff attach even earlier.

Algae isn't caused by the wood but only populates places it can find.

So if the rottenegg smell comes from the wood you can better get it out and don't use it. I doubt it is Mopani then.

Boiling won't prevent this and only will make things worse in my opinion.

Okay, I stand corrected. My Mopani is shedding a lot of wood particles a year after being brushed and boiled. None of my wood pieces had any gunk growing on it, though. May be just luck and the water consistency?

 

Okay, I stand corrected. My Mopani is shedding a lot of wood particles a year after being brushed and boiled. None of my wood pieces had any gunk growing on it, though. May be just luck and the water consistency?

Ahhhh I think inyiur case the bark flakes of.

 

Ahhhh I think inyiur case the bark flakes of.

Only knows it is messy...should move ir for a while into the big tank, the Pleco will have a feast.

 

Mopani is one of the hardest and heaviest kinds of wood we use in tanks.
It is "fresh" wood harvested as roots and originates from Namibia.

Are you 100 sure it is Mopani Alex?. The rotten egg smell is weird to me cause that points towards anaerobic rotting of something.

Mopani contains a lot.of tanins to preserve amd protect the wood from rotting and other influences from outside.

Boiling damages the woodvibers and in that way let it release this protective tannins / acids and make it rot earlier and the open stucture caused let algae and other stuff attach even earlier.

Algae isn't caused by the wood but only populates places it can find.

So if the rottenegg smell comes from the wood you can better get it out and don't use it. I doubt it is Mopani then.

Boiling won't prevent this and only will make things worse in my opinion.

It is the fluval brand mopani wood. The white biofilm on the wood is what stinks. when i go up to the tank and smell the water right in the tank, it doesn’t stink. it’s only when i draw out the biofilm with my turkey baster and put it in the wastewater bucket.
It’s beautiful wood, and i looked up pictures to be sure and it definitely looks like mopani. When I take it out i can post pictures of the entire back of it, as the back is all dark brown and the front is a lighter colour. the pictures i have posted is the front of the log.
I agree with you on the Tannins part DoubleDutch, i’ve got carbon in my filter that gets used up very fast because the amount of tannins this wood creates is insane.
So you’re saying boiling the wood is a bad idea?
Here’s a picture of the tank as it is currently. I don’t want to take the wood out until i know exactly what it is I have to do. I would really hate to have to get rid of this beautiful tank centrepiece.
Second picture shows a little bit of the darker wood that occupies most of the back of the log, which for now i can’t see.
Also adding a picture of the wood when first put in the tank, before the fish and snails were added.

 

It is the fluval brand mopani wood. The white biofilm on the wood is what stinks. when i go up to the tank and smell the water right in the tank, it doesn’t stink. it’s only when i draw out the biofilm with my turkey baster and put it in the wastewater bucket.
It’s beautiful wood, and i looked up pictures to be sure and it definitely looks like mopani. When I take it out i can post pictures of the entire back of it, as the back is all dark brown and the front is a lighter colour. the pictures i have posted is the front of the log.
I agree with you on the Tannins part DoubleDutch, i’ve got carbon in my filter that gets used up very fast because the amount of tannins this wood creates is insane.
So you’re saying boiling the wood is a bad idea?
Here’s a picture of the tank as it is currently. I don’t want to take the wood out until i know exactly what it is I have to do. I would really hate to have to get rid of this beautiful tank centrepiece.
Second picture shows a little bit of the darker wood that occupies most of the back of the log, which for now i can’t see.
Also adding a picture of the wood when first put in the tank, before the fish and snails were added.

Yes, that looks really bad....I can take it off your hands if you want to get rid of it

 

Yes, that looks really bad....I can take it off your hands if you want to get rid of it

I really don’t want to get rid of it LOL. I love how it looks when all that stuff isn’t there. Say if I were to give it to you Fisch, what would you do to get this back in good shape? I wanna do what it takes to make the wood look better
I was told that biofilm on wood goes away after a while.
Also just tested the water and everything is at 0. pH is 7.5.

 

Too bad....I would do with it what I did with any piece of wood (willow, poplar, Mopani, Ironwood) or rock.
I soak it, scrub it with a household Bristle Brush (reserved for fish tank items) until nothing falls off anymore, then boil it for an hour or too. Brush it again to get anything softened during the boiling process, let it cool down and put it into the tank.
That is my personal way, and it worked for me since I started the tank. It is a lot of work, and there is some controversy. But you asked

 

Too bad....I would do with it what I did with any piece of wood (willow, poplar, Mopani, Ironwood) or rock.
I soak it, scrub it with a household Bristle Brush (reserved for fish tank items) until nothing falls off anymore, then boil it for an hour or too. Brush it again to get anything softened during the boiling process, let it cool down and put it into the tank.
That is my personal way, and it worked for me since I started the tank. It is a lot of work, and there is some controversy. But you asked

if it worked for you perhaps it will work for me too! Although there is controversy on boiling mopani, as DoubleDutch mentioned it would make the whole situation worse. It appears i am at a crossroads, but might just end up trying your method as I am also kind of at a last resort. Gonna sit on the thought for tonight.
Am also curious about what DoubleDutch would do to try and fix the chaos haha
Thanks so much for your two cents Fisch

 

I have a week off of school so I finally have the time to do the big clean. Taking the wood out and boiling it today! hopefully all goes well. I’m transferring Loki (my betta) and snails to a fish use only container while doing this clean because there will be a lot of stirred up bioload while taking out the wood, and will do my best to vaccuum up as much as i can with my turkey baster. Obviously this will also call for a large water change.
Wish me luck, i’ll keep posting if i have questions. Will also post pictures of the back of the wood as promised.

 

I have a week off of school so I finally have the time to do the big clean. Taking the wood out and boiling it today! hopefully all goes well. I’m transferring Loki (my betta) and snails to a fish use only container while doing this clean because there will be a lot of stirred up bioload while taking out the wood, and will do my best to vaccuum up as much as i can with my turkey baster. Obviously this will also call for a large water change.
Wish me luck, i’ll keep posting if i have questions. Will also post pictures of the back of the wood as promised.

Good luck. Be sure there aren't soft spots (rotting) in the wood.

 

Boil it for a few hours while changing the water. Keep as much of it under water as possible.

 

And of course keep the brush handy...
I am curious if it will solve your issue, if not, I will still take that piece of wood

 

And of course keep the brush handy...
I am curious if it will solve your issue, if not, I will still take that piece of wood

I scrubbed the entire wood down for 15 minutes with a brand new toothbrush. Felt around for soft spots and couldnt find any.

What i did find rather interesting was that the entire back of the wood which is all very dark had no biofilm or algae on it. only the front part of the log, which is a much lighter toned part of the wood.

I am boiling the wood in the biggest pot i have, only about half of it fits under the water so i will have to flip it around a bit while it boils
Fisch I am not letting go of the wood until i’ve tried everything hahaha
Also discovered nerite snail eggs on the wood. Annoying lol
First pic is front of log, last pic is the back
This is after the first period of boiling

 

Good luck. Be sure there aren't soft spots (rotting) in the wood.

What exactly do you mean by “soft”? like mushy/squishy soft?
The water after the 2nd boil is very red. The wood also looks stained red in some places
.
Some little pieces of wood fell off while boiling. Gave it another thorough scrub and rinse, now letting it sit in dechlorinated water for about an hour. Then i’ll post a picture of it in the tank. crossing fingers it worked considering i boiled it twice for a total of 2 hours, changing water at the one hour mark.

 

Yes, Mopani Wood leaches a lot of tannins for quite some time but it will get less. I am curious how this will work out for you. Beautiful piece of wood.

 

What exactly do you mean by “soft”? like mushy/squishy soft?
The water after the 2nd boil is very red. The wood also looks stained red in some places
.
Some little pieces of wood fell off while boiling. Gave it another thorough scrub and rinse, now letting it sit in dechlorinated water for about an hour. Then i’ll post a picture of it in the tank. crossing fingers it worked considering i boiled it twice for a total of 2 hours, changing water at the one hour mark.

Soft spots where you finger will sink in.
I doubt it is.

 

Something came up last night so I added the wood this morning. I’m willing to boil this a million times if I have to
.