White Film And Particles In New Tank

HI all, can anyone give me some advice? My new 180l tank has been up and running 3 weeks. It is nearly done cycling. I was doing a fishless cycle with Stability and planted my tank while I was waiting. There was a bacteria bloom that clouded the water, but all along I have had this white film on surfaces in the tank, and white slimy specks attaching to the walls. The water has mostly cleared of the bloom now, but the film and specks remain. What is it, and what can be done about it? Yesterday I had to put two guppies in there from my small tank as they were bullying other fish to death in there. Will this muck hurt them? I am hoping to sort it out so I can add my other fish when the cycling is finished.

 

Looks like a mold or fungus bloom, will probably clear up on it's own with water changes.

 

Btw water is being treated with extra doses of prime to detoxify. Ammonia is 0, nitrite 0.25 and nitrate 5. PH 7.2

Could it be from the two old logs of driftwood? I got them 2nd hand with the tank. I scrubbed them and poured boiling water over them but I am worried they have started this problem.

I have seen some UV sterilisers on eBay... would these be worth investing in for this problem?

 

Honestly I would wait until the cycle is finished and you've done a water change first.

 

white film on surfaces in the tank

This is quite common. It happens to the suction cups on my drop checker and thermometer and from what I've read, it happens quite frequently to others. Interestingly, it seems to overwhelmingly prefer settling on white suction cups and not the black variety.

Others have guessed that it's some sort of fungal/bacteria growth that thrives on the nutrients released from the decomposition of driftwood.

I haven't read of any reports of it being harmful to fish or plants, it's just unsightly. It can be removed by gentle scrubbing.

The growth on your driftwood is diatoms (a type of algae). Apparently they're very common in newly cycled tanks, and in a few months they tend to just disappear by their own volition.

 

Thanks, that is very reassuring!

Honestly I would wait until the cycle is finished and you've done a water change first.

I thought so too, I wouldn’t want to upset any bacteria I am trying to grow!