Algae outbreak.

[Rtc/tsn]

In my 40g with the blue whale catfish there’s a bunch of what I can only guess is a type of algae. It only started a couple days ago when I took the curtains down from the windows to let natural sunlight into the room but it’s on the gravel, glass and driftwood. What can I do to remove this but also won’t get turned into a million pieces by my blue whale catfish?

 

[Deadeye]

Did you just add the wood in? Often when new wood is added there is a bacterial bloom due to the new decomposing material, that’s what it looks like is happening now.

 

[Rtc/tsn]

Did you just add the wood in? Often when new wood is added there is a bacterial bloom due to the new decomposing material, that’s what it looks like is happening now.

No. I have had the wood since January. I bought it with birthday money cause I thought it looked cool

 

[kno4te]

Looks like fungus on the wood.

 

[Rtc/tsn]

Looks like fungus on the wood.

Why would that be? The wood isn’t new to the tank. Could my water quality be messed up? I don’t know what happened to my test kit and can’t go get a new one today because of severe storms so I want to stay home and watch the fish incase the power goes out

 

[Deadeye]

Are you feeding something new? Any change in water chemistry due to new foods or lighter/heavier stocking can result in an opportunity for algaes or fungi to take over.

 

[Rtc/tsn]

Are you feeding something new? Any change in water chemistry due to new foods or lighter/heavier stocking can result in an opportunity for algaes or fungi to take over.

My tank was overstocked really bad when I had the arowana and catfish then all in 30 minutes all the fish were moved out of the tank to transport to a petstore. Where I then noticed and impulsively bought Cookie Monster (blue whale catfish) and added him to the tank after a lot of acclimating and a before I acclaimed I did a decent maybe 55% water change. I haven’t been feeding anything new or feeding more than normal. I feed the tank once every 2 days. I did overfeed a bit the first 2 days I first got the blue whale catfish because I was excited to see him eat which was really stupid and I wasn’t thinking but I’ve just got done with a water change about 40% and I have stopped feeding everyday trying to get him to eat because the other day I realized how stupid It was to do that but and I wasn’t thinking.

 

[robmcd]

It looks like biofilm. Take the wood out and smell it. Does it smell like nasty *** black swamp mud? If yes, then it is biofilm.

Put the curtains back up or place the tank in an area where it won't get direct sunlight. Maybe take the wood out and soak it or boil it if it makes you feel better. I have actually hosed driftwood down to remove it.

Cut down the feeding. Do some daily water changes just to be safe.

 

[Rtc/tsn]

It looks like biofilm. Take the wood out and smell it. Does it smell like nasty *** black swamp mud? If yes, then it is biofilm.

Put the curtains back up or place the tank in an area where it won't get direct sunlight. Maybe take the wood out and soak it or boil it if it makes you feel better. I have actually hosed driftwood down to remove it.

Cut down the feeding. Do some daily water changes just to be safe.

Thank you. I’ve discovered a boil on my leg this morning so currently soaking that in hot water so in a few hours I’ll smell the wood ? never thought I’d say that. And what if it doesn’t smell like swamp mud?

 

[robmcd]

Thank you. I’ve discovered a boil on my leg this morning so currently soaking that in hot water so in a few hours I’ll smell the wood ? never thought I’d say that. And what if it doesn’t smell like swamp mud?

Take it out anyway. Do some big water changes and let that tank find some sort of healthy balance. It's been a biological rollercoaster in there from what I have read here on MFK.