Growth on wood.

[Randys]

Can anyone tell me what this stuff is growing on the wood in my 125?
I gathered this driftwood from the shores of Lake Michigan about a year ago. I'll clean the wood and it grows right back.
I'm assuming it's not harmful because I've had a group of grow out Jags in the tank as long as I've had the driftwood.

 

[Deadeye]

Could be hair algae, or just fungus/mold/bacteria accumulating on the wood. Nothing harmful.

 

[Midwater]

The right L number would enjoy it.

 

[Randys]

I took all the wood out and power washed it about a month ago. It seems to have come back with a vengeance.

Isn't it weird this is still happening after a year?

 

[Deadeye]

Usually it’s not supposed to go longer than a few weeks. Is it a large piece?

 

[Randys]

Yes, many of the pieces are almost as long as my 6 foot 125 gallon tank.
The growth is on all the wood.

 

[Deadeye]

I wonder if it’s just taking so long to decompose because of the size?

 

[phreeflow]

Throw a common pleco in there. Will be gone in a few days

 

[Randys]

Ya, that thought occurred to me but I’ve never been a big fan of plecos.

I’m about ready to ditch this authentic Lake Michigan driftwood and go out in the woods behind my house like I did for my 300. That wood never gave me this issue. LOL

 

[jjohnwm]

Beautiful tank!

Driftwood is funny stuff. Common sense tells us that wood you find out behind the house probably contains way more organic matter that will decay and cause this kind of disgusting schmutz when used in a tank...as opposed to well-aged, weather-beaten actual driftwood which should be pretty much inert.

And then experience shows us that there is no way we can hope to foresee what a given piece of wood will do when we put the dang thing into an aquarium!