The Puffer Forum

This is the second time I found something like this. A couple weeks ago I noticed it in the back, I assumed it was just some sand my fahaka threw around in one of his protests and just landed weird, but its back again on a different part of the glass. Its a branching out pattern that stems into a small concentration, kinda like a small bush or a tree stuck on the glass....can you see it or should I attempt a close up? Thanks in advance

I did an internet search and found this pic, I thought it looked similar to yours. The website calls in black hair algae. Do you think it is similar to what you have ?
http://www.bubblesaquarium.com/images/h ... _Thumb.jpg

Here is some more info about it
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/algae-control/hair.php

Now, I have no experience on this subject...so please wait for an expert! I just did the internet search for my own curiosity.

I do 80% + wc a week and test my water before the wc everytime . My light are on maybe 7 hours a day on a heavy light use day, usually 5-6. If its algae it may be because of the fertz I use. But idk for sure. Great links thanks but it doesnt appear to look the same. This stuff on my glass looked more clustered and complex lookin in its make up

I wonder if 80% WC in one go is a bit too much.

I would break that down to 3 smaller changes, less fluctuation in water chemistry

bertie 83 wrote:I would break that down to 3 smaller changes, less fluctuation in water chemistry

This is a great advice. I used to think that changing so much water at once wouldn't matter. I was wrong though. I used to change 80-90% on an eel tank I have but every time I did that, I'd have an ammonia spike. I now do 50% once a week and 10% daily. It keeps the tank super clean, but I no longer have ammonia spikes.

I generally do 75% on my FW tanks & 90% on my GF tank weekly.

I do big water changes every week. 85-90% on the goldfish, 75%-90% for the puffer. The key to doing big water changes is to do them frequently. Then it's not a dramatic change, when clean water is the tank's norm.

Pufftastic wrote:I do big water changes every week. 85-90% on the goldfish, 75%-90% for the puffer. The key to doing big water changes is to do them frequently. Then it's not a dramatic change, when clean water is the tank's norm.

that has been my mind set, consistency on whatever practice I pursue....I really need to find an answer to that alien strand that found my glass...i cant find answers anywhere

defool89 wrote:

Pufftastic wrote:I do big water changes every week. 85-90% on the goldfish, 75%-90% for the puffer. The key to doing big water changes is to do them frequently. Then it's not a dramatic change, when clean water is the tank's norm.

that has been my mind set, consistency on whatever practice I pursue....I really need to find an answer to that alien strand that found my glass...i cant find answers anywhere

I looked and looked but couldn't find anything just like it. I am sure someone will know. Maybe get a better pic?

Can you just wipe it off? Is it anywhere else in the tank?

My puffer already attacked it and took it off shortly after taking the pic.... wiping it off is a simple solution if it shows up again but I was hoping to identify it so I can figure out the underlying problem. I have wiped it off before as I previously stated a couple of weeks ago when it appeared for the first time and didnt think anything of it, figured it was sand my fahaka kicked around and landed in a odd tree like shape. But it came back in a different part of the tank in its odd shape, its too complex and organic looking for it to be just sand again and not have some concern for my child with gills

It's a slime mold. I get them alot in vivariums, never seen them in a fish tank! Neat!~

Lil' Swimz$ wrote:It's a slime mold. I get them alot in vivariums, never seen them in a fish tank! Neat!~

http://waynesword.palomar.edu/slime1.htm


Thank you!!!!!! You are absolutley correct the above link is a description to the slime mold I had, perfect match and a good read with photos..

Swimz, very much appreciated. Now my curiosity may rest, assured.

Heres a link to a interesting video on slime mold in general...my mind is blown its just really one giant cell. Make you wonder, what is life, and where does critical thinking come from.
We are multi celled organisms combined into different functions, with such complexity it makes you wonder, why do we have such a limiting governer on our reality. okay, im tripping out man! Lol whoa.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75k8sqh5 ... ata_player

There is no downside to large-scale water changes provided that the tank and replacement water parameters are comparable. If they are not comparable, osmotic shock is always possible. Flow-through tanks in public aquaria frequently get more than that level of changes daily, as do some commercial and private breeding tanks.

HTH