The Puffer Forum

Hi, seem to have some grey fuzz growing on the drift wood in my puffer tank. I took the wood out, scrubbed the crap out of it but its back. only seem to grow on it, tank levels seem normal.... advice?

Driftwood obviously not cured--not suitable for your tank.

Pufferpunk wrote:Driftwood obviously not cured--not suitable for your tank.

I read that the "fungus" , or whatever it is, in new driftwood is harmless to the aquarium... I have manzanita driftwood that has been in my tank for a couple month's now that still produces fungus with no I'll effects to my puffer or crayfish (tanks plumbed with same water, different tanks) ...so far. It is not grey though. There is some that is white and some brown.

Depending on the size of the driftwood in relation to your tank, it may also impact your pH by lowering it. Would be worth checking out. Also, in my experience driftwood tends to become soft and crumbly even with low-end brackish due to the salt.

hoping the wood is suitable. came from Hollywood fish farm and was rated as tank safe (not just from a beach) and the fuzz is probably more white then grey.. have been measuring ph etc every second day and that seems fine, it just looks like ... very light white?

have attached some photos of my tank

NIMFT!

It's a fungus and it's pretty normal for some kinds of root. It's harmless and will go away eventually. Some fish will even eat it; probably not puffers, though. See more here:

http://fishtankdk.blogspot.dk/2013/01/w ... eason.html

Tank will be fine.

This fungus will go away in few weeks

If it really bothers you, you can use a toothbrush and clean it off

Hey good to see another New Zealander. I wouldn't worry about it I had the same type of wood in my wife's tank with an Amazon puffer and all her fish were un affected. If you do not like it a bristle nose will get rid of it overnight. They love the stuff.

NIMFT?

Not In My Fish Tank

That is a really nice looking tank you got going there btw. I especially like the wood panelling.

I at one point had 16 planted tanks. In my experience and what I have been told. The fuzz will definitely go away just give it time. It looks bad but it is harmless. Several of my tanks developed the white fuzz on the wood and not one had any effect on the fish or water parameters. Just give it time like I Bristle nose plecostomus do eat it and they are really cool looking, personally I like the albino bristlenose. I was told by someone I trust it has something to do with not boiling you wood well enough. Unfortunately if you have a piece of wood that cannot fit into a pot most likely will get the fuzz, not every time but there is a good chance. I hoped this helped. Your tank is very nice.

I had the same thing with a peice of pets mart mopani. Boiled it like 3 times didn't go away. Just started over with wood from a good source. But just like you said no effect to the fish or parameters.

the "grey fuzz" started growing on my driftwood that I cured my self about 2 weeks ago. All of it is gone now. But I did 5gal water change every 3 days in that 40gak tank