jsadlersos

I've seen tiny patches of this popping up in random locations on the gravel. Is this grey slime or black beard algae? If it is I want to start fighting it now before it gets too much worse.

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jsadlersos

I apologize the patch is right below the drift wood.

Seattle_Aquarist

Hi jsadlersos,

Grey slime; is the wood new? Is the gravel a cap layer that is covering organic material that could be decomposing / rotting under the gravel surface?

jsadlersos

Gravel cap. There is dirt under the gravel. So am I screwed or do I have a chance to save the plants before it gets way out of hand?

Seattle_Aquarist

Hi jsadlersos,

I have had the same stuff show up on new driftwood when I set up a tank. I continued to 'grow' until I added my 'cleaning crew'. I use Corydoras catfish (1 per 5 gallons) and Otocinclus and Siamese Algae eaters (1 each per 10 gallons). I honestly don't know which of the three ate the stuff but after about 5 days it had all but disappeared. It didn't seem to affect the plants at all, but it sure looked bad.

jsadlersos

I thought it was uneaten fish food and poo that was decomposing. It does look bad and after seeing some tanks on here with out of control algae, I just don't want to take any chances. Thanks for your help.

The Trigger

Looks kinda like a fungus. Could it be decomposing food or small pieces of wood?

jsadlersos

Well that's what I thought at first but, it seems to be popping up rather fast in small patches like this. I used to keep arowana for a long time and sometimes a shrimp or other piece of large food would go by unnoticed for a day or so, and it would get that whitish fuzz on it, but this stuff seems to be popping up all along the rocks. I do have new dirt underneath the rocks. I just hope I can get it under control before it takes over.

jsadlersos

Would excel do anything to kill grey slime?

Seattle_Aquarist

Hi jsadlersos,

I did not find that Excel had any effect on it one way or the other.