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	What the....?
Tanya81 Fish Addict Posts: 633 Kudos: 419 Votes: 37 Registered: 27-Jun-2003	On a piece of driftwood that I recently acquired, and has been in the tank for over a week, there are little "tufts" of black growing on it. Almost looks like a black fungus, but I dont know for sure.... What is it and how can i get rid of it!?? 72 gallon bowfront:Tanganyikan Lake set up 75 gallon: A. Baenschi trio,Cyanotilapia Afra Cobwe(4), copadichromis trewavase, protomelas sp. tangerine tiger(breeding pair)
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:55
Palindat Fish Addict Posts: 838 Kudos: 276 Votes: 0 Registered: 29-Dec-2002	Possibly hair algae. I'm not sure how one gets rid of it.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:55
Bearded Frog Hobbyist Posts: 147 Kudos: 134 Votes: 0 Registered: 08-Apr-2004	Sounds like black beard/hair algae. I have been fighting it for a bit now. Awfull stuff and almost impossible to get rid of. I was told it actually takes oxygen out of the water as it grows...
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:55
katieb Fish Addict Posts: 697 Votes: 69 Registered: 03-Jul-2004	Maybe take the piece out and boil it? I'll do graffiti, If you sing to me in French.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:55
sly Big Fish Posts: 377 Kudos: 251 Votes: 0 Registered: 22-Jun-2004	If it's the same thing I have, I was told its a harmless fungus that should dissapear after awhile. Here's a pic of what mine looks like: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/djsly/Stuff_on_driftwood.jpg Growth on driftwood thread: http://www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/forums/thread.asp?id=44236 [span class="edited"][Edited by sly 2004-08-09 21:35][/span]
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:55
June Hobbyist Posts: 66 Kudos: 36 Votes: 0 Registered: 07-Aug-2004	I saw this stuff in a lfs today. Garden nursery doing fish as a sideline. They had about 25-30 tanks in a totally painted black room. EVERY tank had this black hair growth on EVERY thing except the fish in the tanks, even the tank walls. Some tanks were overstocked too. Needless to say I won't buy fish there, though some were giving me that "take me home puleeeeze" look. Until you know what it is you might want to take the infected pieces out. Best wishes.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:55
bensaf Fish Master Posts: 1978 Kudos: 1315 Registered: 08-Apr-2004	If it's just on the driftwood, it is more then likely just a harmless fungus. It's quite common on driftwood. It will not harm either plants or fish. It should disappear by itself within a couple of weeks. If it's bothering you, you can just pull it out, but it will probably come back until whatever expired organism in the wood that's causing it has cleared away. Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue. Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:55
Trojan_man Enthusiast Posts: 204 Kudos: 191 Votes: 0 Registered: 10-Aug-2004	It became my Pleco Dinner. ummmmm....fungus...
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:55
June Hobbyist Posts: 66 Kudos: 36 Votes: 0 Registered: 07-Aug-2004	Hi Tanya. I returned yesterday to the store mentioned above and asked the clerk about the black hair. She confirmed it's a fungus and harmless but is spreading uncontrollably and they've tried everything short of a complete water change to get rid of it. It's even in tanks w/plecs and not just on ornaments but overtaken gravel and walls too. Just the appearance is enough reason for me to want it outta there. Complete water change is a hassle, but this stuff gets pretty ugly imo.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:55


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