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Since planting my aquarium I have a film of tiny white dots and thin strands on the glass. I see nothing on the plants themselves. When it is scraped off it reappears in less than 24 hours. Is this a type of algae, or is it a fungus? What should I use to control or get rid of it? There are no fish in this aquarium right now.
Thanks everyone
Kari

Ok. Upon closer inspection, the white film IS on the plants as well.
My mistake!

Tough question, Karilynn. Choices are:
o Fungus,
o Algae,
o Precipitates,
o Planaria.

Let me ask a few questions -
o What is your water hardness? GH and KH
o How long has the tank been established?
o How often do you do water changes and what percent do you change?
o How often do you do gravel vacuums and filter maintenance?
o If you shine a bright light on the white stuff, is it motile? Does it react to the light?



__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

I have had the same problem. I posted about it once and did not get any help. I do have some fish and it doesn't seem to effect them. The only difference between ours is that mine comes back about every other day.

John

Bob,
I haven't tested the water in this aquarium (55 gal) yet, but I do have soft water. I filled it up and transferred the plants to it(from my 10 and 20 gals that I am upgrading from)on Monday. I did a gravel cleaning/water change on both small aquariums the day the plants came out, and the white film has disappeared. It showed up in the new 55 gal on the same day the plants went in. It doesn't appear that the film reacts with the light, but I just don't know....

In my two small tanks (running for almost two years), I have been doing 20% water changes, by way of gravel vacuuming, and rinse out filter parts once per week. The plants were introduced in January, and the film with them. It hasn't seemed to affect my fish, but I'm being very anal about this new aquarium. I don't want problems right off the bat, if I can help it.

Since I have no fish in the 55 gal, should I try a fungus eliminator (or something like that), or not? Should I throw out the plants and start new? What do you think?
Kari

Upon very close inspection this morning I realized that the white strings in my aquarium are in fact microscopic worms! I'm so upset that I did not see this sooner.
Please see my post "Help. Tiny worms in aquarium!" in Hospital forum. Thanks.
Kari