Smelly slime on Driftwood

jmorgan · 06-12-2008, 12:12 PM

Need some input on this problem. I have a 30 gallon with a piece of mopani wood in it. Last week I emptied the tank of fish and it had set fishless for 3-4 days. I then noticed a fuzzy buildup of this slime on the wood. I took it out to clean it off and man what a stench!

I replaced the wood back in the tank and before going to purchase more fish yesterday, I noticed it was back again!

Anyone have an idea what I can do?

Pat7676 · 06-12-2008, 03:06 PM

Got a pic?

John N. · 06-12-2008, 08:34 PM

That slime stuff is pretty normal for new or recently added wood. Sometimes it helps to pretreat it by boiling the wood. This will help remove some of the organics, and tannins that come out of the wood. Mopani pieces have a good reputation of releasing tannins for a prolong period of time. Anyways, scrap it off and wipe it down and it'll eventually go away. I noticed otocinclus love to munch on the gunk too.

-John N.

Guillermo · 06-13-2008, 11:33 AM

Fungus, as John said, good ole otos love it and will eat it in no time. I had the same stuff in a 10 some time ago. My .02

jmorgan · 06-13-2008, 08:26 PM

Thanks all for your replies. Just wasn't sure if it was toxic or not. I have 3 otos in the tank, so hopefully they'll take care of it. Thanks again.

06-12-2008, 12:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
jmorgan Junior Aquascaper Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 9	Smelly slime on Driftwood Need some input on this problem. I have a 30 gallon with a piece of mopani wood in it. Last week I emptied the tank of fish and it had set fishless for 3-4 days. I then noticed a fuzzy buildup of this slime on the wood. I took it out to clean it off and man what a stench! I replaced the wood back in the tank and before going to purchase more fish yesterday, I noticed it was back again! Anyone have an idea what I can do?

06-12-2008, 08:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
John N. Administrator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Posts: 1,242	That slime stuff is pretty normal for new or recently added wood. Sometimes it helps to pretreat it by boiling the wood. This will help remove some of the organics, and tannins that come out of the wood. Mopani pieces have a good reputation of releasing tannins for a prolong period of time. Anyways, scrap it off and wipe it down and it'll eventually go away. I noticed otocinclus love to munch on the gunk too. -John N. __________________ Welcome to AquaScaping World!

06-13-2008, 11:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
Guillermo Senior Aquascaper Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Mexico City Posts: 215	Fungus, as John said, good ole otos love it and will eat it in no time. I had the same stuff in a 10 some time ago. My .02 __________________ Green thumbs up !!

06-13-2008, 08:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
jmorgan Junior Aquascaper Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 9	smelly slime Thanks all for your replies. Just wasn't sure if it was toxic or not. I have 3 otos in the tank, so hopefully they'll take care of it. Thanks again.

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06-12-2008, 03:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
Pat7676 Senior Aquascaper Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Jackson, Mississippi Posts: 753	Got a pic?

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