What is this growing on my driftwood??

nikkigill50

It looks like a clear jelly, sorry the pictures aren't great.

When bought from the lfs (recently) it stated for aquarium use, I boiled and scrubbed it before putting into my 30 gal which is just beginning to cycle with 2 male guppies and live plants, after a week it grew this stuff so I took it out, boiled it again and scrubbed and put back in but its grown back again. What is it? Is it okay to leave it growing? It doesn't look very nice.

fish_4_all

It is diatoms and is common in a newly set up tank, at least I hope it is. I have heard of fungus that will grow on driftwood but boiling it should have taken care of any of that. It should go away after 3-4 weeks. If you have room and the tank mates would tolerate them, some otos would eat it quick fast and in a hurry. That is if you like the fish and plant to keep them for a while otherwise just let it run it's course.

nikkigill50

Thanks for the diagnosis, as i'm still in the process of cycling, would it be okay to go ahead and add an otto cat? I've had 2 guppies in for 8 days. I had a rubbernose pleco for 6 days prior to the guppies but he died. Not sure why but he would barely eat, I tried algae wafers and shrimp pellets.

If I don't get an otto cat to eat the diatoms, let it grow and in 3-4 weeks it should go?

Thanks in advance,

fish_4_all

I can't say for sure about the Otos and and an uncycled tank but I would say no from my experience. Some say they are a hearty fish but I was never able to keep them alive for more than a couple weeks until my tank was well over 4 months old. I would wait until it is cycled personally. The diatoms will go away on their own or at least they should. I have heard stories of them lasting for 2 months but most go away in less than a month.