Fungus on plants?

[Kerry1968]

I have taken some (not very clear) photos of what looks like fungus on the plants in my tank.
The plants are like dried ferns, sold for aquariums. Has anyone come across this before?
I also get some fungus-like blobs on the glass and thermometer near the outflow of my pump (the plants are near this pump too). I have checked inside the pump and can't find any traces of fungus there.
Is there anything I can do to get rid of fungus that I might not be able to see inside the workings of my pump, in case that's where the fungus is coming from (a cleaner/disinfectant)?
I wonder if it's because the temperature of my tank is a little on the high side - around 21 - 22 degrees? I know this can cause fungus on the axies, continual higher temperatures, what about the tank itself?
It has been suggested it might be my water parameters, I haven't checked yet, (I wanted to get this post up to see if anyone has had this problem before) but I know for the last couple of weeks my ammonia has been zero and nitrite zero. I will check nitrate soon and add that on to this post with an edit if I can, hope someone has some ideas, thanks, Kerry.

Edit: nitrite still zero, ammonia zero, ph in range, negligable nitrate (obviously my tank is still cycling!)

 

[Bellabelloo]

I am unable to see your mystery blobs on the photographs, but is there any possibility you have a snail or two in your tank?

 

[Kerry1968]

No, definately no snails! There is a white blob on the left hand top 'branch' of the fern, but don't worry if you still can't see it, the photo is rather blurry! Thanks for looking anyway! Kerry.

 

[Jacquie]

Hi Kerry,

Sorry, I can't make out much in the photo.

I hope this article may be of help to you, it gives details on 'tank critters' :happy:: http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/Tank_critters.shtml

Cheers Jacq.

 

[gr33neyes]

Kerry, You have a leucistic axie yes?
You may find its a bit of axie's slime coat rubbed off as she brushed against it. I have found the same thing in my tank on the plastic plants. Have even seen my leucistic brush against plants and leave whiteish lumps behind from her skin. I can only assume its the slime coat, doesnt seem to do any harm to her.

 

[Kerry1968]

Thanks Becky, thats good thinking! I was concerned because it only seems to accumulate around the outflow of my spray bar, but slime from the axies might be what it is as they do perch in the weeds quite often. The only thing is, I had white-ish blobs on the inside of the tank glass, they were about the size of a pin-head, grouped together in little batches and seem to 'sway' with the movement of the water! Any ideas? Do you think perhaps it's worm slime? Also I have had some unknown moving white things in with the compost that the worms are in, they are tiny, probably about the size of this full stop. Perhaps they are the cause of these slimy blobs? Thanks, Kerry.

 

[gr33neyes]

The 'swaying pin heads' may very well be something called planaria. Basically they are part of the eco system, they eat waste. The waste may come from tiny pieces of food you haven't spotted, axie poo, decaying plant material. These little critters will be seen on the glass and sometimes you will see them flitting around the tank. You can remove large amounts of them by sucking them off the glass with a piece of hose or even a turkey baster will be effective. The main way of keeping them down to smaller numbers is to be diligent with tank cleaning. The more waste you have the more planaria there will be. I notice them now and then , but it doesnt worry me.

 

[Kerry1968]

Thanks again Becky! It sounds like you have solved my mysterious blobs! I'm going to look up planaria now and find out more about them (it?) Phew! You've put my mind at rest, thanks again, Kerry.