Has anybody seen this?

by **Biulu** Tue Jun 02, 2015 9:23 pm

When I was doing a water change on the office tank today, I noticed the following:

Has anybody seen this? 18218380308_dfd3930ab1_c

313 by Biulu, on Flickr

It seemed to be a calcium type substance which I was able to take off (partly) with my nail.

I have seen something similar only in salt water tanks and I assumed it was a kind of algae.

Does anybody know what this is? And if you do, am I supposed to do something about it?

This is a fresh water tank, 20 gallon, planted, 24 degrees with 4 swords and 1 calico goldfish.

by GaryE Wed Jun 03, 2015 6:01 am

I've had that off and on for years - for some reason it seems to like a tank in which I keep Chromaphyosemion killies, even though I have moved it several times. It comes off with a razor blade, whatever it is. And I expect it's alive. and not mineral.

by **Biulu** Wed Jun 03, 2015 9:39 pm

I will try and google it under salt water tanks, maybe that gives a clue of what it is....

by **Biulu** Wed Jun 03, 2015 10:34 pm

I came across this:

http://www.aquariumcreationsonline.net/Saltwater_Aquarium_Algae_Control.html

It looks a lot like the coralline algae in the first picture on the right. Wonder whether you can get it in fresh water too, though....

Edit: I found that there is a genus of coralline species called Hildebrandia that can survive in fresh water. They are even found in the waters near Stonehenge.....