White mass growing during cycle

[Doob]

Hello all.

I set up a 2nd tank, a 6 gallon petco brand that I bought from a friend for dirt cheap. I had it for a few weeks without setting it up. Cleaned it up with water and vinegar real well and let everything dry. I filled it up with water about 2 weeks ago, and added some mysis shrimp to kick off the cycle. The ammonia is off the API chart, 8+ppm. No nitrites yet.

Today I found these white masses growing on some of the rocks. They look like thread tape when they're dislodged. Is there some type of sponge that thrives in ammonia rich environments? Is it an alien?

 

[cloak]

It's probably just some type of bacterial mat or fungus IMO. How does it feel to the touch?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Was the rock already live?

 

[Doob]

Was the rock already live?

It had been, yes. Then dried out for a number of weeks.

I didn't touch it with my fingers. It looked smooth and silky.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

If it's dry it's dead generally speaking regardless of the amount of time dry. Live refers to wet with bacteria.

It is possible something survived the drying. But I've not seen anything like that. Id need to see more structure on it.

I'd poke it.

 

[Shaddow_wolf169]

Don't be scurd poke it. Hahaha

 

[Shaddow_wolf169]

Might be a sponge of some kind

 

[Bdog4u2]

I agree with cloak probably some kind of fungus or who knows maybe you're watching the bacteria evolve in to some new life form.

 

[Poseidon84]

it could be a macro going sexual, i have this in my tank as well. i just removed it.

 

[Doob]

it could be a macro going sexual, i have this in my tank as well. i just removed it.

What's a Marco?

Edit: Haha, macro, got it.

Well where the heck would that have come from?!

 

[Poseidon84]

if the rock was live in the past, whoch it was if ive read right, some algae can remain dormant, mine was calurpa mexicana. it was left to dry. and after i cured it for a whole month i put it in my tank. and saw this as well. ill post a pic

 

[Poseidon84]

 

[Poseidon84]

What's a Marco?

Edit: Haha, macro, got it.

Well where the heck would that have come from?!

 

[Doob]

Here are some photos.

This piece is turning transparent. It's also in a different place, but that could be from the flow.

And this piece is under a rock shielded from light. Picture taken from under the tank through the bottom glass

 

[Doob]

The brown all over the tank is pellet food.

 

[Poseidon84]

well macro algae goes sexual from lack of light. but you may have a white fungus.