White Stringy things...

[Joe31415]

I just noticed this yesterday. I know there's a ton of threads about this, but they seem to be about established tanks. Mine is still cycling and the only living thing in it should be whatever came with the Dr Tims One and Only that I dumped in a few weeks ago. The bed is regular (dry) sand and the rock was dry rock from BRS, which I still soaked for a few weeks anyways. The tank has been all put together, with the RODI water, salt, dr tims and some ammonia for 3 or 4 weeks. Nothing else has been added since then.
I noticed this yesterday and at first thought maybe something in the water was causing some of the caulk to dissolve. What was odd was that it seemed to hung up on edges of things (As you can see in the video), but if I tried to pick any of it up it would fall apart in my hands. At one point, when I started messing around with the filter socks, the entire sump was clouded with it, but even then I couldn't actually get any of it out of the water with my hands. The best I could do was to knock it loose as much as possible and let it get caught in the sponge filter between the protein skimmer and return pump. So far, I think that's what's happened as none of it seems to be in the DT.
I know there's not much too look at here, but it was the only picture I could get once I realized I should take a picture.
Also, FWIW, off the top of my head, ammonia is a about 1ppm, Nitrite is at 0, Nitrate is 0-5ish (API tests, so not always easy to tell) and because somewhere along the line someone on some forum mentioned Phosphorus levels.

Short video

My fingers are crossed that this is just part of the cycle, but I really have no idea.

 

[TriggerFinger]

I can’t see your video but it sounds like a bacterial bloom, and makes sense with a newly cycled tank. It’s an overgrowth of bacteria and should clear up on its own.

 

[Joe31415]

I can’t see your video but it sounds like a bacterial bloom, and makes sense with a newly cycled tank. It’s an overgrowth of bacteria and should clear up on its own.

That's kinda what I'm assuming as well. I couldn't decide if I should shut off the protein skimmer and pull the sponge filters and hope it makes it back to the filter socks, but I just decided to leave everything in place. We'll see how it looks when I get home.
This tank has been cycling for a while now, like I said before, I'm just hoping it's starting to move to the next step.
What I did find odd is that it's only in the sump. None in the main tank. It must be feeding off of something down there. And, come to think of it, I did notice a very small amount of brown muck on the sponge filter a few days ago and wondered where it was coming from. Maybe it's all related.

And, in case it makes a difference. The lights in the tank have been off almost the entire time I've been cycling (on for a few days in the middle when I first got them) and the room is fairly dark during most of the day. The only real light the tank gets is when I have the light on in the room for a few hours between getting home from work and going to bed.
The ATO container (white bucket) in my basement gets more light from the LEDs over the washing machine on the other side of the basement than the DT or sump.

 

[Joe31415]

Strange that you couldn't see the video...let me try it this way.

 

[Joe31415]

That worked better. It's just the stringy stuff at the bottom. Everything else you see moving around is bubbles since it's right next to where the overflow and filter socks are located.

 

[dank reefer]

I started my cycle Bout 2 weeks ago using One and Only and their ammonia on a BB Tank and I too got the white stringy stuff, but its on my rocks and sump as well. Tank water has been cloudy since I added One and Only too, and I have not been running my skimmer, but donate the socks in to catch all floating particles. Ammonia is still pretty high even after 2 weeks even though I've only dosed it one time right after adding One amd Only. I'm going to just let it ride and see what the outcome is.

How long did it take for this crap to go away in your tank?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Filaments from slime and bacteria. Generally when there is a lack of current, it will accumalte as it is here and can be simply brushed off, but the flow rate needs to be increased. Also, see if you can filter out the light right abouve that area.
I use glass covers, so I was able toplace a square of cardboard over it when I myself had similar and it dissipated.

 

[dank reefer]

Filaments from slime and bacteria. Generally when there is a lack of current, it will accumalte as it is here and can be simply brushed off, but the flow rate needs to be increased. Also, see if you can filter out the light right abouve that area.
I use glass covers, so I was able toplace a square of cardboard over it when I myself had similar and it dissipated.

I set my 4x Mp 40 to constant mode at 75%.

The lights have been off all this time and we're only on to take the picture.


Curious to know how long it took the OP for it to disapear.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I set my 4x Mp 40 to constant mode at 75%.

The lights have been off all this time and we're only on to take the picture.


Curious to know how long it took the OP for it to disapear.

For me was almost 3 weeks

 

[Joe31415]

Curious to know how long it took the OP for it to disapear.

I have no idea how long it was. As I recall it got worse (or I noticed worse areas) before it got better, but it must not have hung around long enough to bother me. I never changed anything (at least not WRT this problem), so it must have cleared up on it's own.