White Fungus Growth on Lace Rock

[mike471]

I have a new 210 gal fresh water set up with over 300lbs of lace rock. 2 days after setting up the tank I noticed that almost every rock in the tank had fungus growth originating from the old moss and lichen growth that still remained on the rock after cleaning. I broke down the tank and powerwashed every rock from the tank until all visible fungus, lichen and moss was removed. 2 days after setting up the tank again almost every rock again has evidence of the fungus growing again. Obviously there is still enough decaying vegetative matter remaining on the rock to promote this unsightly growth. What do I do now? Will this eventually go away? Should I treat the tank with a fungicide? I obviously have no fish yet. Not looking forward to breaking down the tank again. Appreciate any help here.

[lloyd berg]

i tried to find a pic of my 'lacerock' to see if we're talking the same stuff. cause mine doesn't have any growth on it. i don't think my stuff can sustain life at all. it looks like mining slag to me. same stuff?

[mike471]

Not sure Lloyd, my stuff had a lot of old lichen and moss on it. Sat in my garage in subzero temps for weeks before I set up the tank. Looks like lava rock lots of small holes on the surface. Most rock is gray in colour. Some dark red.

[lloyd berg]

i had a bunch of rock (does rock come in bunches or groups?) that came from a landscaping place. i thought it looked real cool cause it had all these holes and cave opportunities in it. it also was coverred in moss and lots of dirt that seemed impossible to wash off/out. i ended up putting it all in the tank anyway. long story short...what can't live under water, plant life included, died off and ended up either on the floor for clean up, in the filter for clean up, or in a fish's diet. the stuff looks great now. no regret. the fish did the best cleaning job i could ever imagine. they even spit the dirt out of the holes for themselves to inhabit. HTH.

[mike471]

How long did the white fungus last? Did you have to treat it?

[lloyd berg]

i never experienced any white fungal growth. was it on the rock before it went into the water? or did it evolve after?
the growth that coverred my rockscape was a combo of assorted mosses and clay/topsoil deposits (including earthworms). there was some mushroom type growth too. it all went into the tank and eventually vanished.

[mike471]

The fungal growth started about 48 hours after setting up the tank. there was no fungus on the rocks prior to the set up. The fungus is milky white in colour and has the texture and look of cotton candy once you pull it away from the rocks.

[AngelMom]

The fungus lives in the water and will only attack dead or dying organic matter. Once it "eats" all the "stuff" in the rock crevases, it should go away on it's own.

HTH

[lloyd berg]

sounds good to me. got any fish in there yet?

[mike471]

No fish yet Lloyd. Angel mom are you suggesting just to let nature take its course here? Would adding a fungicide to the tank help,or would the fungus come back after the potency of the fungicide diminshed over time? If leaving the fungus alone is ok, is it alright to start adding some fish to start the cycling process?

[AngelMom]

You could try a fungicide, but you'll probably just get more once you do a water change and introduce new spores into the tank....at least until whatever it's "eating" is gone.

You can add fish if you like, the fungus won't hurt them unless they eat it.....and I've never seen any of my fish even show an interest in this type of fungus.

Oh, and yes, I'm suggesting you just let it be to run it's course. :D

[mike471]

Thanks everyone for your help.