[mydumname]

I have a ghost wood log in a 30 gallon. Green stuff started growing on it and I thought it was moss, but I touched it and it wiped off and I had green on my hand. It is slimy too. Is it algae? If so, do you know what I should do?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Dane]

Sounds like algae. It's very difficult to get rid of permanently, but you can scrub it off with an old tooth brush whenever it gets out of hand.

 

[elmoisfive]

Why bother scrubbing it off? It's pretty natural and gives the ghostwood a natural look. I suspect that if you wait you will find moss colonizing the wood next. Now what I wouldn't give for some lichens or even liverworts growing on the ghostwood....

Bill

 

[Dane]

The problem that I've had with green algae is that it can cover any moss spores and prevent them from sprouting as well as kill off more mature moss. But scrubbing the would might have that effect as well.

 

[bbrock]

The problem that I've had with green algae is that it can cover any moss spores and prevent them from sprouting as well as kill off more mature moss. But scrubbing the would might have that effect as well.

I suspect that if algae are able to overgrow moss, then it is because conditions are marginal for the moss and better for the algae. Healthy moss growing under good conditions will be able to outcompete and even benefit from the algae. Scraping the algae seems counterproductive to me and it would be best to let natural succession run its course. If conditions are right for moss, it will grow.

 

[mydumname]

My java is spreading.