Strange things in my tank

Beverly · #1 10-14-2003, 01:44 AM

I set up a 5 gal tank a few weeks ago. Put a few lbs of LR with macroalgae in it from another cycled tank. The tank is lit with an NO tube. Filtration is one of those sponge filters used in fry tanks powered by an air pump, so there isn't a great amount of circulation, but it isn't stagnant either. I wanted to keep the MA growing so I tossed in some frozen food. Strangely, instead of the food breaking down, a clear gelatinous dome grew around the food. I disturbed the tank while moving the rock around, so the growth has detritus on it. The pinkish stuff beneath the growth is the food. Size of the growth is about 2" long x 1.5" wide x 3/4" high. Any ideas why the food didn't just disintegrate like usual, and what the heck is that growth?

This second strange thing has been seen in my other tanks, most often in my seahorse tank, which has a few flatworms. It's clear and is about a 1/4" in height and has been seen with a brown flatworm in its belly. What do you think it is?

TIA for your insightful answers

Lofus · #2 10-14-2003, 02:40 AM

Beverly,

I had the same geletinus stuff grow on the shrimp that I used to cycle my quarentine tank. I believe that it is the bacteria that breaks down the shrimp and converts it to amonia.

I'm pretty sure that it is the same as the little void looking areas in the first half inch of my sand bed in the main tank. Not sure what it is called but I did read about it in the FAQ section of cycling on the wetwebmedia.

Jim

Beverly · #3 10-14-2003, 02:59 AM

Jim,

I thought it might be bacteria. Strange how it forms in such a mass like that. I took a fork to it to move it upside down to see if it would disintegrate, but the whole thing stayed in place around the food. Kinda cool

Any idea what the clear critter is?

StirCrazy · #4 10-14-2003, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beverly

Jim,
Any idea what the clear critter is?

flatworm.

Steve

Beverly · #5 10-14-2003, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

flatworm.

Steve

Great, Steve

A flatworm that eats flatworms

Lofus · #6 10-14-2003, 07:00 PM

The gel that I pulled out of the tank was solid in that I strained the water through my fingers and the glump stayed together.

As for the flatworm. Not a clue. I would suggest you

try :http://www.rshimek.com/Invertebrate%...%20Taxa.htm#21

Jim

Beverly · #7 10-15-2003, 01:59 AM

Jim,

You pointed me in the right direction. Here's what I found on these flatworms:

http://www.rshimek.com/odd_critters.htm#Flatworms