Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => New Fishkeepers => Topic started by: pollydoodle on June 16, 2018, 05:01:30 PM

Title: Gritty bits floating on surface
Post by: pollydoodle on June 16, 2018, 05:01:30 PM
For several days, there has been what seems like small bits of grit floating on the surface of the tank.  Now it is appearing on other surfaces like the wood and plants (silk) what is this.

I'm beginning to think maybe I should have got a hamster instead!!  :rotfl: :rotfl:
Title: Re: Gritty bits floating on surface
Post by: Helen on June 16, 2018, 05:11:22 PM
What colour is it?

And what substrate do you have? I discovered with my hospital tank, that even though I'd washed the sand, so it was wet before I filled the tank, some of it floated and it took a few days to finally settle. I can't decide if it'd be gritty though - I didn't touch it because I knew what it was.

If it's green, I'd wonder if it's a type of algae.
Title: Re: Gritty bits floating on surface
Post by: pollydoodle on June 16, 2018, 05:22:03 PM
The substrate is gravel, which was well washed.   The grit is white. The tank has been running since mid may
Title: Re: Gritty bits floating on surface
Post by: TopCookie on June 16, 2018, 05:49:43 PM
No idea what that is, but if you have a small net, I would try and scoop as much out as you can...  then see if that's the end of it or if it reappears... 
Title: Re: Gritty bits floating on surface
Post by: Helen on June 16, 2018, 05:59:13 PM
I was also going to suggest scooping it out with a net.

Did you describe it as gritty because of the way it looks or because it feels gritty to touch?
Title: Re: Gritty bits floating on surface
Post by: pollydoodle on June 16, 2018, 06:54:33 PM
It feels gritty
Title: Re: Gritty bits floating on surface
Post by: Helen on June 16, 2018, 06:57:53 PM
You won't like this suggestion, but could they be insect eggs?  :yikes:
Title: Re: Gritty bits floating on surface
Post by: pollydoodle on June 16, 2018, 07:39:54 PM
Where from??  nothing live in the tank, no fish, no plants.  I WILL TRY AND LOOK AT IT THROUGH A MAGNIFYING GLASS. oops, caps lock
Title: Re: Gritty bits floating on surface
Post by: Littlefish on June 16, 2018, 10:14:12 PM
I've not seen this before. I'd suggest cleaning out as much of it as possible, scoop it off the surface & syphon it off the plants & substrate.