White web like substance

Question
Hi Jaymie

i have a slight problem with my 5ft tank, its been running about three weeks now and only started putting fish in on the June 28th i have tested my water every day my ph is at 7.6, ammonia is 0ppm,nitrite 0ppm and nitrate is at 10ppm and the readings have been consistant each time and my fish have been doing well i have 2 apistogamma agasizii,6 black neon tetra,6 galaxy rasbora and what i was told to be 4 endless light fish.
Unfortunatly however this morning i have found 1 rather unhealthy looking rasbora that is swimming at the surface, 1 tetra missing and 2 endless light fish dead at the bottom of my tank.
I have done a 10% water change checked my filters were working ok and everything seems fine but i have found a strange white snot like substance growing around my heater i have brushed it off and its sunk to the bottom of my tank, i have now also found it growing on my bog wood. It all seems to be growing on one end of my tank but im not sure what it is and if its harmfull to my fish only it seems slightly coinsidental how they were all fine up untill this morning when i noticed this substance and now it would appear they are starting to drop like flies.

kindest regards,

Tiernie"

Answer
Tiernie,

It sounds like a slime mold. Unfortunately, there is no medication that you can put into the tank to get rid of it. the best way is to do water changes and clean the gravel. I would do a large water change of about 40 to 50%. Make sure you vacuum the gravel very well. Then continue to do 25% weekly water changes with gravel cleaning. If this does not take care of it in about a week or so the other option you have is to tear down the tank and restart. Sorry there is no quick fox on this one.