white powdery like stuff on filter

Question
I have something that seems to gather on and around where the water comes out of the filter...also have something floating on the water.(Little dots) My tank (50) gal... is clear other wise..I have 2 large angel fish and 6 neons. They don't seem effected by this but I want to get rid of it! You expertise will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a million,
Joyce

Answer
It is likely a type of mold. While this may sound alarming, its not a big problem, of course unless it is left alone. Basically, it means you should clean your filter and the hood more often. Often mold can grow on the places on the tank where water is around it but not necessarily covering it. For example, the hood is a very common place to see mold. Also, the filter is another very common place to see mold. However, it can also be calcium build up. Mostly this is a problem in saltwater tanks but freshwater tanks can sometimes have small build ups. Again, whether it is mold or calcium it just means you should clean it more often. Its not a big problem but can become one if you leave it for long periods of time. I recommend cleaning your filter and the hood, including the any glass covering the tank, every three weeks or so. Of course it all depends on how often the substance builds up. Track it for a month or so and adjust your cleaning to remove it as soon as it begins to build up. I hope this helps. Let me know if you need any more help.