white algae

Question
hi, i have a small tank which has been a picture of health for the few years i've owned it. i recently added a couple more fish into the tank from a store that had more than the average number of dead fish in their many aquariums. i don't know if it's a coincidence, but all of a sudden i have noticed more and more patches of millions of really fine tiny white/clear algae all over the ornaments and rocks in the tank. it's like millions of tiny fibers. the fish i purchased died, so i'll be calling the shop for sure. what do you think this weird white algae is and what do i do? regards, nick.

Answer
Hi Nicholas,
That is unusual. My first thoughts are this type of 'white algae' is actually a fungus that tends to grow on leftover fish food and other waste in the aquarium. It can usually be prevented if proper gravel vacuuming is maintained and you are careful about not overfeeding.

*Also try testing your water and make sure the ammonia and nitrites are both always zero. And nitrates are 20 or less.

Try doing several 50% water changes and removing as much of the strange algae-like growth as much as possible. Use your siphon hose to remove some of the growth as well as an algae scrubber to scrape it off.
This shouldn't be a common re-occurrence.

Best wishes!
Karen~