Biofilm
White Biofilm on Driftwood
A common harmless white slimy growth that appears on fresh driftwood as organics leach out.
Quick facts
- Category
- Biofilm
- Organism group
- Biofilm
- Growth form
- Slime
- Primary color
- White
- Secondary color
- Translucent
- Attachment
- Weak
- Removal difficulty
- Easy
Identification
White translucent slime, fuzzy gel, or cottony coating on newly added wood.
- Growth form: Slime
- Primary color: White
- Secondary color: Translucent
Looks like: Often mistaken for a dangerous fungus outbreak, but it is usually a normal new-wood biofilm phase.
Where it appears
Typical affected areas
- On Hardscape
Common contexts
- New Tank
Causes
Most common on new driftwood, especially shortly after the wood is first submerged.
Most common triggers
- Fresh Wood Leaching Sugars And Organics
- New Microbial Colonization On Recently Added Driftwood
Root cause note: This growth is generally considered normal and temporary rather than a sign of a failing tank.
Nutrient relevance
Balance relevance: Low
Related nutrient issues
- Fresh Organic Leaching
The key issue is usually leaching from the wood, not plant fertilizer balance.
Correction hint: Do not overcorrect the whole tank for a localized new-wood biofilm event.
Treatment
Quick action: Leave it if livestock can graze it, or brush it off manually during maintenance.
Time, grazing, and gentle manual cleaning usually solve it without aggressive intervention.
Manual removal: Brush or siphon the loosened slime off the wood if you want a cleaner appearance.
Difficulty: Easy
Prevention
Pre-soaking or pre-cleaning wood may reduce the amount of early white biofilm, but some is still common.
This page is designed to help with visual identification first, then causes, treatment, and prevention. Actual algae pressure can vary depending on maintenance, livestock, plant mass, light, flow, and nutrient consistency.