Algae or rot?

I'm using real, dried bamboo in my asian biotope aquarium for decorations. As bamboo easily rots I've painted all the pieces with Durham polyethelene clear pond sealer.

Some white cotton woolish stuff have however started growing on the bamboo. Is this a type of algae or something more sinister like rot where I perhaps didn't seal the bamboo properly?

 

Sounds more like a fungus. Also had it on Mopani that I used

 

How do I get rid of it? Hopefully without disposing of the bamboo as it's quite hard to come by.

 

take the stuff out and wash it with normal tap water , let it dry then try again.

its not algae definately a fungus due to rotting bamboo .

was the bamboo dry before you used it ?

 

Yup, it's the bamboo rotting. Even after I went through the trouble of sealing it so it won't.

HEADS UP: Any one wanting to use bamboo in their aquarium
Very nice and lovely idea in theory, very bad idea in practice. You have to so-so thorough when you seal the bamboo cause the slightest touch of moisture will set it to rot. I've tried and failed! :noworry:

Tank seems very barren at the moment with the bamboo out.

 

Would sealing it with a thick resin not work better? I.e mix the resin, and then dunk the entire bamboo in it (as apposed to painting it on). Usually resin is inert when dry and will not effect the chemicstry of the water.

 

You can use resin but it must still be clasified as 'potable water safe'. The only such resin I could find was that used for fibreglass swimming pools and similar applications but you don't easily get it in clear. Also quite expensive and sold in bulk, way more than I would ever have used, so would have been a waste.

Nah, got myself another nice piece of driftwood and honestly it looks way better than with the bamboo. Somewhat less cluttered to achieve the same level of visual effect. Very simplistic.

K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple Stupid

 

couldn't you use a clear Brick or pond sealer and soak the bamboo in it?

 

That's what I've used, Durham Durapond. It's a polyethelene pond sealer. Good product but difficult to work with.