Clear wispy stuff on heater

[Maxkolbe]

I Am cycling my new 60 gallon aquarium and I just noticed that there is this clear stuff on the heater suction cups that wasn't there before. It was almost like a gel so it wasn't plastic wrap from some of the equipment. To cycle the tank I first put in some filter media from another tank. Then I raised the temp to 82 (I brought it down because I thought that might be causing it) lastly I've been adding 1 or 2 pinches of crumbled flake food every day so that there would be ammonia in the water. For oxygen I use a powerhead that moves 750 gallons per hour.

The filter is a marineland penguin 350. The heater is 250 watts and the power head is a koralia 2800/750. We have had to turn everything off at night for a few days because of the noise so the temperature would drop during that time.

From what I've heard these are ideal conditions for BB so could I be looking at a colony? Or am I seeing some kind of parasite like Hydra? What is it, Is it dangerous, and what should I do about it?

Please reply quickly because I am planning on introducing fish in the near future.

 

[richardh]

A picture would certainly help if you have one?

I remember having a similar substance when I first set up my tank. It looked like someone had sneezed in my tank. Turned out to be harmless and has disappeared now. Now I think about it, it's disappearance coincided with me adding 2 platy. These pretty much eat anything all day! Remind me of myself

 

[Maxkolbe]

I was going to post a photo but I have a bad camera so you probably could't even see it. Do you think that if my water chemistry looks OK it would be safe to add a couple of mbunas? You relating it to mucus was kind of funny because when I took some out of the water to examine it that's exactly what it was like.

Just had an idea, do you think that it could be the stuff i prime that helps the slime coat. With no fish in the tank there could be a possibility that it formed a mucus-like coat on the heater as a reaction to the extra heat.
(does that sound stupid?)

 

[richardh]

Could be a result of the prime. Most probably it's bacteria of some description. Probably harmless, but check your parameters to be safe before adding fish.

 

[Maxkolbe]

Thanks for the help. I have a test kit coming in the mail so I'll be sure to check before adding any fish.

 

[pleechford]

I have the same thing on my suction cups and have had it for weeks now. I believe it's just a bacteria of some sort. My parameters are great and haven't changed because of it. I would not worry about it one bit