Newbie.. Need Help & Advice

[dvonzombie]

Hello I’m new here and just started a new 55 gallon fresh water aquarium. After 6 wks I added 5 clown loaches and a Rio Negro Pleco. Everyone was happy . A week later I noticed speckles on the loaches. They all had ick so I transferred them to a 10 gallon hospital tank. I treated them with API Super ick cure at 1/2 strength because they are scaleless. The only survivor is the Pleco. The 55 gal tank has been without fish for about 2 weeks now. Only live plants and sand. I read that I should turn the heat to 89.5 to kill any parasites left and since they don’t have a host then they would die off. I vacuumed and did a 40% water change. My water parameters are all good using the API master test kit. Yesterday I was going to add my pleco and noticed some chunky white substance stuck on the filters. Looks kinda like oatmeal.. lol. I will add a pic. I need to know what to do and what it is. I showed a pic to the pet store worker and he had no idea. It’s really gross and looks like they are multiplying. Looks organic. Take a look at the pic please. Any advice would really be appreciated. Thx Dee

 

[Delapool]

Hi, welcome - couple of ideas to check would be decaying fish food (with or without fungal growth), fungus or bacterial bloom. All pretty rare - filters in my established tank have just dark muck.

 

[dvonzombie]

Thank you. I haven’t had fish in the tank for about 2 weeks so I’m not sure how it could be decaying food. I vacuumed just the other day then the next day all the chunks appeared. I’m going to remove it all and see if it comes back.

 

[Delapool]

Substrate was just sand? Sounds like something stirred up but should burn itself out.