Drift wood ???'s

[Aquaman19]

So I picked out a piece of drift wood out of a lake.  I let it dry in the sun for about a week.  I have an empty 75 gal that I was getting ready to stock with pleco fry to grow out.  I had to weigh it down with a piece of slate.  I let it set for 5 days.  Today I was looking it over and noticed what appears to be fuzzy white mold or fungus on parts of the wood.  Should I pitch it and drain the tank? Or am I overreacting and put in the fry?

[linuxrulesusa]

This happens typically with driftwood you collect yourself.  I'm not completely sure what causes it but for what it's worth I've left fish in there and they've been fine.  I will take the driftwood out and scrub it a bit then put it back in.  Eventually it usually goes away.  Sometimes it's black fungus/mold/whatever instead of white fuzz.  Same process.

[fishandcards]

I have actually witnessed this on the two tanks I have running - with drift wood that had been used in other tanks for years!

I actually think it may have something to do with the cycling.....I actually just vacuumed it off when changing water and have not seen it since.  Both cases were during the cycling phase - some form of the cycle by product?  I may look up the chemical equations if I am bored this weekend.