White stuff floating in quarantine tank

[mjenni27]

Still pretty new. Decided to set up quarantine tank, been playing russian roulette with my fish and did not want to loose them. Have had it set up for about a month now. Been cycling, feeding once a week for the bacteria. Using water from my main tank when doing water changes (putting in 5 gal once a week in a 10 gal tank). Looked at it last night and the water was covered up with white flecks. Is this bacteria or have I screwed up somehow?

 

[mjenni27]

forgot to add, the white stuff looks like styrofoam. Tank is covered with a glass lid. Filter is a sponge filter attached to a head.

 

[MondoBongo]

any pictures? does the stuff float or sink?

could it be calcium precipitate or salt creep?

 

[mjenni27]

No pics, just saw it last night and my cell phone is out of commission until my company gets me a new one later this week. It is floating on top of water.

 

[mjenni27]

So went by my LFS last night, it is actually more brown than white in daylight. Anyway, talked to them and they said it is probably protein from the food. To take paper towels and float on the top of water to draw them, throw away and keep an eye on it.

 

[jraker]

might it be salt creep?

 

[MondoBongo]

Oh like little patches of foam?