Water Mixing - Brown Slime

[gouldaz]

I run RO/DI w/ 2 DI canisters after my RO. I keep my DI canisters rotated so my TDS meter always reads 0 on the outgoing water.

I get this brown slime in my mixup water. A lot of times I mix water for a couple days before I do a water change and there always seems to be a brown film on the bucket and powerhead. What is this stuff? Is it just residual trace elements? It does not seem specific to the type of salt as this is the same when I use IO, Oceanic, and Red Sea Pro.

Ive had a major tank crash over the last 8 months and cant seem to get my tank back in order (Dinos). Looking at this as a possible problem I need to fix.

Do you folks experience the same thing when you make mixup water? Should I worry?

Thanks,
Brian

[Chorethorious]

--WARNING-- Not speaking from experience --WARNING--

Find another hobbyist in Gilbert that is doing RO/DI water that can lend you a few gallons of purified water. Maybe this can assist with eliminating your RO/DI system as the slime culprit. Also, change out your bucket for safe measure. Just start taking more and more out of the equation till you see the slime disappear.

Thoughts?

[vanillagorila]

I have never had anything like that in my mixup water. are you mixing outside in the direct sunlight?

[Philwd]

After a couple weeks my buckets will also get it. You just have to clean them out after every WC or 2. It's possible it comes from the salt mix. But unless you've completely covered your mixing barrels all the time you'll get some spores into your water and it will grow.

[gouldaz]

There is a little bit of ambient light, but nothing out of the ordinary. Usually starts to appear on about day 2 of mixing water. Sometimes I'll mix for 4-5 days if I have a busy schedule. Thats when it gets bad.

So I take it you folks dont experience this......

[chetm2]

My RO/DI water sits in a 55 Gal. drum in the dark and it stays warm due to heat from my chiller. It is always crystal clear - no algae whatsoever. I don't use the drum to mix saltwater, just for freshwater. I'm also in Gilbert so the water should be pretty close to the same. I'm guessing it's the leftover residue from the salt like Phil said. Rinse your buckets after doing a water change. HTH

[Smo]

Originally posted by gouldaz
There is a little bit of ambient light, but nothing out of the ordinary. Usually starts to appear on about day 2 of mixing water. Sometimes I'll mix for 4-5 days if I have a busy schedule. Thats when it gets bad.

So I take it you folks dont experience this......

This may be your problem. To prevent this, mixed water should be used 24 hours after it is made. The water has had time for the pH to become stable & the temp to adjust now it is ready to go into the tank.

Unless you are sterilizing your mixing bucket, pump, heater, etc then I wouldn't go beyond 24 - 36 hours.

Some people will say you can add mixed water right away, but the recommended time is 12 - 24 hours with proper aeration and heat/cooling to get the temp the same as the tank.

IMO your are leaving it in the buckets too long.

[Warmart]

I would first clean your bucket/can very well. I had some "brown slime" once and assumed it was bacterial growth - and unwanted at that. I pumped it down the drain, cleaned my can - problem solved.

Always keep your buckets/can totally covered and like others said, use the water fairly quickly.

[gouldaz]

Thanks for all the good input. I am going to clean my bucket and not mix as long. Ill let you know how it goes...

-Brian

[Kentanner11]

not to hijack your thread but is there a difference between the time that you can mix saltwater, and the time you store it? I know a lot of people have a constant supply of saltwater on hand, and some stored for emergencies.

[Helfrich’s Chic]

Yea kent, I always have pre mixed SW from AT in blue buckets in the laundry room. Stays pretty cool in the house thou. I havent had any slime stuff nor have I had any issues keeping it for easily a week sometimes 2. I also keep my RO in the same manner, no issues. Maybe I shouldnt be doing that lol.

[JMCAquarium]

Could it be diatoms starting the cycle process becuase he is letting it sit open for such a long time ??