How to prevent mildew in topoff container?

[shelburn61]

I have a problem with mildew growing in my topoff container and clogging the tubing of my dosing pump. How do I prevent this stuff from growing?

I plan to clean the container with bleach, but how do I prevent the mildew from coming back?

 

[ottemann]

Darkness - If you can keep the light out the mildew (algae) will not grow. I use opaque containers and black plastic hose and don't have any problems.

 

[flyhigh123]

shelburn:

I have lots of algae grow in my dosing pump pipes. What I do to get it out is I take a rolling pin and one every few weeks, I roll it over the tube, and it just pushed all the algae out. Its pretty gross, but it makes it clean and useable...

 

[philipm]

I put a little bit of kalk in mine. A bout a teaspoon in a 30 gallon container.

 

[shelburn61]

So is this black/grey stuff mildew or algae? Mildew is a fungus and doesn't need light.
Kalk didn't work to prevent it for me?Maybe I'll just have to bleach the topoff container every once in while to keep the stuff from taking hold?

 

[kybreos]

yea, mildew is not an algae, it's in the mold family, which doesnt need light. Bleach is really the only way to kill it that is safe because the chlorine will evaporate and you could also use a dechlorinator to be safe.

 

[ottemann]

Mildew or Algae

Mildew or Algae

I would doubt it is a mildew but rather an algae. There is a lot of black algaes around. Most swimming pool owners will attest to that. My "keep it in the dark" method has worked for me for years. Black tygon tubing never seems to grow anything on the inside.
Bill