Rust in My Salt Mix Container?

ZildjianDevil

ZildjianDevil

Member
hey guys,

what the hell is this stuff growing inside my saltwater mixing container? it's like a dark orange and light brownish in coloration. it's been two of my mixing containers, and i have no idea why or what it is. i have some pictures i'll show you guys.. when i touch it, it has a real gritty texture.. and it comes off in like flakes.. is it harmful to my aquarium? i've always had this since day one! and i run a ro/di system before is gets to this container.. the only thing i keep in this container is a heater, maxi jet, ro/di water and salt... and i always leave the lid closed. it runs 24/7.

IMG_1647.jpg

IMG_1649.jpg


thanks for the help,

-Zildjian
 
Is the container metal and do you always have saltwater in there? If yes to both then it could be rust from the salt corroding the container.
 
thats not rust. The behavour and composition is wrong.

How old is the ro unit and have you changed or altered anyrhing?

The maxijext. Was it clean when it went in there and how old is it? The heater. Same, whats the condition?

Also, whats the salinity of the water thats being held there?

Kai
 
IMO, it is nothing more than algae buildup - about once a year I clean mine out with a garden hose and a brush.
 
kaimarkhirst said:
thats not rust. The behavour and composition is wrong.

How old is the ro unit and have you changed or altered anyrhing?

The maxijext. Was it clean when it went in there and how old is it? The heater. Same, whats the condition?

Also, whats the salinity of the water thats being held there?

Kai
Click to expand...

Ro Unit is just over 1 year old, i just changed out all filters, and both resin chambers, but this stuff has been in here since the beginning. the maxi jet was brand new when i put it in there. the heater was brand new also.. i keep the salinity at 1.025, but it always changes after i do water changes and i wait til the next day to get my levels back up to 1.025
 
billdogg said:
IMO, it is nothing more than algae buildup - about once a year I clean mine out with a garden hose and a brush.
Click to expand...

thats what i don't understand about it, this happened in my first container too.. as soon as i noticed it, i cleaned it out with water and scrubbed it all out. and within the next couple of days... its back.

i just want to know what is it, and what causes it. and if its harmful to fish or corals.
 
The last batch of Reef Crystals did that a little bit to my mixing container, but it hasn't effected any of my parameters or tank.
 
i've went through 3 salts so far.. Oceanic, Brightwells, and now Seachem Reef.. does anyone know what this stuff is? orwhat causes this for you get this?
 
hmm interesting sorry I just saw ure post about the salt brand

it looks like a diatom maybe ? have you tested for SI ? is TDS zero ? (again sorry if u have checked those as well lol ) post the pic on chemistry forums, Cliff would know much better if this was any type of algea ..
 
It turns out that my brownish-white potato chips in the bottom of my vat consists mostly of calcium carbonate, created from the calcium chloride and carbonates in the salt mix. This means that my freshly made seawater will be low in both calcium and alkalinity, or at least lower than what the manufacturer intended them to be. And the brown film is natural clay that was added to the mix as an anti-caking agent, which is inert and has no effect on the quality of the water.
Click to expand...

http://joejaworski.wordpress.com/2009/12/10/making-seawater-this-is-a-no-brainer-right/
 
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