Pipe slime

[Srfnhooker]

I'm not sure if this is the right place for this question but...
Whenever I turn my return pump off for maintenance or feeding and turn it back on I get large amount of what appears to be some sort of slime or maybe bacteria. It's whitish in color and slime looking. Any idea what this may be or causing it? My water is crystal clear otherwise and all tank parameters are in very good range as of a week ago. I will check them again tonight and update the post. IM 75G tank has been up and running for 9 or 10 months. Low bio load on the system. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Doctorgori]

that will always happen it’s normal and there is nothing you can do to change it

 

[Srfnhooker]

that will always happen it’s normal and there is nothing you can do to change it

That sux. Any idea of what it is?

 

[Doctorgori]

Exactly what you suspect:
Black hose: muck, bacterial slime, course particulates
Clear hose: same as above plus algae
…it’s gonna happen every time, I mean every time, especially as the tank ages

 

[dakoop]

Pipe slime, giggle

 

[FUNGI]

are you dosing NoPox? That would increase your bacterial slime also......

 

[Dan_P]

I'm not sure if this is the right place for this question but...
Whenever I turn my return pump off for maintenance or feeding and turn it back on I get large amount of what appears to be some sort of slime or maybe bacteria. It's whitish in color and slime looking. Any idea what this may be or causing it? My water is crystal clear otherwise and all tank parameters are in very good range as of a week ago. I will check them again tonight and update the post. IM 75G tank has been up and running for 9 or 10 months. Low bio load on the system. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Bacteria most likely. When the flow start up is not a smooth increase, the shock wave knocks off the accumulated biofilm from the pipe wall. No big deal. Biofilm is everywhere, but the pipe surface offer a great place to grow thick biofilms. I never looked at these clumps closely. There could be other organisms helping to form thick layers. Sponges for example.

 

[Srfnhooker]

are you dosing NoPox? That would increase your bacterial slime also......

I put a small bag of chemipure in my sump a few days ago. I had the slime before but not in the large amount that I encountered tonight. Could that contribute? I believe it has a phosphate remover in it.

 

[KrisReef]

Almost sounds like your tank has a cold.

If you have adjustable flow pumps, maybe crank it up to knock some of the stuff loose before you shut the pump down next time? IF it is bacteria, the corals and the skimmer should be collecting it after it is knocked loose..

 

[Srfnhooker]

Bacteria most likely. When the flow start up is not a smooth increase, the shock wave knocks off the accumulated biofilm from the pipe wall. No big deal. Biofilm is everywhere, but the pipe surface offer a great place to grow thick biofilms. I never looked at these clumps closely. There could be other organisms helping to form thick layers. Sponges for example.

I have a dc pump which does have a gradual ramp up on start. I've had the slime before but tonight was the most I've seen. I added a bag of chemipure the other day. Maybe that has something to do with the increase.

 

[Srfnhooker]

Almost sounds like your tank has a cold.

If you have adjustable flow pumps, maybe crank it up to knock some of the stuff loose before you shut the pump down next time? IF it is bacteria, the corals and the skimmer should be collecting it after it is knocked loose..

That's kinda what it looks like. A bunch of buggers sneezed out. Not as slimey as snot but chunkier. I'm sure my socks will get most of it and the skimmer may pick up the rest.