Salt water storage???

[phiberop840]

I have 2 44 gallon bins that I keep ready to go with saltwater. I have noticed that Over 3 months now that they are quite filthy inside and this may not be good for my mix. What is causing this? What is the best practice for storing SW and getting it ready for WC's?

I currently mix about a week ahead of time and have it set to 78 degrees and have a PH running to keep it aerated. Then I do my change and reload it with Fresh RODI water and let that stay until I am a week out and then I make another batch. Is this to long to have water sitting? Is this why there is a buildup in the bin? I do keep lids on them except for the 2 inch slot to allow for plumbing to slip through.

Mike

[fish.freak]

I use garbage cans at work, and buckets home. Should be fine for that period of time.
When you say dirty what do you mean? (pic) calcium buildup, algae...

[tellycoleman]

I to have calcium build up in the bottom of my sw container. i dont know if its harmfull or not.

[phiberop840]

the build up is on the sides and it has a yellowish kind of slime, I thought that it was algae but no light can get in there. I shut the door on the wet room and it gets a bit warm and stagnant in there but I do have a fan moving air to the outside.

Mike

[Casey]

Mike thats slime algae grows in the dark,I have the same problem so about once a month I clean it out and scrub the inside and wash it out with a hose.

[phiberop840]

Hmmmmm. Didnt know that slime would grow in the dark like that. does it ever not grow. I seem to be having the same problem in my frag tank.

Mike

[tdwyatt]

The films are chemoautotrophic and heterotrophic mixes of cyanobacteria, bacteria and fungi; very similar to the biofilms that Linckia spp seastars and other film consumers eat off of sand granules and live rock.. These microorgnisms do not need light or very little to get inorgnic carbon to become an energy source (even to make CHO's), then the chemoautotrophs become food for the heterotrophic bacteria and fungi, and a little microcosm of primary production and micrograzers develops. Wash the container out every time you use the contents by taking a handful of baking soda and scrubbing the sides with it, then rinse the barrell well with tp water and let it air dry upsidedown. This will remove the remains of the film as well as prevent some of the regrowth when you fill the barrel again.

The chemoautotrophs usually use either energy in the chemical bonds of suflate or potentially bicarb, some spp of cyanobacteria can use the energy in water bonds rather than carbon to carbon bonds: there are many ecological niches for chemoautotrophs a metabolic speciallists (see some of the Noctec spp of cyanobacteria in plain water).


HTH

[aquawolf]

Thanks for the information on how to properly clean the storage bucket Tom. I have been lurking on this thread hoping someone would have a cleaning solution. I have used vinegar in the past, but the baking soda actually sounds like a much better idea.

[phiberop840]

Yes thank you Tom. I was hoping you would chime in as I really wanted to know exactly what it was in the bucket. I definitely will clean as you say, but for me I need to know why as well. Thanks.

Also, is it bad to use the water with this in the bucket? I did once without noticing, and maybe more than once.

Thanks
Mike

[tdwyatt]

Test the water parameters, if they are good, then no problem. I don't believe the microfauna will be a problem, it has most likely seeded from your tank, anyway...