Is this mold/rust in my salt mixing barrel?

JCOLE

Grower of the Small Polyps
View Badges
Joined
Mar 12, 2018
Messages
4,078
Reaction score
11,016
Location
Charlotte, NC
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I use a brute 44 gallon trash can for my salt mixing barrel. I use Tropic Marin Pro Reef salt and I try to keep water always on hand for occasional water changes and unforeseen future emergency changes.I have a Jebao DCT 15000 pump on my Apex that circulates the water every hour.

I opened my barrel to just check on the water as I plan on doing a water change tomorrow after my Fluconazole treatment. The water was mixed 4 weeks ago and has been circulating every hour ever since.

See pictures. It appears that there is black mold/rust on the sides of the container. I have never seen this before.

Has anyone seen this before?

20200605_195952.jpg
20200605_195946.jpg
 
Last edited:

ahiggins

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 13, 2016
Messages
4,827
Reaction score
3,493
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Had this happen to my small saltwater container mixing station. Nothing got rid of it. I even bleached it. So whatever it is, it’s not going to be easily removed.
 

ahiggins

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 13, 2016
Messages
4,827
Reaction score
3,493
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Granted I left the saltwater in there for like a week and that’s when i saw it
 

evelio118

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 5, 2013
Messages
71
Reaction score
28
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Does the container receive sunlight? Do you have it near a window?
 

jeffww

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 18, 2019
Messages
330
Reaction score
542
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
My hot take: Maybe entrained metal catalyst from the manufacturing of the plastic allows the accumulation of metals from the salt mix. I think it's probably safe.
 
OP
OP
JCOLE

JCOLE

Grower of the Small Polyps
View Badges
Joined
Mar 12, 2018
Messages
4,078
Reaction score
11,016
Location
Charlotte, NC
Rating - 0%
0   0   0

Do you think it could be mold? I never have seen this before. The water and rest of barrel is crystal clear and spotless. I made the switch from reef Crystals to TMPR a couple months ago and never noticed this black stuff with RC.
 

mike550

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 13, 2019
Messages
2,264
Reaction score
2,375
Location
Chicago
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
@JCOLE is there any smell to it? Maybe test for ammonia or nitrates? -- Just wondering

Did you also run a heater or were you just circulating the water?
 

Saltyreef

I'm not your dad...
View Badges
Joined
Nov 25, 2018
Messages
7,041
Reaction score
6,030
Location
Central Coast, California
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I get this growth in my 20gal brute but with RO water only. In garage, only gets sunlight when door opens.

Its like the same black mold that grows on your showers ceiling.
 

Joedubyk

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 19, 2019
Messages
795
Reaction score
1,040
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I always spray my brute down with vodka and wipe it down before each wc. i personally would make new water, but I'm overly cautious when it comes to things like this.
 
OP
OP
JCOLE

JCOLE

Grower of the Small Polyps
View Badges
Joined
Mar 12, 2018
Messages
4,078
Reaction score
11,016
Location
Charlotte, NC
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
@JCOLE is there any smell to it? Maybe test for ammonia or nitrates? -- Just wondering

Did you also run a heater or were you just circulating the water?

It does smell a little moldy. When I opened the lid I noticed a little smell and that is what prompted me to look on the inside.

Yes, I run a heater and my garage did creep up into the 90s this week. I wonder if the hotter temps caused this?
 

Saltyreef

I'm not your dad...
View Badges
Joined
Nov 25, 2018
Messages
7,041
Reaction score
6,030
Location
Central Coast, California
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
It does smell a little moldy. When I opened the lid I noticed a little smell and that is what prompted me to look on the inside.

Yes, I run a heater and my garage did creep up into the 90s this week. I wonder if the hotter temps caused this?
The incubation phenomenon comes to mind here :)
 
OP
OP
JCOLE

JCOLE

Grower of the Small Polyps
View Badges
Joined
Mar 12, 2018
Messages
4,078
Reaction score
11,016
Location
Charlotte, NC
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I get this growth in my 20gal brute but with RO water only. In garage, only gets sunlight when door opens.

Its like the same black mold that grows on your showers ceiling.

Yes that is what this looks like also. Don't want to use it if it's bad but I also don't want to dump out 45 gallons of TMPR. This stuff isn't cheap.
 
OP
OP
JCOLE

JCOLE

Grower of the Small Polyps
View Badges
Joined
Mar 12, 2018
Messages
4,078
Reaction score
11,016
Location
Charlotte, NC
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I always spray my brute down with vodka and wipe it down before each wc. i personally would make new water, but I'm overly cautious when it comes to things like this.

My container is a fixed can in my water change station. I just recently cleaned it well with Vinegar once I switched from Reef Crystal's a couple months ago. I always have water circulating in it at any given time for emergencies. Just curious as I have never seen this.
 
OP
OP
JCOLE

JCOLE

Grower of the Small Polyps
View Badges
Joined
Mar 12, 2018
Messages
4,078
Reaction score
11,016
Location
Charlotte, NC
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I have the same 45 gallon brute can for my RODI as well. That barrel has been full continously for 3 months and does not have a powerhead for mixing. I just checked that barrel and it is spotless. Hmmm...

20200606_193205.jpg
 
OP
OP
JCOLE

JCOLE

Grower of the Small Polyps
View Badges
Joined
Mar 12, 2018
Messages
4,078
Reaction score
11,016
Location
Charlotte, NC
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Did a partial water change. Wiped one of the black spots and this is what came up. Any thoughts?

20200607_211502.jpg
 
Back
Top