What grows, (or coats), the insides of opaque tubing.

[TWYOUNG]

For weeks I've been wondering what the gunk was filling my socks. After noticing lots of debris floating in the tank after cycling the pumps for feeds I see that this stuff looks familiar. My old tank has a canister filter which after cleaning blows similar looking stuff out of it's tubing when restarted. Sometimes I try to catch the first gallon of output in a bucked to pitch since I don't know what it is. Does anyone know what the mucous-like coating is that forms on the inside of OPAQUE tubing or PVC?

 

[Bucs20fan]

Its what we call biofilm, mostly bacteria and other micro organisms.

 

[TWYOUNG]

Its what we call biofilm, mostly bacteria and other micro organisms.

So it's harmless?

 

[Bucs20fan]

So it's harmless?

I wouldnt want alot of it blowing around in my tank, but its always in contact with your water anyway, so I wouldnt worry.

 

[TWYOUNG]

I wouldnt want alot of it blowing around in my tank, but its always in contact with your water anyway, so I wouldnt worry.

I wouldnt want alot of it blowing around in my tank, but its always in contact with your water anyway, so I wouldnt worry.

Are there practices that can cause an excess amount of it? I’m curious if it’s forming inside my UV as the flow rate gradually slows over time.

 

[TWYOUNG]

Are there practices that can cause an excess amount of it? I’m curious if it’s forming inside my UV as the flow rate gradually slows over time.