Another salt question, sorta!

[Anonymous]

I've recently switched over to Reef Crystals and have noticed that in the mixing barrel, I get what looks to be a calcium buildup? Only it's not white like I get on the sump equipment. It's more like a very soft/pale orange in color when it's wet, when dry it's light beige/brown. It wipes off the sides of the barrel fairly easy, but is a pain in the butt to get off the mixing pump. It's really strange, because my friend is also experiencing the same with hers. Any one have any clue to what this stuff is?

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like rust to me (really).

Is there any chance the water company cleaned their pipes recently?

 

[Anonymous]

Nope,well water. Not rust, that is a much brighter and different color. I'll see if I can get some pics.

 

[Anonymous]

Diatom or other algae maybe? I've read about others who have noticed that type algae growth occurring with that product.

But of course I can't say if it's true as I have not experienced that and notwithstanding the foregoing consider this my official disclaimer including but not limited to the aforementioned . /legalmumbojumbo :lol:

 

[Nautilus1]

From your description it really sounds like iron precipitate. I have seen it before when mixing nutrients for microalgae. Well water is notorious for very high levels of Iron. I would just try to fill up a bucket with only well water and let it sit for a few days to see if you get iron precip but it could be a reaction with the salt that is causing it to precip out.

 

[Anonymous]

Evidently, I fougot to mention, this is ro/di water. Betweem the well pump and the ro/di unit there is no metal other than the faucet. The well is out of a natural spring (craploads of them in this area), with no agriculteral runoff. I do have a tendicy to let it mix for however long it takes me to use up the 32g.

I don't think it's diatoms or some other type of "algea". it is more "scaley". On the smoother surface of the barrel (big trash can), it wipes off easily. On the rio 12h pump I use for mixing, it has encrusted every surface, inside and out and has to be scraped off. Maybe. I'll try soaking it in vinager and see if that helps.

I got my bucket o salt here locally and my friend got her's online, so chances are they're different batches. Not that this is really a big deal, but would hate to think I'm loosing important elements of my saltwater.

 

[Anonymous]

I've got this too using well water...but I don't know what it is, either.

 

[Anonymous]

That's the weird thing, I use ro/di with a well as source water, my friend uses ro with city water as the source. We're both having the same exact problem.

Maybe I'll do some testing today.

 

[chris&barb]

it's PO4 from the salt mix