I've been extremely busy at work lately and missed my last water change. The water had been all ready to go, about 30+ gallons stored in a Brute pail, to be used in my 120 and 33 cube. I'd guess it's been sitting there for about the past 7 or 8 days.
I have 2 Brute cans and alternate use of them due to frequently finding a brown film in them when I wash them out after using them. I have seen this 'film' brought up before here and some had ventured a guess that it's a residue from the salt mix.
I am currently doubting that ..I now think they are diatoms.
I had a bad feeling about this water and decided to run an ammonia test.
It is obvious that the water had began to cycle in the Brute can after sitting there (sg 1.025, temp 78) for the past week.
That got me thinking about my 10g top off container (AGA 10g Tank), so I also ran a test on that but it came up fine. (If you do test yours, be sure to use the card or a test kit for Freshwater).
I came THIS close to wiping out 2 of my reef tanks tonight.
From now on, I will fill the pail with rodi water and only add the salt the night before I plan to do my water changes to allow the salt to fully dissolve, the water to oxygenate, and to get it up to proper temperature.
If you've ever found any sort of film in the container you mix your SW in, please run a test on it.
If you've ever felt that you tank looked worse after a water change and took a couple of days to 'bounce' back, please run a test.
I have 2 Brute cans and alternate use of them due to frequently finding a brown film in them when I wash them out after using them. I have seen this 'film' brought up before here and some had ventured a guess that it's a residue from the salt mix.
I am currently doubting that ..I now think they are diatoms.
I had a bad feeling about this water and decided to run an ammonia test.
It is obvious that the water had began to cycle in the Brute can after sitting there (sg 1.025, temp 78) for the past week.
That got me thinking about my 10g top off container (AGA 10g Tank), so I also ran a test on that but it came up fine. (If you do test yours, be sure to use the card or a test kit for Freshwater).
I came THIS close to wiping out 2 of my reef tanks tonight.
From now on, I will fill the pail with rodi water and only add the salt the night before I plan to do my water changes to allow the salt to fully dissolve, the water to oxygenate, and to get it up to proper temperature.
If you've ever found any sort of film in the container you mix your SW in, please run a test on it.
If you've ever felt that you tank looked worse after a water change and took a couple of days to 'bounce' back, please run a test.
Last edited:
My tanks, and water are all in my basement..and so is the furnace (about 30' away in a different room) and I always worry about any sort of soot or something that might form, so nope, not due to them being stored openly.
