Battling white slime

NanoSteam · Nov 30, 2021

I’m not new to reefing by any means but we can all agree even the most seasoned reefer runs into a new issue at some point. This one is new to me.

I’m aware what the white slime is and what usually causes it but a bit stumped in my case as I’ve tried to go down the list of items that could cause it.

-we don’t use any cleaning products around the tank.
-I don’t do any sort of vodka dosing, nopox etc…
-never used any air fresheners in the house or sprays of that sort.
-nothing is dying or died in the tank, actually all my corals and fish are flourishing.

what I does:
-Tropic Marin AFR
-Brightwell Neonitro (nitrates bottom out if I don’t dose daily)

parameters:
Salinity: 1.026
Nitrates: 2.5ppm
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: 0
Phosphates: undetectable by salifert and seachem (need to maybe start dosing this too)
Calcium: 430
Alk: 9
Mag: 1380

This stuff only grows in the dark in my sump just to note.

vetteguy53081 · Nov 30, 2021

Either an abundance of micro bubbles or protein enriched substance
Are you running carbon- if not, may help

shakacuz · Nov 30, 2021

i had this and had it go away on its own.. never really knew what caused it. i thought my skimmer was causing too my bubbles.

NanoSteam · Dec 1, 2021

vetteguy53081 said:
Either an abundance of micro bubbles or protein enriched substance
Are you running carbon- if not, may help

I am indeed running carbon, so not sure what else I can do. It's not the first time this has happened. I'm now taking a look at my water mixing station. TDS is 0 BUT it's stored in the garage. Wondering if outdoor elements are getting into it? I do have it in the typical Brute trash can with the lid tightly on top though.

shakacuz said:
i had this and had it go away on its own.. never really knew what caused it. i thought my skimmer was causing too my bubbles.

I wish this was the case. It occurs and goes away after 24hrs but eventually comes back. Has happened 4 times now in the past 3 months so there must be something somewhere I'm missing.

When it's not present I have an ever so slight bacteria bloom in the water column. When this white slime occurs that goes away.

vetteguy53081 · Dec 1, 2021

NanoSteam said:
I am indeed running carbon, so not sure what else I can do. It's not the first time this has happened. I'm now taking a look at my water mixing station. TDS is 0 BUT it's stored in the garage. Wondering if outdoor elements are getting into it? I do have it in the typical Brute trash can with the lid tightly on top though.

I wish this was the case. It occurs and goes away after 24hrs but eventually comes back. Has happened 4 times now in the past 3 months so there must be something somewhere I'm missing.

When it's not present I have an ever so slight bacteria bloom in the water column. When this white slime occurs that goes away.

I point at water next or container