Ever Seen Brown Salt Creep?

JCOLE · Jul 10, 2019

I have a 30 gallon sump that I noticed was collecting some brown residue of some sort. Didn't think a whole lot about it until tonight. I went to the back of the sump and looked around. It appears that my fan is blowing across the water surface creating a periodic mist onto my input pipes. This is causing salt creep which is brown. I use Instant Ocean Reef Crystal's and I know that it leaves a brown residue in the mixing container. I always let it mix for about 48 hours before water changes.

Is that salt creep from IORC really that brown?? If so, why?

TheGreatWave · Jul 10, 2019

I had a similar looking buildup in a sump I had near where the RODI/kalkwaser was dosed. I forget what it was but it was not from the salt in particular. I have read accounts some salts having a brown anti-caking residue in them, but there isn't that much and likely wouldn't manifest on an exterior pipe like that.

The lid on your skimmer cup shows oozing out of the vents, maybe the fan is just blowing organics on there.

JCOLE · Jul 11, 2019

TheGreatWave said:
I had a similar looking buildup in a sump I had near where the RODI/kalkwaser was dosed. I forget what it was but it was not from the salt in particular. I have read accounts some salts having a brown anti-caking residue in them, but there isn't that much and likely wouldn't manifest on an exterior pipe like that.

The lid on your skimmer cup shows oozing out of the vents, maybe the fan is just blowing organics on there.

IORC I believe has clay binders and that is why it has brown residue in my mixing bucket. No, the skimmate coming out the skimmer is old and dry. If I put my hand where the filter socks should be I can feel spray coming up and the wind blowing it against the pipes. It is clearly coming from the saltwater.

Is the salt really this dirty?

TheGreatWave · Jul 11, 2019

No I think it must be mixing with dust or something. I'm not sure what organics would live in that much salt.

Mastiffsrule · Jul 11, 2019

Hi,

That is kinda weird. I don’t think the fan is causing it the way the spray pattern is. I would expect all the pipes in the area to have some film if the than was causing it.

I am wondering if the return pump pipe has the same build up on the underside in that area.. I am thinking it could be evaporation from the return line, being brown since it is coming from the DT with organic before the skimmer cleans it?

Just a wild guess though. If it was the salt causing it to be brown then I would expect the salt creep in other places to be same color.

I say a little CSI with spray and splatter patters to pinpoint the source.