Is this mold/rust in my salt mixing barrel?

JCOLE · Jun 5, 2020

I use a brute 44 gallon trash can for my salt mixing barrel. I use Tropic Marin Pro Reef salt and I try to keep water always on hand for occasional water changes and unforeseen future emergency changes.I have a Jebao DCT 15000 pump on my Apex that circulates the water every hour.

I opened my barrel to just check on the water as I plan on doing a water change tomorrow after my Fluconazole treatment. The water was mixed 4 weeks ago and has been circulating every hour ever since.

See pictures. It appears that there is black mold/rust on the sides of the container. I have never seen this before.

Has anyone seen this before?

ahiggins · Jun 5, 2020

Had this happen to my small saltwater container mixing station. Nothing got rid of it. I even bleached it. So whatever it is, it’s not going to be easily removed.

ahiggins · Jun 5, 2020

Granted I left the saltwater in there for like a week and that’s when i saw it

JCOLE · Jun 5, 2020

Could I still use this water?

evelio118 · Jun 5, 2020

Does the container receive sunlight? Do you have it near a window?

JCOLE · Jun 5, 2020

evelio118 said:
Does the container receive sunlight? Do you have it near a window?

No. Completely blacked out.

jeffww · Jun 5, 2020

My hot take: Maybe entrained metal catalyst from the manufacturing of the plastic allows the accumulation of metals from the salt mix. I think it's probably safe.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 6, 2020

JCOLE said:
Could I still use this water?

I would.

JCOLE · Jun 6, 2020

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I would.

Do you think it could be mold? I never have seen this before. The water and rest of barrel is crystal clear and spotless. I made the switch from reef Crystals to TMPR a couple months ago and never noticed this black stuff with RC.

Rollman · Jun 6, 2020

I use TMPR , and always have some black residue in my mixing container. Other brands can leave worse residue. I’d use

mike550 · Jun 6, 2020

@JCOLE is there any smell to it? Maybe test for ammonia or nitrates? -- Just wondering

Did you also run a heater or were you just circulating the water?

Saltyreef · Jun 6, 2020

I get this growth in my 20gal brute but with RO water only. In garage, only gets sunlight when door opens.

Its like the same black mold that grows on your showers ceiling.

Joedubyk · Jun 6, 2020

I always spray my brute down with vodka and wipe it down before each wc. i personally would make new water, but I'm overly cautious when it comes to things like this.

JCOLE · Jun 6, 2020

mike550 said:
@JCOLE is there any smell to it? Maybe test for ammonia or nitrates? -- Just wondering

Did you also run a heater or were you just circulating the water?

It does smell a little moldy. When I opened the lid I noticed a little smell and that is what prompted me to look on the inside.

Yes, I run a heater and my garage did creep up into the 90s this week. I wonder if the hotter temps caused this?

Saltyreef · Jun 6, 2020

JCOLE said:
It does smell a little moldy. When I opened the lid I noticed a little smell and that is what prompted me to look on the inside.

Yes, I run a heater and my garage did creep up into the 90s this week. I wonder if the hotter temps caused this?

The incubation phenomenon comes to mind here

JCOLE · Jun 6, 2020

Saltyreef said:
I get this growth in my 20gal brute but with RO water only. In garage, only gets sunlight when door opens.

Its like the same black mold that grows on your showers ceiling.

Yes that is what this looks like also. Don't want to use it if it's bad but I also don't want to dump out 45 gallons of TMPR. This stuff isn't cheap.

Saltyreef · Jun 6, 2020

JCOLE said:
Yes that is what this looks like also. Don't want to use it if it's bad but I also don't want to dump out 45 gallons of TMPR. This stuff isn't cheap.

That ***** spense..........dont blame ya

JCOLE · Jun 6, 2020

Joedubyk said:
I always spray my brute down with vodka and wipe it down before each wc. i personally would make new water, but I'm overly cautious when it comes to things like this.

My container is a fixed can in my water change station. I just recently cleaned it well with Vinegar once I switched from Reef Crystal's a couple months ago. I always have water circulating in it at any given time for emergencies. Just curious as I have never seen this.

JCOLE · Jun 6, 2020

I have the same 45 gallon brute can for my RODI as well. That barrel has been full continously for 3 months and does not have a powerhead for mixing. I just checked that barrel and it is spotless. Hmmm...