Mold/Algae in mixing station

[Gerard Viola]

Hi all, if anyone has any info here thanks ahead for your help

I did a water change prob 2 weeks ago and left 5 gallons of already mixed saltwater in the 25 gallon brute. A few days ago I finally got around to refilling it back to the full 25 and then today I added the rest of the salt and put the pump on. I didn’t really look too much at it until just now I went to to measure the salinity and notice what looks like mold or algae floating on the top surface. I’ve had the black streaks on the side of the can for a while but this was new.

i always have the lid on and with no heater on until I’m mixing to use the water

Is the water still good or has anyone else had the same issues?

 

[Angel_V_the_reefer]

This is odd. Is this mixing station held outside in hot temperatures?

 

[Gerard Viola]

This is odd. Is this mixing station held outside in hot temperatures?

No it’s in my basement so it’s normally mid 70’s

 

[Janet Belanger]

RedSea salt black bucket does this, and for me I even get a nasty bacterial slime on the water surface. According to RedSea they suggest that you use the water within a few hours of mixing it.

What salt are you using?

 

[jkobel]

this happens to me as well with IO. Interested in hearing thoughts. I even get a white sludge on the sides of the barrel

 

[Nacltdog]

I have the same looking “stuff” in my ro/di holding tank. Which is also a brute trash can. I have never mixed saltwater in it. The holding tank is in my basement so I am thinking it is some sort of mold. Does anybody know a mycologist who could confirm the if it is mold and more importantly what favor it is?