White flakes coming from return pump

[Pennywise the Clown]

My Reefer 250 has been running for roughly 4 weeks now. My lighting has only been on for the last 2 days. I have noticed, on occasion, a load of white flakes coming from the return pump. They are very fine, and if one of my clowns tries to eat one, it breaks up into tiny pieces.
Any idea what these flakes are?

 

[Crabs McJones]

My Reefer 250 has been running for roughly 4 weeks now. My lighting has only been on for the last 2 days. I have noticed, on occasion, a load of white flakes coming from the return pump. They are very fine, and if one of my clowns tries to eat one, it breaks up into tiny pieces.
Any idea what these flakes are?

Calcium deposits possibly? Take your pump out and see if you have like a hard encrusting film over the impeller or near parts.

 

[Pennywise the Clown]

Calcium deposits possibly? Take your pump out and see if you have like a hard encrusting film over the impeller or near parts.

Thanks, will give that a try.

 

[Reefer Deez]

Calcium deposits possibly? Take your pump out and see if you have like a hard encrusting film over the impeller or near parts.

I agree 100% I get those flakes from my Vectra return pump as well as from my MP40 powerhead from time to time. If I give the powerheads a good soak in a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and RO water and I don't scrub them very well I kind of get lazy about it when I put them back in the tank I have the same white flakes. Nothing to be too worried about

 

[Waters]

My sump bottom becomes covered with them...I have to routinely vacuum it out to keep it clean.

 

[Padawan]

My Reefer 250 has been running for roughly 4 weeks now. My lighting has only been on for the last 2 days. I have noticed, on occasion, a load of white flakes coming from the return pump. They are very fine, and if one of my clowns tries to eat one, it breaks up into tiny pieces.
Any idea what these flakes are?

Hey guys! I'm having a similar problem. I turned off my return pump for a second and when I turned it back on a load of white flakes blew right out. I'm cycling my tank atm so at first I thought it might be the beneficial bacteria, when I extracted some, it felt like what you'd expect a bio film would feel like (slimy!).

I did some more investigating and I found a video on Youtube with a similar problem and seen the word Fungus mentioned and panicked, because I did add 'Aquarian' brand fish flakes over the last few days to stimulate a bio load although I wasn't sure if it was the right food to add to a cycling aquarium.

I'm hoping its just a calcium participate like you guys mentioned but I'm not sure. It doesn't feel like what I'd expect calcium precipitate to feel like (rough, gritty, chalky) I did take some photos. I hoping one someone more experienced could help me figure out what it is.