Mixing station algae issues (food grade barrels)

Thekingy · 11/02/2013, 09:47 AM

I have two 55gal food grade barrels setup as a mixing station. The barrels had Coca Cola syrup in them and we're washed out with vinegar water several times. I noticed this morning that the barrel containing the saltwater has lots of stringy algae growing on the inside of the barrel. The barrels read 19-29 TDS before setup and continued to drop over time. Is this normal to have an algae outbreak in the mixing station barrels on a new setup? And is this something I should worry about? I am considering taking the barrels off line and using two 40B or two 55gal tanks instead. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks

Thekingy · 11/02/2013, 11:52 AM

Any ideas? Possibly contaminated barrel?

speedo2wet · 11/02/2013, 12:05 PM

From what I know since the barrel contained food grade products it should be fine. What was the TDS of the water prior to being placed in the barrels? What salt mix are you using? Was the stringy stuff noted after mixing the salt or before with just the RO/DI water? I'm asking because I recently noticed a brown stringy substance in my barrels which I found out was from the salt mix. This is just a left over of "stuff" in the mix. I found no effects on the tanks them selves.

Thekingy · 11/02/2013, 12:12 PM

The water coming out of the RO unit is zero and the TDS readings in both barrels before salt was ever added was between 19-29. That was the reading from a small amount of water out of the barrel. The algae like substance is in the barrel that is used for mixing the salt, and it occurred a week or so after I added the salt. I have constant flow running through the salt barrel side to continuously mix the salt and a heater a well.

Thekingy · 11/02/2013, 02:03 PM

Definitely looks more like algae then collected debis from the salt bags.

outssider · 11/02/2013, 04:29 PM

some salts like RC have nutrients added. If you got some light + time = algae

maybe mix up only a couple days before water change

Thekingy · 11/02/2013, 04:44 PM

Question is how do I get it out now. The barrels are sealed with two 2" holes at the top.

Duvallj · 11/02/2013, 06:09 PM

You could tape a brush onto a stick and do a lot of fiddling trying to scrub the inside, but...

This particular instance of growth could be contamination from old product, could be from the salt. What you may find is that this will repeat itself in one way or another:
Many people experience a bacterial slime that eventually coats/forms even in ro water containers. You may not experience this, but if you do I would imagine it would get old quick constantly cleaning them out every time.
I myself have only noticed "smells" like sweaty socks or similar. Mostly in the air in the container not so much the water.

I would personally opt for containers that can really open the top. Brute trash cans are popular and I recommend them if your shooting for storing 20-30g's of water or so. If you do get growth/slime/ect all you do is drain and whip it off/let dry g2g.

Can you modify the ones you have?

Thekingy · 11/02/2013, 06:43 PM

I could probably cut the tops off just not sure if it would be better going with two 55 gal tanks from Petcos $1 per gallon sale. Build a stand so one would be on top of the other and drill them on the ends and hard plumb them to my system. If I did get algae in the glass tanks it would be much easier to clean rather then a barrel.

11/02/2013, 09:47 AM	#1
Thekingy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 812	Mixing station algae issues (food grade barrels) I have two 55gal food grade barrels setup as a mixing station. The barrels had Coca Cola syrup in them and we're washed out with vinegar water several times. I noticed this morning that the barrel containing the saltwater has lots of stringy algae growing on the inside of the barrel. The barrels read 19-29 TDS before setup and continued to drop over time. Is this normal to have an algae outbreak in the mixing station barrels on a new setup? And is this something I should worry about? I am considering taking the barrels off line and using two 40B or two 55gal tanks instead. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks

11/02/2013, 11:52 AM	#2
Thekingy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 812	Any ideas? Possibly contaminated barrel?

11/02/2013, 12:05 PM	#3
speedo2wet Sharks!!!! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Apopka, Florida Posts: 478	From what I know since the barrel contained food grade products it should be fine. What was the TDS of the water prior to being placed in the barrels? What salt mix are you using? Was the stringy stuff noted after mixing the salt or before with just the RO/DI water? I'm asking because I recently noticed a brown stringy substance in my barrels which I found out was from the salt mix. This is just a left over of "stuff" in the mix. I found no effects on the tanks them selves.

11/02/2013, 12:12 PM	#4
Thekingy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 812	The water coming out of the RO unit is zero and the TDS readings in both barrels before salt was ever added was between 19-29. That was the reading from a small amount of water out of the barrel. The algae like substance is in the barrel that is used for mixing the salt, and it occurred a week or so after I added the salt. I have constant flow running through the salt barrel side to continuously mix the salt and a heater a well.

11/02/2013, 02:03 PM	#5
Thekingy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 812	Definitely looks more like algae then collected debis from the salt bags.

11/02/2013, 04:29 PM	#6
outssider Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Reseda, Ca. Posts: 1,717	some salts like RC have nutrients added. If you got some light + time = algae maybe mix up only a couple days before water change

11/02/2013, 04:44 PM	#7
Thekingy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 812	Question is how do I get it out now. The barrels are sealed with two 2" holes at the top.

11/02/2013, 06:09 PM	#8
Duvallj Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 379	You could tape a brush onto a stick and do a lot of fiddling trying to scrub the inside, but... This particular instance of growth could be contamination from old product, could be from the salt. What you may find is that this will repeat itself in one way or another: Many people experience a bacterial slime that eventually coats/forms even in ro water containers. You may not experience this, but if you do I would imagine it would get old quick constantly cleaning them out every time. I myself have only noticed "smells" like sweaty socks or similar. Mostly in the air in the container not so much the water. I would personally opt for containers that can really open the top. Brute trash cans are popular and I recommend them if your shooting for storing 20-30g's of water or so. If you do get growth/slime/ect all you do is drain and whip it off/let dry g2g. Can you modify the ones you have?

11/02/2013, 06:43 PM	#9
Thekingy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 812	I could probably cut the tops off just not sure if it would be better going with two 55 gal tanks from Petcos $1 per gallon sale. Build a stand so one would be on top of the other and drill them on the ends and hard plumb them to my system. If I did get algae in the glass tanks it would be much easier to clean rather then a barrel.