Vinyl tubing - white deposit

DESNJ · 06/27/2014, 08:44 AM

Dear All,
I have just set up my first saltwater tank which has cycled nicely and I am beginning to have fish/CUC thoughts. I have a question regarding vinyl tubing - I made up 20G of saltwater in a plastic bin and left the utility pump with vinyl tubing (regular Home Depot vinyl/PVC) in it. Went to get some water for first water change and found that the vinyl tubing was now coated with a white flaky material that easily came off and is now floating around in my reserve (which I'll throw out). I can easily solve that problem (don't leave tubing in seawater!) but I had planned on using the same tubing to plumb in my chiller. Not so sure now. All advice greatly appreciated.

EnderTurtle · 06/27/2014, 09:05 AM

Hey I'm in the same exact situation as you! I bought braided nylon hosing from Home Depot.

I have been trying to figure out the white deposite for a LONG time.

I have braided nylon tubing for my return pump line and everytime I turn off the pump and turn it back on the white deposit that lines the inside of the hose gets blown into my tank making it very messy.

I don't know what it is either but I really hate it.

MondoBongo · 06/27/2014, 09:10 AM

in freshly mixed saltwater? mostly likely just some calcium precipitation.

i get this all the time in my mixing vessels as well. it will coat the powerheads and sometimes the sides of the container. not a big deal. once in a while i clean it off with some vinegar and a vigorous freshwater bath, but i usually don't worry too much about it unless it is really building up.

thegrun · 06/27/2014, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MondoBongo

in freshly mixed saltwater? mostly likely just some calcium precipitation.

i get this all the time in my mixing vessels as well. it will coat the powerheads and sometimes the sides of the container. not a big deal. once in a while i clean it off with some vinegar and a vigorous freshwater bath, but i usually don't worry too much about it unless it is really building up.

+1. After your saltwater is mixed and is clear continuing to run your pump is likely to produce calcium precipitate, especially if you are using a reef salt which is high in calcium and alkalinity. The heat produced by the pump accelerates the precipitation. I would turn off the pump once the salt is completely dissolved.

EnderTurtle · 06/27/2014, 09:46 AM

I only get it on my vinyl hosing though. The build up does not occur anywhere else.

thegrun · 06/27/2014, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnderTurtle

I only get it on my vinyl hosing though. The build up does not occur anywhere else.

That is because the water in the tube is warmer than the water in the container, thus more precipitation there.

DESNJ · 06/27/2014, 10:54 AM

Thanks all, the pump is not actually running - I just left it sitting in the bin with the tubing in seawater (Instant Ocean @ 1.022).

DESNJ · 06/27/2014, 07:56 PM

I'm wondering if its a bacterial buildup (see post below). Don't know why it would grow on the vinyl tubing but not anything else in my saltwater reserve though.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...php?p=21919387

DESNJ · 07/06/2014, 09:37 PM

I ended up using the flexible vinyl tubing for my chiller. Not a good idea in the end. Every time I moved the tubing (have to check that the pumps are working OK!), I got a snowstorm. I replaced the tubing with "aquarium" grade vinyl rather than Home Depot, and got the same result. Yesterday, my new tank started getting cloudy - at first I was worried about bacterial growth then I remembered the tubing. Visit to HD, I replaced all the flexible vinyl with flexible PVC (PEX) with a couple of short pieces of vinyl to help with bends and connections. Tank is now crystal clear. Don't know why this happens (CaCO3 deposit is my guess) but I'm surprised this hasn't come up as an issue more widely. Anyway, cautionary note to anyone going this route... vinyl tubing and seawater (at least Instant Ocean) don't seem to be a good combination.

MondoBongo · 07/07/2014, 07:17 AM

that's an interesting result.

taking a stab in the dark, the only thing i can think is that some chemical they use in the manufacture of that tubing causing calcium precipitation? that's pretty interesting.

at any rate, glad you got it figured out.

Kyle918 · 07/07/2014, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

That is because the water in the tube is warmer than the water in the container, thus more precipitation there.

+1

I have the same problem but don't stress over it. I take the tube out and soak it in hot water and vinegar to clean it once in a while. It only takes about 20 mins for it to clear back up after turning the pumps back on.

06/27/2014, 08:44 AM	#1
DESNJ Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 23	Vinyl tubing - white deposit Dear All, I have just set up my first saltwater tank which has cycled nicely and I am beginning to have fish/CUC thoughts. I have a question regarding vinyl tubing - I made up 20G of saltwater in a plastic bin and left the utility pump with vinyl tubing (regular Home Depot vinyl/PVC) in it. Went to get some water for first water change and found that the vinyl tubing was now coated with a white flaky material that easily came off and is now floating around in my reserve (which I'll throw out). I can easily solve that problem (don't leave tubing in seawater!) but I had planned on using the same tubing to plumb in my chiller. Not so sure now. All advice greatly appreciated.

06/27/2014, 09:10 AM	#3
MondoBongo Obligate Feeder Obsessed Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,061	in freshly mixed saltwater? mostly likely just some calcium precipitation. i get this all the time in my mixing vessels as well. it will coat the powerheads and sometimes the sides of the container. not a big deal. once in a while i clean it off with some vinegar and a vigorous freshwater bath, but i usually don't worry too much about it unless it is really building up. __________________ [Citation Needed] "You don't use science to show that you're right, you use science to become right" - xkcd Current Tank Info: A rectangular shaped money pit.

06/27/2014, 07:56 PM	#8
DESNJ Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 23	bacteria ? I'm wondering if its a bacterial buildup (see post below). Don't know why it would grow on the vinyl tubing but not anything else in my saltwater reserve though. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...php?p=21919387

07/07/2014, 07:17 AM	#10
MondoBongo Obligate Feeder Obsessed Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,061	that's an interesting result. taking a stab in the dark, the only thing i can think is that some chemical they use in the manufacture of that tubing causing calcium precipitation? that's pretty interesting. at any rate, glad you got it figured out. __________________ [Citation Needed] "You don't use science to show that you're right, you use science to become right" - xkcd Current Tank Info: A rectangular shaped money pit.

06/27/2014, 09:05 AM	#2
EnderTurtle BAR - Sponsorships Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 521	Hey I'm in the same exact situation as you! I bought braided nylon hosing from Home Depot. I have been trying to figure out the white deposite for a LONG time. I have braided nylon tubing for my return pump line and everytime I turn off the pump and turn it back on the white deposit that lines the inside of the hose gets blown into my tank making it very messy. I don't know what it is either but I really hate it.

06/27/2014, 09:46 AM	#5
EnderTurtle BAR - Sponsorships Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 521	I only get it on my vinyl hosing though. The build up does not occur anywhere else.

06/27/2014, 10:54 AM	#7
DESNJ Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 23	Thanks all, the pump is not actually running - I just left it sitting in the bin with the tubing in seawater (Instant Ocean @ 1.022).

07/06/2014, 09:37 PM	#9
DESNJ Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 23	I ended up using the flexible vinyl tubing for my chiller. Not a good idea in the end. Every time I moved the tubing (have to check that the pumps are working OK!), I got a snowstorm. I replaced the tubing with "aquarium" grade vinyl rather than Home Depot, and got the same result. Yesterday, my new tank started getting cloudy - at first I was worried about bacterial growth then I remembered the tubing. Visit to HD, I replaced all the flexible vinyl with flexible PVC (PEX) with a couple of short pieces of vinyl to help with bends and connections. Tank is now crystal clear. Don't know why this happens (CaCO3 deposit is my guess) but I'm surprised this hasn't come up as an issue more widely. Anyway, cautionary note to anyone going this route... vinyl tubing and seawater (at least Instant Ocean) don't seem to be a good combination.