Note To All: Don't run Vinegar and Tap Water for more than 2 days

Hentz · 10/07/2016, 12:58 PM

Had a major bubble algae problem so I broke my tank down.
I dumped in tap water and a bottle of vinegar after cleansing all my equipment so I can run it through the pumps and reactors. I did so. I let it set for 2 days, got kinda cloudy but didn't think anything of it other than it was cleaning.
3rd day I get home from work to find I can literally not see through my tank to an open window.

Why it didn't click in my head, I have NO IDEA.

Vinegar = carbon source = food for bacteria. So naturally I was having a wild bacteria bloom in my tank as it had a huge feast.

A local Reefer mentioned she did it years ago and had mold grow in the tank. **** sure enough, little patches were starting to grow everywhere. All over my equipment and everything.

I drained the tank the 3rd night after work immediately. Took out all my equipment this morning, took it all apart, and gave it a nice bleach wash and scrub.

So note to everyone, if you're going to cleanse your tank, use bleach and tap. Or don't let the vinegar and tap sit as long as I have!

Because now my build is even more prolonged!

BvN · 10/07/2016, 01:11 PM

Hahah happened to my old tank too when I cleaned it out.. The mold exited of some kind of small white balls the size of raindrops

Hentz · 10/07/2016, 01:13 PM

Mine is tons of little green spots. It was allllll over my equipment!

Sonyardo · 10/07/2016, 07:38 PM

Thanks for the warning

10/07/2016, 12:58 PM	#1
Hentz Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 2,016	Note To All: Don't run Vinegar and Tap Water for more than 2 days Had a major bubble algae problem so I broke my tank down. I dumped in tap water and a bottle of vinegar after cleansing all my equipment so I can run it through the pumps and reactors. I did so. I let it set for 2 days, got kinda cloudy but didn't think anything of it other than it was cleaning. 3rd day I get home from work to find I can literally not see through my tank to an open window. Why it didn't click in my head, I have NO IDEA. Vinegar = carbon source = food for bacteria. So naturally I was having a wild bacteria bloom in my tank as it had a huge feast. A local Reefer mentioned she did it years ago and had mold grow in the tank. **** sure enough, little patches were starting to grow everywhere. All over my equipment and everything. I drained the tank the 3rd night after work immediately. Took out all my equipment this morning, took it all apart, and gave it a nice bleach wash and scrub. So note to everyone, if you're going to cleanse your tank, use bleach and tap. Or don't let the vinegar and tap sit as long as I have! Because now my build is even more prolonged! __________________ A Reef in the Desert: 120 Gallon (4x2x2) - MP40 x2 - Gyre 130 - ATI Sunpower - Simplicity Pump/Skimmer - Controlled by Apex

10/07/2016, 01:11 PM	#2
BvN Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 91	Hahah happened to my old tank too when I cleaned it out.. The mold exited of some kind of small white balls the size of raindrops __________________ Cheers, Bert 350galon system - Return: RD12000 - Skimmer: BBK SM 250 - Flow: 2x MP40W - 2x Giesemann Aurora - Ca reactor: Dastaco XtremA + Ultegra - Neptune Apex full (AFS, 2nd EB6, WXM, BoB)

10/07/2016, 01:13 PM	#3
Hentz Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 2,016	Mine is tons of little green spots. It was allllll over my equipment! __________________ A Reef in the Desert: 120 Gallon (4x2x2) - MP40 x2 - Gyre 130 - ATI Sunpower - Simplicity Pump/Skimmer - Controlled by Apex

10/07/2016, 07:38 PM	#4
Sonyardo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: OC California Posts: 522	Thanks for the warning