When you guys do water changes....

[Strider85]

....do you have a brown film left over in the mixing container? I use a Brute 33 gallon trash can, and there is a fine dusty film, orange/brown in color, all over the inside of it.

I first started to doubt my Brute when, while battling a cyano outbreak, I did a 30 gallon water change on my 200 gallon system and the cyano exploded aftewards, overnight.

Last night, with finally getting the cyano under control, I did another water change, and WHAM, another cyano explosion, now it's even popping up in my display more than before.... Something I noticed though, when I did this last water change, I noticed as I got to the bottom of the trash can that there were very very small strands of cyano IN THE BRUTE CONTAINER! At this point though it was too late to mix a new batch - about 27 gallons of water had already gone into my display =(

Last night, just in case, I grabbed some water from the container and stored it in a ziplock. I'll test it and have a LFS test it as well for a double-check. Anyone ever had issues with their brute leaching nitrates or phosphates back into the water? I'm also using the new Coralife 200g bucket of salt. Any known issues with this line of salt?

Thanks everyone for any input!

[zero26]

You use RO/DI right?

[tall_jason79]

I use the same salt and a brute to mix saltwater in and i have not had this problem. I am curious if it has anything to do with your RO unit? I would maybe check the TDS and do a phosphate test of it. Also i have taken water up to get it tested in a plastic bag and had the numbers all out of wack before. I try to use something like a small Tupperware bowl with a lid. When was the last time you cleaned the 33 gallon brute?

[Strider85]

I haven't cleaned the trash can other than draining it so all water is out. I use RO/DI, reading 0 TDS. Only other place that water goes is in 29 gal reservoir, fresh is all that's ever in there, though it could be leaching something, I bought it on craigslist, guy used it for cichlids at one point.

[thercwizard]

Chris,

It's from using the GFO I think. I had this on my glass and on top of my water even after I rinsed it really good. That's another reason why I switched back to Phosguard. J

[kraash]

I use Reef crystals and there is always a brown film on the sides of the can. It wipes clean with a towel, but does not look like cyano. I have read several other posts about it, most say that it is an anti caking ingredient used in the salt. The water tests fine before and after the salt, so I have learned to live with it. It must all stick to the trash can (55g Brute) because I have never found any signs of it in the display.

Does this sound like the same stuff or is yours a slimy, snotty looking stuff?

[chadfarmer]

IO and reef crystals always leave that film--- it is supposed to be something like phosban that they add i cant remember what it off hand

it is skimmed out via a protein skimmer if it makes it to your tank

[Strider85]

I have both the slime and the cyano... the cyano was whipping in the current =\ This stuff is tenacious, you wouldn't think it would stick together in the flow it's in, but oh it does.

Gonna ditch using Brutes for now, and try some other container I suppose...

[JR719]

that's strange, I used a brute and never had a problem. I would run straight vinigar in it and wash it down good with it. Or maybe half and half, either way, scrub it down good.

[thercwizard]

The phosban type additive in the salt adds up because the GFO left the same color in my tank. Even after I rinsed it, it still made it into my tank. The GFO left a brown/orange film on top of my water and on the glass. Which I never had that problem before when using Phosguard. I don't ever have that problem with my salt though because I never pre-mix it and leave it in a holding container. I don't mix my salt until I am ready to use it. I have had the best luck with Instant Ocean, it desolves immediatly after mixing it. I really don't think it's your container Chris. I asked a friend of mine and he uses a Brute without issue as well. J

[Numsee]

I have also seen this with reef crystals even when I mixed it in old salt buckets. I get it worse with straight well water over RO

[zero26]

I've had that brown film when I used Reef Crystals, never cyano though. I now just use IO and theres a little film but not too bad.

[Strider85]

If it's not the container, then what's allowing cyano to grow in a bucket of pure 000 tds RO water and Coralife salt that supposedly has 0 nitrates or phosphates? And what other common variable is present that has caused huge cyano explosions TWICE now after a big water change, during which I suck out any detritus I see?

I'm not saying all the brute containers are bad, but I think after letting saltwater sit in them for what is collectively weeks, it might have eaten through the coating on the inside of the can a little bit and let out some nasties.

This pest is creeping into my display now, just when I had the frag tank under control, now it's rearing it's ugly head in my baby!!

[Strider85]

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...rash-cans.html

I've used my Brute for 1.5 years and haven't had this problem. I think I might have left saltwater sit too long, OR my heater got a little too hot perhaps at one spot and started to weaken the can, letting certain contaminants loose that otherwise wouldn't be present in my water.

Or I just need to rinse the can out really well..... who knows what's growing in there. It doesn't look harmful or look like something that could be feeding nitrates or phosphates but I've been wrong before =)