Res is growing brown stuff, clouding up, not sure wtf is going on

calvin.m16

Well-Known Member
So I have replaced the RO filters, lines, used small amounts of bleach (calcium hypochlorite) and even mega shocked my RO system and tanks and I still keep getting this weird ass brown slime in my tanks and a white cloudy bullshit that forms within 24-48 hours.. I use CYCO GROW A&B in this tank, same issue happens but worse in my tank where I mix MaxiBloom. I have scrubbed the tanks out, bleached them, replaced everything except the pump and hose that I use but they have been soaked in super, super strong pool shock water for 48 hours and wiped down every centimeter of the reservoirs and cleaned them. It will look alright and clear for a day or so, then boom this shit starts to grow/bloom whatever.

I've used airstones, no air stones, beneficial bacteria (hydroguard) and pool shock and if the chlorine levels drop BOOM this brown shit forms everywhere. I do not understand what it is or how I can prevent this? I can't remember when this started happening as it has been a couple months now of fighting this issue.

Oh i will also say the shit seems to be collecting on air stones even when they are new, even with a new air pump. The pH of my reservoir raises when the issue is present. Sometimes if I use enough pool shock I don't see it and my PH stays stable, so a raising pH along with the brown slime would hopefully help isolate what the issue is??

The water only does this once it has fertilizer in it to feed on, so it's definitely some kind of algae/bacteria. I even replaced the pump and hose, still the same shit. Not sure what to do from here.

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theFLAKE

Well-Known Member
Have you checked if the Res lid is truly light proof? Sometime you don't realise how much light can pass through a lot of lighter coloured plastics. Light is usually a culprit for slime growth if you already know your temps are ok.
 

Hook Daddy

Well-Known Member
What’s the temp of your res? If light is getting in somewhere and/or the temps are high you are much more prone to slime. You mentioned you added pool shock to the res, and once the chlorine dissipates the slime starts, trick is not to let the chlorine dissipate if you’re running a sterile res. Slime is exactly why people run sterile. Otherwise invest in a water chiller and keep as much light as possible out of the res and lines.
 

calvin.m16

Well-Known Member
Have you checked if the Res lid is truly light proof? Sometime you don't realise how much light can pass through a lot of lighter coloured plastics. Light is usually a culprit for slime growth if you already know your temps are ok.
Yes it is pitch black in the room where the reservoir stands. I think it's possible my pumps and components are all contaminated with iron bacteria or something that doesn't need light to grow. Either way I just removed my filters from my RO system and ran super concentrated pool shock water through the whole system, let it get through all lines front to back and soak for 12 hours and then flushed it all out with new filters and fresh RO. I am putting the sump pump I was using before in the garage for other uses, new pump is ordered and plumbing, also new airstone and airstone pump. Taking zero risks I feel like the contam is harboring in my air pump, water pump or Reverse osmosis system (lines, filters, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ).

I checked the reservoir today (no air stones or pumps in the tank) and its crystal clear. I feel like this all started happening after I used some compost teas in my reservoir a few months ago. I'll never run organics again, at all. Sterile res all the way.

Still not 100% sure this is solved though, sometimes the res will stay normal until day 2-3. According to General Hydroponics support my erservoir should be completely problem free for a week. This is my plan anyhow I need to travel internationally and I would prefer mixing up a 50 gallon drum and having it drip feed my plants for a week. I really don't wanna have to pay and rely on someone to come into my grow and mix nutrients and water my plants.
 
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