Can someone tell me what’s growing on my airstones?

[TheCoatimundi]

So this slime has been growing on my airstones and sides of my tank no matter what I use to clean this, it continues to grow back. These stones sit in a stock tank of ro water that never has any nutrients introduced to it, simply water at 0ppm I’ve tried using standard dish soap to clean the tank, bleach, 99.9% iso and it still returns can anyone tell me what it is and how to get rid of it please?

 

[josefrahl]

Are they in a bucket with no top? If so it will continue to grow back time and time again no matter how you clean them. I wouldn't use bleach while cleaning. Try using peroxide. If it's not covered get it covered. Are you using beneficial bacteria in your grow?

 

[TheCoatimundi]

There is no lid on the stock tank correct, I do beneficial bacteria the products I use are great white, hydroguard, and voodoo juice

 

[Zill]

Coat,

You’re going to need to soak those frits in bleach for a good long time. Then try to blow out the junk. Or buy a second set. One can be cleaned while another set is in use.

 

[josefrahl]

Ok so get it covered for sure. Light+water+oxygen is the perfect environment for that slime. Clean it again with 50/50 peroxide/water, and a thorough rinse of water after. You may want to also add the hydroguard to take care of anything that springs up.

 

[Zill]

Hydrogen peroxide will do nothing for these fouled filters. You need a ver strong oxidizing agent like hypochlorite.

 

[TheCoatimundi]

Can anyone tell me what exactly it is that’s growing?

 

[Zill]

Aye Lad,

Things like slime molds. Some Algae. The bacterium pseudomonas sps. gets a foothold and slime themselves to a surface. It’s a huge problem in the pharmaceutical industry. They make water to process medicines. It’s called water for injection, WFI. It’s continuously circulated in a loop with various taps at 180F. All that to primarily prevent slime from forming.

 

[josefrahl]

It's a bacterial slime, but without getting it tested it's impossible to know exacty what type it is.

 

[Zill]

I’ll bet you a six pack it’s a pseudomonas sp.

 

[TheCoatimundi]

Any idea on killing these pseudomonas sp. I know I’ve got multiple answers so far but just tryna make sure I have all my options ready to try and eliminate this

 

[Zill]

Sure. See an earlier reply. Soak the filters in bleach, sodium hypochlorite. I suspect the filter membrane is plastic? Also have a second filter set. One is being cleaned the other is being used.

On the other hand, those fritted filters may be too fouled to reuse.

 

[TheCoatimundi]

I apologize when you say filter I don’t understand what it is you mean do you mean the actual filters in my reverse osmosis?

 

[Zill]

Coat,

Sorry. The first part of your thread had a pic of gooey filters. Aren’t those the aerators?

 

[Zill]

Coat,
Bad choice of words. aerator not filter.

 

[TheCoatimundi]

Oh Yes, I’ve always just referred to them as airstones soak those in bleach got it, are there any measures I should take to clean the actual reservoir itself?

 

[Zill]

That’s it - air stones! Those things have very fine porosity and are easily fouled. Disconnect put in bleach for a day. Rinse really well and see if that biofilm is removed. How long had been using these before you noticed? I’ll bet quite a while.

 

[TheCoatimundi]

They’ve been in use for a couple months now but I’ve only just noticed the biofilm

 

[Zill]

Buy a second set while you try to clean the fouled aerators