what happened to my saltwater brute?

[jbdreefs]

So, I go to do a water change today and my saltwater looked gross. Almost brown.... anyone have an issue like this before. It's almost like there is a dead animal in it. No I haven't looked yet, but I'll update tomorrow. I use IO, and have used the mixing station before, with no issues.

Just curious if this was a random event, or if I'm not doing something properly....besides keeping the rodents out.

 

[ff337]

how long was the water in it? Supposedly if it is left in there too long it can cause things to precipitate. My red sea pro did after 48 hours or so. Now i mix and add within 2 hours or so. Once the temperature levels out, I do a water change.

 

[wbrown]

If I leave mine more than a few days I develop a slime coat on my brute. I run either a powerhead, airstone, or mag 9 to keep it moving.
I usually mix and wait a few days before use, I have waited 4-5 weeks at times too.
If I happen to be working in the garage a lot, meaning the lights are on, I toss the lid over the brute to keep undesirable algae down.

 

[raz0945]

When you mix your salt water do you leave a pump running until you use it? It will mix better if you put water in first then put your salt in, also use a heater in your salt tub. This helped me, hope it will be of some help!

 

[ff337]

i leave a mag pump in mine as well. Sometimes the sides turn brown. This has been an issue with several types of salt. But like I said. I no longer leave the salt longer than a few hours, once everything has dissolved well.

TDS is always zero out of ro/di.

 

[jbdreefs]

Okay, it sounds like maybe I have left it in the container for too long, not quite a week, with probably not enough flow, and too much light... or there could still be a rat in it. Thanks for all the advice.

 

[smoothie]

No light, flow and an air pump/supply will cure your problem after a FRESH start

 

[wbrown]

wait until you add too much salt too fast and it precipitates crap on the inside of the brute. This is a real pain to remove..