white film of bacteria in pipes.

[markstrimaran]

OK I changed my filters and drilled 1" hole in my sums cover Sunday.
Only to jar loose enough film that had been growing inside the hoses, to completely clog and overflow my wet/dry's prefilter. Then back into the tank, to get chopped up into finer bits as It passed through the pump.
To cover every thing like a tree that got toilet papered.

 

[nossalucard]

Most likely bacterial film, happens in ALL filters tubes and hoses. If it bothers you clean more often. I just let it be myself, but I've never had THAT MUCH...in 25 years... You can also use a fine aquarium net over your outlows after anytime you stop the pump for maintenance or filter cleaning, and catch it in the net once you fire the pump back up.

Best of luck!

 

[markstrimaran]

The set up has about 8 feet of vinyl hose. I am pretty sure the dull hole saw. Vibrated every thing loose.
I was also too busy to fix it when I first noticed it, yesterday. Just one of those things, I never considered , to ever be much of a problem.

 

[ragin_cajun]

Filter socks?

 

[markstrimaran]

Filter socks?

I have one but it is not set up in the best position, it is submerged in the sump. Where I use it more to hold phosguard.
This whole set up will be replaced with two stacked 75 gallons. The new tank is bottom drilled, 16" from the sump.
The top tank has a built in filter.

 

[monkeybike]

I used to get that when I used to use dechlor with a slime coat additive. Ever since switching to Prime it doesn't happen. Used to be when I started my return pump after a water change my tank would look like a snow globe.

 

[esoxlucius]

I had this problem. After investigating i narrowed it down to a natural build up of gunk in my flex return line. So i got a spare return line and every 3 weeks i change them over, (it seems to take about 3 weeks for the gunk to build up to a level where it starts to free itself, especially when aided by the sudden gush of water when turning on the return pump). I clean the dirty one by passing a heavy lead weight attached to fishing line through it and the fishing line has a piece of rag attached to the end. A few passes and the inside of the return line is perfectly clean. I haven't had a problem since.

 

[markstrimaran]

I think I finally got clear water again. My filters have been clogging up daily. Had my outflow screen plug twice, it has never plugged.
My bio balls must have accumulated some also. As my post filters are clogging up also.

 

[ragin_cajun]

Keep this in mind as you think through your replacement setup. The build-up in the pipes is one minor problem....but the different filters at different points in the system getting clogged is the real pain point.

What about the bio balls? You have to clean those now?

 

[markstrimaran]

I don't think I want too. Changing out filter floss is pretty quick, and a $4.00 roll lasts many filter changes. The wet/dry floss is 4" x 16" the others are 4"x 6".
My sump is mounted above the aquarium. Which is needs a lot of hose.
The sump post filter can't build any head pressure. Which would force water through, with out losing the air gap on the bio balls.
When I switch tanks, the sump will be on the bottom, allowing 6" of head pressure on a clogged post filter, will help alot.
I am going to try pacing the intake on the sump with scrubbies, to hopefully take out the bulk of the large clumps.