Whitish Film - Now on Flipper

[liam]

Hi,

I refer to Problem 1 in my "Some Problems" topic recently. I will however recap from that topic for easy digestion.

There appears some whitish film hanging on to the Sera CO2 Transparent Testcube. This occurred after I started increasing the kH of the 3ft tank by using Sera kH-Plus. Instructions in the bottle indicates 5ml per 40 litres and I have about 160 litres. I increased the kH from 2 degrees to 4 degrees approximately. This was noted 2 days ago.

Just awhile ago, I noticed that the CO2 bubbles were moving slower than usual at the bottom of the Nutrafin Flipper. Upon closer inspection, I realised that the whitish stuff/film (looks like mulm?) has accumulated at the bottom of the flipper where the bubbles form.

Flora and fauna appears okay. gH=8, kH=4, pH=6.5, NO2<0.3.

Pictures at http://homepage.mac.com/jeffreyliam/PhotoAlbum23.html

Q1: Why is this forming only at the CO2 testcube and flipper?
Q2: How do I prevent this?

[Allen_1971]

are you using a DIY system by any chance?

[liam]

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On 5/9/2003 4:19:46 PM

are you using a DIY system by any chance?
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Yup! Nutrafin. It's running only for about 5 or 6 days.

[juggler]

If you pass the CO2 gas thru another bottle of plain water before the flipper, it will help remove the slime. See http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/CO2/co2-faiz.html for some example.

[liam]

Thanks. But just for my understanding, how does another bottle in between reactor and flipper helps remove the whitish slime?

[Blue Whale]

[:] that figures...some time you would shake the bottle right? part of the liquid mixture will get into the tube. And form at the opening which happens to be at the flipper end.

I do experience this before I insert a bubble counter. Heh Heh, u guess it, it got trapped in the bubble counter. After sometime, I will need to clear it but hey its better than clearing the flipper.

U might wanna try this...

[liam]

Can understand that the additional bottle prevents the DIY concoction from entering the aquarium.

But this does not explain the fact that the white slime appeared at the bottom of the CO2 testcube...or does it then mean that the liquid in the Sera testcube also causes this white slime?

[Blue Whale]

^^ Have u use shampoo before? What happen to the tip after say half a bottle? Does clotting form there? I believe its the same theory.

But we are not forcing opinion here. We are just saying that plain water in the middle does minimize the need to do more regular cleaning. Its much like a choice. Keep your options open.

[juggler]

I don't know how to explain but the 2nd bottle helps to dissolve something inside. Try and see. After a few months, the 2nd bottle of plain water also smell of alcohol.

[liam]

Ok. I'll try out and see how it goes.

Thanks!

[liam]

Hi,

Looks like after including the additional bottle between my Nutrafin flipper and bottle, the white slime has appeared overnight, slightly.

The Sera CO2 also has accumulated the white slime at the bottom overnight.

Can help as it is unsightly and they form overnight?