Brown Slime in water change container

[phoenixfla]

Every time I make up water to do a water change I get a slimy brown substance that covers the inside of the container that I use and the circulation pump. Generally the water is made up 4 - 7 days prior to doing a water change. I have read of others having the same problem, but have been unable to find a solution. I think it must be some kind of algae growing.
I have had the same thing with Red Sea, Reef Crystals and Tropic Marin Pro (which is what I now use). The water is r/o water. I have purchase a DI filter, but have not yet hooked up. The only soultion I can come up with is that my RO is leaving a small amount of silicates or phosphates in the RO water and that is causing an algae bloom. The water is kept in a covered dark (Rubermaid Brute 44 gallon container) I have had the same problem with a smaller garbage can also.
My thought is to possibly add a little bleach when I first make up the water, and then de-clorinate prior to using. Bob Fenner recomends clorinating/declorinating when using sea water, so I figured doing the same to synthetic water would do no harm.
Anybody else having the same problem?

 

[phoenixfla]

Bump

 

[unleashed]

i have found the same thing in my ro bucket the first time i seen it i thought someone had spilt something in the water.but i think its from the salt mix itself(impurities)i just skim it off with a strainer spoon

 

[phoenixfla]

Originally Posted by unleashed
i have found the same thing in my ro bucket the first time i seen it i thought someone had spilt something in the water.but i think its from the salt mix itself(impurities)i just skim it off with a strainer spoon
This is not on top of the water, but an actual coating of the inside of the container and the pump.
I also thought it may be impurities, but I have had the same results with 3 different salts. Also, if it was the salt I would think that it happen in every case.

 

[i<3fish]

This happens to my pump in my sump. The pumps tubing is underwater, and I pulled it out and it was all slimy, and disgusting. I think it is just some type of algea maybe.

 

[essop3]

I would get a phosphate test kit and test your R/O water. How old are your filters & membrane?

 

[hsanchez]

I thought I was the only one. I get my RO in 5g buckets from the LFS. I usually get 4 at a time. By the time I get to the last 2 buckets they have this brown film on the bottom.

 

[phoenixfla]

Originally Posted by essop3
I would get a phosphate test kit and test your R/O water. How old are your filters & membrane?
I have tested both the fresh RO water and the water after adding salt. Phosphates are 0. Small amount of silicates that may be causing the problem.
Filters and Membranes are about 2 1/2 months old.

 

[phoenixfla]

Originally Posted by I<3Fish
This happens to my pump in my sump. The pumps tubing is underwater, and I pulled it out and it was all slimy, and disgusting. I think it is just some type of algea maybe.
I think it is some kind of algae also. I may try clorinating and de-clorinating. If I try that I will post my results. If this takes care of the problem, then it is definately some kind of algae bloom.