Hagen Bubble diffuser: icky stuff

[squirrelrabbits]

I awoke to find some icky stuff on my hagen bubble diffuser, just where the bubbles come out, all along the bottom rung of the "ladder." It looked like white fuzz or fungues... like a soft white webby insect nest actually; it had no smell to speak of (other than fish)! I have the diffuser hooked up to a DIY bottle but I do use a check valve. What does this sound like: a) some kind of white uizzy algae, 2) some weird fungus, or 3) yeast that made it through the check valve! Thanks.

 

[Discomafia]

Many people that use the Nutrafin CO2 system experience this, including me, and it seems to have no ill effects on the fish or water chemistry. I remove as much as I can during a water change. I think it's a byproduct of the chemical reaction occuring in the container.

 

[jimbooo]

commonly known as scum...

quite normal and no idea what it is. just rince it off as Discomafia said, nothing to worry about.

 

[houndour]

Yeah I had this too when I first put my hagen system in. But I don't seem to have it anymore. Maybe the fish have been at it?

 

[squirrelrabbits]

Whew! I thought somehow that yeast had gotten through the tube and I went in and ripped that baby out of there in a hot second. Good to know it is just run-of-the-mill scum and not something less fish friendly. Thanks!

 

[abstract]

yep used to have an issue with it when i first bought the hagen system...now i just clean it every once in awhile as others have mentioned..if you let it buildup too much it will stop the bubbles

 

[Discomafia]

if you let it buildup too much it will stop the bubbles

Yeah, important to note that as well. For myself when I was using it, I noticed that the scum prevented the CO2 bubbles from entering the ladder if I didn't remove it for more than 2 or 3 weeks. Yours might be different. Never saw any for the first few days after I removed it, then it got noticeable. I simply used a turkey baster and pumped water to the area, then would do a quick gravel vac...

 

[Waterloo Kid]

Pulled some off mine yesterday. As it came loose one of my Keyholes got at it and seemed to enjoy the taste! No ill effects seen. I think it's some sort of bacterial buildup.

WK