DIY co2 and stuff forming on the airstone

[Kuhlifan]

I just started my first DIY co2, and it's been working nicely. I noticed today that there is some sort of film/glob forming on the airstone. Is this normal? What's the procedure, should I be alarmed?

[coach_z]

what color is it? what it look like? got a pic?

i would clean it off, worry if it comes back.....

verify that none of the solution from your co2 mixture is working its way up through the airline tubing. if it is rework your system to prevent it.

[Kuhlifan]

it's a very light brown, and kind of hard to see in a picture. It's forming on the side of the airstone that the bubbles are coming out of.

I kept the water level low, so I've not had any froth coming through the tube that I can detect.

[Bubbles2112]

I remember that I had a kind of a slime coating form on one of my airstones that kept coming back for a while. I just would scrape it off with my fingers when it reformed. is your tank a new setup?

[TechAquaria]

I remember that I had a kind of a slime coating form on one of my airstones that kept coming back for a while. I just would scrape it off with my fingers when it reformed. is your tank a new setup?

I remember that "slime"; and actually, I have had it form on the airstones delivering bottled Co2 into tanks, occasionally (slightly different color, if I remember correctly.) It appeared, to me, to be some type of anaerobic bacteria feeding there; I mean, this is purely speculation on my part?

I do know one thing, my guppies, platys and snails loved the stuff, and devoured it with gusto!

Regards,
TA

[Kuhlifan]

Naw, it's been going most of a year. I have, however, been experiencing an explosion of hair/beard algae for a few months. The co2 I started this week as part of an effort to eradicate it.

[coach_z]

sounds related to high co2 concentration...probably an algae...doesnt sound like anything to worry about....

[DoctaQ]

ive had white slimey stuff on the top of a diffuser of mine once, didnt seem to bother anything aside from looking nasty

[roscoe70]

ive had white slimey stuff on the top of a diffuser of mine once, didnt seem to bother anything aside from looking nasty

Same here.

[tbonedeluxe]

Its the muck from the co2 solution.
Just clean the air stone off.
If you use a gas seperator/diy bubble counter, you'll get it less often.It collects most of the muck in its bottle.

[tbonedeluxe]

Steve Hampton:

The gas separator does two things. It can stop the flow of yeasty goo into the tank should the fermentation bottle fall over. But more importantly is separates and cleans the CO2 gas. The gas is bubbled into the first bottle where the gas is "cleaned". This stops the fungus snot that develops in the aquarium on either the airstone or on passive reactors. Without the gas separator you end up injecting a "wet" gas.

[tbonedeluxe]

Heres a co2 article:
http://www.rexgrigg.com/co2.htm#thumb

[Kuhlifan]

THis is my first attempt, so it's very simple. I have a 2 liter bottle with a hole drilled in the cap. A piece of airline tubing comes out of the hole and into the tank with an airstone attached.

Not the most efficient method, I know, but it's what I got right now.

[James0816]

Yep..sounds like Co2 snot to me. Add a sperator bottle to you setup (small soda bottle). That should do ya.