White Spots in Pipework (images)

[NadeZ]

So for the last few days I have found these white spots in the Pipework of my filter, but not in the canister, tank, or on my axolotl. I have no idea what it is, and the way it has stayed in the area of highest flow, instead of jumping to my axolotl, seems odd for an infectious organism. It doesn,t look like fungus to me, but not does it look like ich, so I have no idea what to buy to treat this.
I can't think of any changes to the setup that could have caused this.

Water parameters prior to weekly water change:
Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 80, pH 8.2
(I am aware that the nitrates and pH are a little high and am working on solutions, although I welcome any advice on lowering them)

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[leandrah]

I think its a build up of dirt, I sometimes get it in my predators fish tank - and then it usually turns brown
I usually clean the pipes once a month just to get the icky stuff out

 

[auntiejude]

Its either bacteria or algae - or both. Harmless to your axie, but you can clean it out with hot water and a bottle brush.

 

[Skudo09]

Looks like algae to me and high levels of nitrate can encourage algae growth. The algae is not harmful to your axolotl but I would suggest trying to lower the nitrate levels. Water changes will reduce your nitrate. live plants absorb nitrates so they can also assist in reducing nitrate levels. Water changes though will probably still be required to effectively bring the level down

 

[NadeZ]

Thank you very much. After just over a week, the white spots have spread drastically and now almost completely cover the pipework, with much higher density at the tank end of the inlet pipe, compared to the tank end of the outlet pipe. However, the spots are still completely confined to the pipework and there is no trace within the tank, canister, or on the axolotl.
My water test found very high (80+) nitrates in the tap water so I believe the test is defective (I have never recorded a value below 40 in the month that I have had this test kit). Will get the tap water tested by pets at home to verify.
I'm certain it isn't dirt as the filter has only been running for a couple of weeks. If this is algae, what can I do to get rid of it (bar cleaning it off the pipes manually). Like-wise, what infectious organism is this most likely to be, and how could I treat it?

 

[auntiejude]

It's not 'infectious' or even harmful, but it will grow and clog your pipes if you leave it.

Use a bottle brush and hot water to clean it out - it's the only way I have found to get rid of it. I have to clean this kind of stuff out of my filter pipes about every 3 or 4 months when I clean the filter anyway.

It's the reason chlorine is added to tap water in the first place!

 

[Skudo09]

I agree with Auntiejude

What is the test kit you are using? Is it a liquid test kit or a strip test kit? Liquid is much more reliable than the strip test kits. Also check the expiry date.

 

[NadeZ]

@Auntiejude
That's what it looks like, just bizarre considering the pipes were barely a week old before the spots started appearing, with the pictures above taken about 10 days after spots first appeared.

@Skudo09
It's an API liquid test kit, only a few months old (if the printed dates are to be believed)

 

[Skudo09]

It can grow pretty quickly.

I would suggest getting it tested at a store (make sure they tell you the actual result as some will just say "its fine") and see if their result is the same or different. Water changes might be good though as a precaution and to see if that does lower the nitrate level.

 

[NadeZ]

Went to pets at home today and had them test my tank water and tap water, both were in the 40+ colour for Nitrates so I hope my supplier can sort out the water. Had to do a 50% water change as part of a little modification to the setup but its not going to be helping the nitrates sadly.

 

[auntiejude]

The EU limit for nitrates in in tap water is 50mg/L, but in many regions in the UK nitrates are a problem right now because of flooding - nitrates come from fertilisers used in farming and that is running off the land into drinking water reservoirs, or soaking into the water course.

You can add plants to try and absorb the nitrates.

But yes, contact your water supplier and find out if they can help.

 

[NadeZ]

The EU limit for nitrates in in tap water is 50mg/L, but in many regions in the UK nitrates are a problem right now because of flooding - nitrates come from fertilisers used in farming and that is running off the land into drinking water reservoirs, or soaking into the water course.

You can add plants to try and absorb the nitrates.

But yes, contact your water supplier and find out if they can help.

Ahhh I was wondering what could have possibly caused it. They contacted me today are going to test my water themselves

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