What is this stuff?

[Martin cape]

Hi guys.

What is the "stuff" that grows inside filter pipes? I replaced the tubing on Sunday and I'm already seeing a bit of growth in the tubes. What is it? Also, is it supposed to appear this quickly?

 

[Pinkmummy79]

Hi mate,

it's gunk dude, my ribbed fluval pipes come with it already in!
Seriously though it does grow quickly, I asked about it a while back when cleaning my pipes out, someone said it was possibly linked to feeding pellet type feeds, i'm not sure why but since i've changed my feeding to less of this i'm certainly not seeing so much build up.
i'm sure there will be someone more in the know than I to put things right mate.

 

[Martin cape]

Are right. I do use pellets every other day. Wonder if it does affect it. I can't be bothered taking it all apart to clean every 2 weeks. Behind an aquarium cabinet isn't the most easily accessible place to work in.

 

[Pinkmummy79]

I know it's a right pain, mine aren't too bad as my tank is drilled, i've get a duplicate set of pipes attached to the fluval aquastop valve etc so all I do is place corks in the inlet and outflow pipes to stop any water leaks to the inside of my cabinet (and so not to drain the tank lol) then just pop off the two hoses over a bucket to collect and water held within them and the pipes above and replace immediately with my other set already cleaned! that way it takes me 5 mins to change the pipes and I can clean the dirty set as and when I like as they're off. makes like much easier having 2 sets.