White Flakes

[sen5241b]

Yesterday, my pump started making some rattling noise ithat I had not heard before. I reached in to move it around a little. When I turned the pump back on all these little white flakes shot out of the pump. I moved the pump again tonight and the same thing happened. What is that stuff?

My tank is only three weeks old. Ph 8.3 Salinity 1.022. Nitrates very low, Ammonia also very very low.

[jbeining75]

might just be built up salt.......

[country_boy454]

I'm gonna side with jbeining75 on this one. It sounds like the build up of salt.

[sen5241b]

Thanks for the quick response! But salt build up in only 3 weeks? Maybe I should soak the whole pump in vinegar.

[cocoa_pleco]

probably crusty salt. or do you feed marine snow?

[sen5241b]

probably crusty salt. or do you feed marine snow?

The 3 week old tank has had no fish or inverts yet. Nothing to feed. "marine snow"?

The first week ammonia rose but not super high. I started testing for nitrates after 2 weeks but there has been little or none. I think its pretty much cycled. I'm going to throw a couple hermit crabs in there this weekend.