Pink filter sock???

Since I've recently added a sump to my 3 year old tank I'm loving it,.. I am running filter socks (4" Berlin sock from marine depot) I have 8 of them and change them every one to two days and when I'm almost out I wash them...

Anyways, I put the dirty ones in a nice, white, clean, dedicated bucket with lid until time to wash. Today, I opened the bucket and see almost what looks like pink dye was squirted on one of the bottom corners and covered about 2-3 inches. I lifted it up and the same on all the others.. I'm not sure if it transferred from one as they were all laying in almost the same position.?!

Should have taken a picture but threw them in the wash.

I ran a paper towel all over the inside of the bucket and it come out clean except for dirty water, so it didn't come from that...


Is there some kind of bacteria or something what will grow and is pink? This is my only thought because I am VERY cautions of what comes into contact with tank supplies.

 

cyano...had almost the same situation happen to me.

 

Even being pink? I'm mean it was like a hot pink almost.. And there is no cyano in the tank.. Is it just because the conditions are right? (Very dirty wet filter sock in bucket? ) And also the bucket was covered , so no light for days... If so, there's nothing to worry about? It didn't affect or spread to your tank? I'm pretty sure it will be gone when it comes out of the wash anyways, but I was just alarmed that it was on all the socks in the bucket.

 

well, i know for a fact mine was cyano, i was sucking some up and had it draining onto filter floss. after i was done tossed it in the bucket and hit the hay. 3 days later when i finally cleaned up, the contents of the bucket were, as you said, hot pink.

 

Hmmm... It must be. I just googled cyano and found some pink stuff and it looks very close if not exactly the same color. When I had cyano a few years back it was deep red/maroon. I didn't know it came in a pink variety. I'm guessing that's what it is then and the conditions in the bucket must be perfect or something because none of the socks had it when they came out of they sump as I inspect them very closely since I'm still new to using them.

Thanks for your input!

 

I suppose it could be dead cyano, but cyano could not grow in a close lid bucket. At least I've always thought that, since I solved all my cyano problems by reducing the amount of light in the tank.

 

Yea, that's what I thought, but not sure. After the wash the only thing left is a little pink in the threads at the bottom of the sock. I'm guessing cyano or not, it's gotta be some kind of bacteria or something that grows in those conditions.

 

Just an update... Happened again. Here is a picture just to show what it looks like..

 

I'd say either bacteria or you have a high fluoride content in your tap water. I get the same pink stuff on some of my shower heads and dead spots on the bath tub floor if not washed. This is just a guess though

 

Sometimes when you mistakenly leave mysis shrimp out over night, it turns pink. We've attributed it to a bacteria.

Cyano is also a bacteria, which I'm sure you are aware.

I've never seen that happen in a sock. Wish I could sample it. I wonder if I could get a swab out to you.

Is there any piece that is pink that you can cut off.... like a little extra piece of the felt that is past the seam line or anything?