[JackieW]

My submersible pump is permanently left in my water storage tank.

I took it out yesterday and  found that it was covered in a slimy coating on the pump and also the electric flex that supplies power to it. It's clear,  but reasonably thick. It doesn't seem to affect the water purity. 

Anyone know what it could be or noticed it themselves?

[AuRavelling79]

Completely clear or opaque with slight colour? Is the tank in darkness?

[JackieW]

Completely clear. Tank is dark green water butt with lid on , in a basement so yes, in the dark.

[AuRavelling79]

Completely clear. Tank is dark green water butt with lid on , in a basement so yes, in the dark.

I had a nose round the swimming pool, fishpond  and aquarium forums and they talk about clear algae slime caused by bacteria - but that seems to be from animals and plants being present in aquariums and ponds and people in hot tubs and swimming pools.

Apparently it's harmless but doesn't feel good (in hot tubs and pools) to bathers. They then go on about clearing it with chemicals etc.

Have a nose around their forums. Maybe if it's only on the pump and cable give it a clean and not worry? Can you check if it is getting on the walls of the butt? I don't suppose it's the toughest of jobs to empty and clean a water butt.

My pump and pipes are external to the tanks so have no personal experience of this maybe someone else will be along with more help.

[Slacky]

Its bacteria.

Its harmless.

[AuRavelling79]

Its bacteria.

Its harmless.

See. Succinct Slacky said in four  words what I waffled on in a post the size of a small book. 

[JackieW]

 

Thanks for replies.

I've left it out to dry and just noticed that the 'slime' dries away too as the water does.

[Slacky]

It'll be back, within a week of it being put back in, if not before.

It's the bacteria that fish pond and fish tank filters get when they get colonised. It's these bacteria that enable the nitrogen cycle to take place that break down organic compounds, preventing the water from becoming toxic.

[P @ F]

I have the same setup but in the light , my pump and delivery hose are always slippery, I don’t worry about it !

[Splash & dash]

Just flush the tank through with a weak bleach solution this will stop it forming  in the first place we do all our tanks once a year and don’t get it any more , don’t put the solution through any filtration though .

[nathankaye]

Same here, I have/had a black ibc 1000ltr tank left outside for the elements.  Theres been a couple of times where I needed to take the pump out and I came across it.  However the tds was still good and windows dried fine.  No such slime in the van tank where I transferred the water to. Therefore about once a year or so, I would take the pump out and clean it (the pump & cables).