Reclaim Slime

[Lavando]

My ozone reclaim w/cyclonic seperators has generated a black jello-like slime throughout the suction and output plumbing segments for over about 8 months. There is rarely if ever ANY hydrogen sulfide odor, but I flush out tanks less than a month apart, check settling tanks(only the bay pits have had muck in them, only about 1/3 full capacity to the drain) and I use reclaim friendly chemicals. The ozone system had been upgraded by the manfacturer. The slime has long ago made it to the solenoids (I also pumped reclaim to my SS bays pulsating weep solenoid, without problems), and it doesn't SEEM to be hanging them up. I use reclaim ONLY for undercar, touch & touchless wash cycles. The reclaim slime settles out after a day of sitting in a glass sample container, but doesn't generate much smell even after a few days. A few times I poured in a pool shock dilution (over concentration)into my 3 - 1500g tanks, and the reclaim smelled like a clean swimming pool, but the black jello growth continued. It takes only a few days to start to build on the strainer basket.
Anyone else encounter this issue? Will adding air into a tank benefit? THANKS, Lav

 

[Ben's Car Wash]

I will get this from time to time in my reclaim on my omni's (the only place I run reclaim) that will clog the screen filters and coat the poly tank. It seems that it only happens when my far drain (one that contains the waxes) overflows into the side of the pit over the dam and into the reclaim side and mixes with the soaps. As long as my drains run clear, my tanks are aerated and I'm using good soaps I don't seem to get the black goo/slime.

I would check to see if you changed any waxes or chemicals since you have been having this problem. The slime is a algea form that is feeding on a neutrient. For some reason... mine is gone now, but I snaked out all of my lines last month and made sure that the pumps/filters/liftstations and drains are all working to keep the waxes out of the reclaim.

 

[Lavando]

Thanks for your info Ben. Who's wax are you using? A Tri-foam wax also?

 

[Ben's Car Wash]

Thanks for your info Ben. Who's wax are you using? A Tri-foam wax also?

The tri-from does go into the reclaim, it causes no effects. It's more of a "conditioner" than a "wax" so it does not interfere with the chemistry and make goo balls. Another thing that happens when the drains clog on the rinse/wax side and overflow is the black tarry stuff builds up on the lake screen that I have on the drain lines slowing the flow of water to the reclaim tanks. So it is best to try to keep waxes and soaps separated from your reclaim. Again, as long as I don't mix them... the snot like algae doesn't seem to grow.

 

[Dean Taylor]

Black snot is a chemical/ozone issue. I would contact your reclaim system manufacturer and ask them, they should know.

I can almost bet on who's wash products you are using but I won't mention names on here.

 

[Bioshine]

I have found two common possibilities for coagulation in reclaim systems: 1. mixture of ions between "wax" (cationic) and detergent (anionic) products and 2. mixture of ammonium and sodium salts in detergent products. As a cost-saving measure, many manufacturers are opting for ammonium based surfactants in their detergent products. There is no difference in product performance, but when the two salts mix......snot results. Mix a little captured carbon and you have your black goo: heavier than water and unable to dissolve in water.

 

[Danny]

Bioshine is that the reason why some places experience "cottage cheese" when they take a drum pump from one tunnel chemical(soap) to another (drying agent or polish wax)?

 

[Bioshine]

re: cross contamination of products

Danny: Besides experiencing reactions you describe, there will also be a loss in performance of the chemistry if cross-contamination occurs. If you contaminate a detergent product, there won't be any obvious change in the physical appearance of the product. What would occur is a gradual loss of performance. The operator would probably start using more of the product to compensate. If you contaminate a cationic based product (such as a drying agent/sealer), you will definately see a change in the product's physical appearance. The product may take on a cloudy appearance with a "film" floating on the surface of the product. Bad news. Not only will it take more product to get the job done, you will be spraying a broken emulsion in your tunnel. Result? A buildup of sticky residue on your equipment, walls, and glass that will require a solution of anionic or nonionic based detergent to remove. Another result (if contamination is severe) will be the emulsion smearing the vehicles' windows and finish.

To avoid cross contamination, if any device needs to be in contact with the chemistry, it needs to be thoroughly clean before being used. This applies to feed lines as well as drum pumps. Before switching to a new product, flush the lines and make sure the feed line is clean on the exterior too. Check with your supplier to make sure the products are compatible. Ask if the body shampoo is based on ammonium or sodium salts. If he responds "we don't have any salt in our detergent", call his boss. MSDS doesn't have to list the salts because many aren't considered hazardous.