white deposits on filter

[scubasteve]

I'm noticiing when I've cleaned/replaced my filter media the past few times there has been a ton of white hard deposits all over the baskets and inside walls of the canister filter. They are hard and can be scraped off with a pad , are they calcium deposits? if so how do i prevent them, i have been using tap water to fill up the tank since ive had it which i know is bad because it has high nitrates and is causing tons of rust algae, but i just ordered a ro/di unit today so it should be here in a week.

 

[Toirtis]

Mineral deposits....caused by a lot of dissolved solids in your water....the RO water should do a fair bit towards preventing it.

 

[lando]

IF you look at them closely are they round and sort of currly-Q?

 

[scubasteve]

lando,
yea after looking at them more closely they are curly q's, what does that mean they are ??

 

[lando]

Not Calc. deposites but most likey some type of tube worm.

 

[Toirtis]

I had forgot to ask if they were curly....yes, they would be mini tube worm shell remnants.....they scrape-off, but not quite as easily as some mineral deposits.

 

[scubasteve]

so what does this mean? is it something bad that is going to affect the fish?
Where do they come from, what can i do to get rid of them, if needed?

 

[lando]

I do not think they are anything to worry about.