What is growing inside my processor?

[Soft top]

I have had my gl type processor for nearly 3 years now. I had a water misting head fitted in the top of it which I use for water washing. I only water wash in winter.
After using it for about 18 months, last winter the misting head blocked so I removed the 2 1/4 threaded plug in the top of processor. When I looked inside I found the eductor and the pipes inside all had a growth of some sort all over them. It was like brown oily "leaves" hanging down.
I cleaned it all out and continued to use the processor about once a month.
Last week I did a batch and tried to water wash for the first time this winter. The spray head was blocked again. I looked inside and, you guessed it, full of home grown veggie leaves again!
Anyone got any ideas what this stuff is?

[terryecosse]

I had trouble like this it was the paint peeling off from inside the processor.

[Soft top]

I had trouble like this it was the paint peeling off from inside the processor.

Ah, I hadn't thought of that. Could be. But seems odd that after I cleaned it all out the first time there was no paint left inside. The first picture, looking down into the processor was taken just before I cleaned it and it shows no paint on the sides or bottom.
But now, a year later there is loads of it again. Maybe there is paint hanging from the top that I missed when cleaning but it is all over the pipes and eductor again and I know I cleaned them.
I have kept some of the "leaves". Don't look like paint. Wonder if there is a way of analyzing them??

[greasemonkey]

Job to tell, but I reckon I've seen the same kind of stuff growing out of a water drinking trough in fields, when there is a slight leak on the ball valve. Just some kind of fungus that likes to grow in slow moving water.
Something will always try growing if it's damp and warm.

[Tony]

That's grim.  Like greasemonkey I've seen similar in slow moving water (namely the condenser water drum) but that's a soft algae rather than what looks like the hard sheets you've got.

[greasemonkey]

Try a bit fried with garlic butter............

[Soft top]

That's grim.  Like greasemonkey I've seen similar in slow moving water (namely the condenser water drum) but that's a soft algae rather than what looks like the hard sheets you've got.

Its very soft and floppy. Breaks easy. Reminds me of seaweed.

[Tony]

Does sound like what I've had.  I killed mine with chlorine (though this probably isn't good for the copper innards of my condenser).

[Julian]

It certainly sounds like some sort of growth, but I'd have thought the sorts of temperatures at which we de-water and process and the harsh chemicals we use would have killed any organisms.

Do you leave the processor full of oil or bio at any time?

[Soft top]

I sometimes leave the processor full of oil for up to 3 days before I process and then pump out.
I have a distant memory of someone either on this forum or vod having a problem with similar stuff in a fuel tank a while back.