How to keep stuff from growing in the print washer?

[Steve Goldstein]

I'll occasionally leave the washer filled after I remove the prints for drying if I know I'll be printing again within a day or two. But sometimes life intervenes and I might not be able to get back in the darkroom for several days. Sure, I could drain the washer every time, but I'd rather save a bit of water and time if I can. I'm concerned about stuff like algae starting to grow in the washer.

Is there anything I could add to the water at the end of a session that (a) would prevent alien life-form experiments from taking root, (b) not be harmful to my septic system, and (c) not affect my next batch of prints? Any thoughts on Benzoic acid? Ron (PE) once suggested around 1 gram per liter as a stop-bath additive to solve the same problem.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Drain it every time.

1. That stops things growing in it.
2. Saving the water will also save any residual chemicals so that one can more efficiently taint the next print batch.

 

[Scott Micciche]

I rinse with white vinegar and dry it in some sunlight.

 

[faberryman]

I'll occasionally leave the washer filled after I remove the prints for drying if I know I'll be printing again within a day or two. But sometimes life intervenes and I might not be able to get back in the darkroom for several days. Sure, I could drain the washer every time, but I'd rather save a bit of water and time if I can. I'm concerned about stuff like algae starting to grow in the washer.

Is there anything I could add to the water at the end of a session that (a) would prevent alien life-form experiments from taking root, (b) not be harmful to my septic system, and (c) not affect my next batch of prints? Any thoughts on Benzoic acid? Ron (PE) once suggested around 1 gram per liter as a stop-bath additive to solve the same problem.

Do you actually have this problem or is this hypothetical?

 

[Arklatexian]

Drain it every time.

1. That stops things growing in it.
2. Saving the water will also save any residual chemicals so that one can more efficiently taint the next print batch.

Sirius, above, has the absolute best way to stop algae in it's tracks. There are chemicals that will do what the poster wants to do, like maybe copper sulfate but it will take quite some time to completely rid the washer of the chemicals and it might do bad things to a septic tank.....Regards!

 

[grahamp]

Light encourages algae, and in my experience residual sodium sulphite tends to encourage growths of various sorts. Drain it, or make sure it is flushed out (there should not be residual chemicals after a completed wash, but who knows?) and kept dark. With mine, I close the siphon, run the water until the siphon starts, close off the feed, and leave it to drain. Then I know I am starting with fresh water. I also cover my washer with a lid when it is not in use.

It's a pain to have to get algal slime out of any container.

 

[darkroommike]

Drain it and if you don't want to waste the water drain it into a couple of 5 gallon buckets and use it to water the garden.

 

[MattKing]

Drain it and if you don't want to waste the water drain it into a couple of 5 gallon buckets and use it to water the garden.

Or flush your toilet.