Some Facts about Bio-Slime Slime is the result of biogrowth accumulation and is found in most photoprocessing wash waters at one time or another. It is a mixture of microbes such as bacteria and fungi that feed on chemicals in processing solutions such as dilute fixer. These microscopic contaminants come from incoming water, air, dirty tanks or lines, people, or anything that comes into contact with the wash water.
Some processes are more prone to biogrowth than others.
The microbes are most evident when they create a foul odor and appear in the processor as dirt and slime. Other less obvious problems are accumulation in sumps, lines, and silver recovery systems. Lines and silver-recovery systems are not easily cleaned. If these systems become fouled, the result is plugged lines and less efficient silver recovery. Lines must often be replaced and chemical recovery cartridges must be frequently sent in with less than optimal quantities of silver.