What does Calcium precipitation look like??

chuckdallas · 12/07/2010, 04:53 PM

Every time I feed the fish and corals (once a day), I turn off the return pump and skimmer.

I have heard that calcium binds with alk and precipitates if dosed too close to each other. I usually manually dose in the morning with B-Ionic alk, then about 10 mins later, the calc. I dose in the main Display Tank in front of the largest powerhead. I see the alk become cloudy as it hits the salt water, then dissipates rapidly as it mixes with the rest of the tank. After I have dosed the alk, I dose the calc, but haven't seen any cloudiness or clumps of anything.

Each time I turn the return pump on now, I am getting a TON of little white particles that are hair-like and thin (about 2 mm long).

I think the problem is either the BRAND new felt filter sock wasn't rinsed enough to get rid of fine mesh particles or it's precipitated calc.

Do felt filter socks shed for a bit when they are first entered into service?

shifty51008 · 12/07/2010, 05:28 PM

cal. precip. looks like snow.

Yaqngie · 12/08/2010, 08:02 AM

the stuff your getting when you turn the pump back on is probably gunk from the return pump and pipe. I have it too sometimes.

PRecip looks like snow.

Why are you dosing to the main tank. Id do it in the sump from here on out so it has less effect on your tank.

FRANKENSTIEN · 12/08/2010, 10:15 PM

use your hand and dust the rock off a little and you will see it snow if you have to much calcium mine looked like a snow globe

12/07/2010, 04:53 PM	#1
chuckdallas Tank Tinkerer Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida Posts: 937	What does Calcium precipitation look like?? Every time I feed the fish and corals (once a day), I turn off the return pump and skimmer. I have heard that calcium binds with alk and precipitates if dosed too close to each other. I usually manually dose in the morning with B-Ionic alk, then about 10 mins later, the calc. I dose in the main Display Tank in front of the largest powerhead. I see the alk become cloudy as it hits the salt water, then dissipates rapidly as it mixes with the rest of the tank. After I have dosed the alk, I dose the calc, but haven't seen any cloudiness or clumps of anything. Each time I turn the return pump on now, I am getting a TON of little white particles that are hair-like and thin (about 2 mm long). I think the problem is either the BRAND new felt filter sock wasn't rinsed enough to get rid of fine mesh particles or it's precipitated calc. Do felt filter socks shed for a bit when they are first entered into service? __________________ Lots of equipment left over from the 140 gallon tank teardown. Oct 21st was a sad day. Wife said I would have to get a new wife to get a new tank. I'm sure gonna miss the wife. Current Tank Info: No tank, no fish, no coral :(

12/07/2010, 05:28 PM	#2
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	cal. precip. looks like snow. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

12/08/2010, 10:15 PM	#4
FRANKENSTIEN Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 107	use your hand and dust the rock off a little and you will see it snow if you have to much calcium mine looked like a snow globe __________________ 75 gallon glass CPR overflow wet/dry filter with marineland skimmer in sump 2 coarlvue powerheads 1 sea swirl 1/2 with maxit jet 3000 2 48inch t5 tek retro 4 compact coarlife retro Current Tank Info: 75 GALLON

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Intentional calcium precipitation in new tank?	smorrow5773	The Reef Chemistry Forum	3	06/15/2006 04:56 AM
calcium precipitating out of lime water	bad habit	The Reef Chemistry Forum	5	06/03/2006 07:50 AM
Calcium precipitation in a saline pond	partrg	The Reef Chemistry Forum	1	05/18/2006 06:05 AM
possible calcium precipitation	john baker	Reef Discussion	3	01/27/2006 10:39 AM
Calcium Precipitation?	ebogacz	The Reef Chemistry Forum	2	01/15/2006 12:01 AM

12/08/2010, 08:02 AM	#3
Yaqngie Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: ILM, NC Posts: 85	the stuff your getting when you turn the pump back on is probably gunk from the return pump and pipe. I have it too sometimes. PRecip looks like snow. Why are you dosing to the main tank. Id do it in the sump from here on out so it has less effect on your tank.