SNOW STORM! Argh!

Stlouphil · 11/30/2006, 07:35 PM

Have a new setup. 90gal show, 225 total volume. Tank has just cycled. Used IO got an initial CA level of 350mg. I wanted to get CA up in the 420 range before I began to stock new corals. I used Randy's 2 part formula, receip #1. Got my CA up to 420mg and Alk to 8mg. I mixed my kalk in my topoff water tonight and the first time my float switch tripped, boom, percipitation! Now what? Just keep adding kalk and wait for percipitation to stop?

Stlouphil · 11/30/2006, 07:48 PM

BTW Ph is 8.4

bertoni · 11/30/2006, 07:53 PM

Are you seeing precipitation or temporary clouding? Magnesium hydroxide often will precipitate temporarily in the high-pH area created by a drop of limewater.

What kind of pump is being used?

Do you have a magnesium measurement for the tank?

Stlouphil · 11/30/2006, 08:08 PM

No, kalk was being added in the basement sump. Percipitation took place in the show tank. It only lasted 5 min and cleared up. Looked like a giant snow globe. Sorry, I do not have a mag test kit.

Stlouphil · 11/30/2006, 08:11 PM

Oops, pump maxijet400

bertoni · 11/30/2006, 08:18 PM

The pump might be dumping limewater quickly enough that you're seeing a lot of magnesium hydroxide, I guess. I don't see how calcium carbonate would clear that rapidly. I'd definitely add the limewater more slowly. I use a peristaltic pump and add it a drop at a time.

I doubt that magnesium is the issue, so I wouldn't worry too much there.

Stlouphil · 11/30/2006, 08:30 PM

Thanks. I will chaulk (no pun intended) to one of those things and figure out how to dose the kalk more slowly.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 12/01/2006, 05:49 AM

and Alk to 8mg.

8 meq/L (way too high) or 8 dKH (fine)?

Stlouphil · 12/01/2006, 12:44 PM

That is 8mg/l. No load yet. I have not added corals yet. How do you suggest lowering ALK? I was adding the two part receipt and checking CA regularly and did not check ALK until the percipitation.

bertoni · 12/01/2006, 02:30 PM

Ouch. I assume you mean 8 meq/L. If the animals look okay, you could just stop dosing any alkalinity and let it drop on its own. Otherwise, some water changes are in order.

Does there appear to be any precipitate settled onto the sand or rock?

11/30/2006, 07:53 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Are you seeing precipitation or temporary clouding? Magnesium hydroxide often will precipitate temporarily in the high-pH area created by a drop of limewater. What kind of pump is being used? Do you have a magnesium measurement for the tank? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/30/2006, 08:18 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The pump might be dumping limewater quickly enough that you're seeing a lot of magnesium hydroxide, I guess. I don't see how calcium carbonate would clear that rapidly. I'd definitely add the limewater more slowly. I use a peristaltic pump and add it a drop at a time. I doubt that magnesium is the issue, so I wouldn't worry too much there. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/01/2006, 05:49 AM	#8
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	and Alk to 8mg. 8 meq/L (way too high) or 8 dKH (fine)? __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

12/01/2006, 02:30 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Ouch. I assume you mean 8 meq/L. If the animals look okay, you could just stop dosing any alkalinity and let it drop on its own. Otherwise, some water changes are in order. Does there appear to be any precipitate settled onto the sand or rock? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/30/2006, 07:35 PM	#1
Stlouphil Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wildwood, MO Posts: 393	SNOW STORM! Argh! Have a new setup. 90gal show, 225 total volume. Tank has just cycled. Used IO got an initial CA level of 350mg. I wanted to get CA up in the 420 range before I began to stock new corals. I used Randy's 2 part formula, receip #1. Got my CA up to 420mg and Alk to 8mg. I mixed my kalk in my topoff water tonight and the first time my float switch tripped, boom, percipitation! Now what? Just keep adding kalk and wait for percipitation to stop?

11/30/2006, 07:48 PM	#2
Stlouphil Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wildwood, MO Posts: 393	BTW Ph is 8.4

11/30/2006, 08:08 PM	#4
Stlouphil Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wildwood, MO Posts: 393	No, kalk was being added in the basement sump. Percipitation took place in the show tank. It only lasted 5 min and cleared up. Looked like a giant snow globe. Sorry, I do not have a mag test kit.

11/30/2006, 08:11 PM	#5
Stlouphil Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wildwood, MO Posts: 393	Oops, pump maxijet400

11/30/2006, 08:30 PM	#7
Stlouphil Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wildwood, MO Posts: 393	Thanks. I will chaulk (no pun intended) to one of those things and figure out how to dose the kalk more slowly.

12/01/2006, 12:44 PM	#9
Stlouphil Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wildwood, MO Posts: 393	That is 8mg/l. No load yet. I have not added corals yet. How do you suggest lowering ALK? I was adding the two part receipt and checking CA regularly and did not check ALK until the percipitation.