alk, ca, precipitation....

[chrismunn]

well i just started looking closely at when i add my esv b-ionic 2 part, and when i add the calcium part, its clear. i add the ca to my sump

when i add the alkalinity part, it goes in smooth and cloudy white, and then, almost instantly, it gets chunky. not like insanly chunky, but like, little tiny grains of white.

this is precipitation? why is it doing that, and what can i do to stop it? it happens well before the 2 addatives have a chance to mix. whats the deal?

 

[steve the plumb]

should add them seperatly to a high volume area.What is your alk level at.I have seen the alk go cloudy when I added it because my mixture was strong but it will dissolve if not make sure you mix it up.I don't use those products but its the same outcome.

 

[chrismunn]

i add 15 ml. of liquid alk per 25gal. of water, and i add it directly to the effluent of a power head. the one time thaT i didnt add it there, and it sat for a few seconds before mixing and thats when i noticed the "precipitation"?

the mixture is of a standard consitancy, which is whatever the manufacturer has decided. i only choose how much to add, and its cloudy every time, but im not worried about that. im more concerned with the "precipitation"? if thats what it actually is?

 

[steve the plumb]

I wouldn't worry about it as long as it doesn't land on the corals directly and your alk levels are good you should be fine.Thats why you should always add it to a high flow area

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Some folks report that, and I'm not sure what exactly is causing it.

I'd just check to see if the pH, calcium, or alkalinity are too high, or if the magnesium is too low. All of those can lead to excessive abiotic precipitation of calcium carbonate.

If those are all OK, then just add it to a high flow area away from corals and it should be OK. The higher the mixing rate the better, and diluting it with some fresh water before adding it may help.

 

[chrismunn]

magnesium huh? therse something i dont test for.... ca, ph is right where i want it, alk is always a little low for some reason? i end up having to use my kent coral builder to raise my alk to where i want it. kinda defeats the purpose of using a 2 part equal addative.....

even when i add the alk to the tank in the area of highest flow, i still get precipitation. its not alot, its like micro grains, if that makes sense?

maybe thats why my alk is always a little low?

 

[jpfelix]

i found that waiting a bit between the ca and alk doses can help also.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

A couple of suggestions are to switch to a lower pH additive (like B-ionic bicarbonate, or Recipe 2 of my DIY), or to mix the alk part into DI water before adding it so it is not so concentrated.

A lot of precipitation will be wasting calcium and alkalinity that you are adding.

 

[chrismunn]

WONDERFULL. nothing better than to find out you have been wasting time, money, and coral health. gotta love it!

well i always add the alk suppliment first, and i add it into the sump. the ca i add just afterwards, but i add it into the HOB filter on my main tank. so its not mixing in a concentrated state, yet i notice the precipitaion immidiatly.

i dont add anything specifically for ph on a regular basis. all i add is kent superbuffer dkH, and i only add it every couple of months. as a matter of fact, i cant even remember the last time i added any?

i suppose for now ill just take randys advice and dilute the solution in some DI water.

i bet my problem wouldnt be a problem if i wasnt so half assed! i should just get some damn reactors and fine tune 'em!

thanks fellas

 

[steve the plumb]

if you want get a dosing unit I found its the easiest way to go.You can dose both formulas and not have to worry about it.I dose kalk water to regulate ph.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

all i add is kent superbuffer dkH, and i only add it every couple of months. as a matter of fact, i cant even remember the last time i added any?

I can't think of any reason to use it if you are using a two part additive like B-ionic.

 

[chrismunn]

all i add is kent superbuffer dkH, and i only add it every couple of months. as a matter of fact, i cant even remember the last time i added any?[/BN]

I can't think of any reason to use it if you are using a two part additive like B-ionic.

i didnt know that the 2 part solution would regulate my pH....

and ide love to add a dosing unit, but space is limited in my apartment is limited, plus whatever i i set up, i have to see! just look at this monstrosity in the middle of my living room. i have to live with this eyesore.....

 

[steve the plumb]

its an eysore but the tank is nice!Who cares how the rest of the stuff looks as long as you like it.The tank looks fine.You could try building your own stand and make it larger thus hiding the bins.

 

[chrismunn]

actually thats the first thing i thought about after i posted that last reply. "why am i complaining? just fix it!" it would be a little complicated seeing as how that big bin needs to stay above the glass tank. its just the way i have the overflow running, i dont wanna run the overflow out of the glass tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

i didnt know that the 2 part solution would regulate my pH....

pH is controlled by alkalinity and carbon dioxide. Buffers are just an alkalinity supplement, similar to the alkalinity part of a two part additive.

 

[steve the plumb]

you could get an over flow kit and a return pump.At least if you want to upgrade to a larger tank it won't go to waste.My friend got a discontinued overflow(amiracle) for $35.If your not in a rush you can find a deal.

 

[chrismunn]

where can i find such a cheap overflow box? lord knows im cheap! ide build one if i knew how!

 

[steve the plumb]

I got one at THAT FISH PLACE THAT PET PLACE.iT WAS A DISSCOUNTINUED MODEL but it worked great.I bought it for a friend of mine.I would look on the web sites and try to look for deals on left over stock or older stock that they want to get rid of.I found it by chance.If I didn't have one I would have bought it,it was half the price of a new one and it worked fine.My friend is still using it.You could go on the DIY forum and look it up someone I'm sure has built one.