I am SO done with SeaChem salt mix

[crpeck]

I mixed up a big batch of salt to do mega water changes in all tanks, have already broken down my filter and pulled enough water out of the tank that I really need new saltwater and what do I find????????

My new batch of water has precipitated out. There is a layer of silt on the bottom that I assume is my Alkalinity since that is only measuring about 6 while the Ca is through the roof.

Is this water even useable? I suppose I can siphon out the film and add buffer to bring the Alkalinity up, but will that be enough to drop the Ca to a reasonable level? Is there any way to get the gunk on the bottom to absorb back into the water? Do I even want to do that?

Help.... what do I do?

 

[crpeck]

I just realized that my post doesn't make sense. If anything precipitated out, wouldn't it be the Ca?

I'm an accountant, not a chemist. How does this work again?

 

[bshumake]

This is something I experienced with Reef Crystals and its not worth the effort to get it back into solution. If you can, syphon it out and use a liquid Ca additive to get it back into the right parameters.
Reason #2 I use Oceanic.

 

[crpeck]

Well I overshot the Alk adjustment and now have a batch of "super water".

DkH is 11.2 and Ca is about 600.

Safe to use for just a small 10% water change I wonder? I would think so.

 

[crpeck]

Thanks Barrett,

I got tired of adjusting the Oceanic and thought I'd try something different, but this is much worse than any issues I had before.

I already voted Oceanic on the poll. This is the final blast for the SeaChem and I'm switching back.

 

[bshumake]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9171978#post9171978 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crpeck
Thanks Barrett,

I got tired of adjusting the Oceanic and thought I'd try something different, but this is much worse than any issues I had before.

I already voted Oceanic on the poll. This is the final blast for the SeaChem and I'm switching back.

I think your "super water" is fine for water changes. My basic reasons for Oceanic over IO is
1. Oceanic comes in a 200G bucket, IO does not. And I always need buckets.
2. Oceanic disolves faster than IO.
Even if IO was still coming in the 200G bucket I would still use the Oceanic for the disolve factor.
As far a the percipitate, I believe thats chelated Ca. In reef crystals that is a problem if it sits for a while.
I need to get with you on the books BTW.

 

[crpeck]

Thanks Barrett

I just sent you a pm about the books

 

[neuroslicer]

Have you got any coral that precipitate out calcium carbonate (hard coral)? If so, it should be OK just to wait for the levels of Ca and Alk to drop by themselves.
Jay

 

[crpeck]

I do. The tank sucks up both very fast and I usually have to dose.

Both tanks are looking fine after the water change so apparently no harm done.

Thanks, Jay