Using Randy's 2-part, things are whacked, what am I doing wrong?

2

20 20

Premium Member
Heh, I gotta be doing something wrong. I've got a 29 gallon reef that's been running for about a year, wiht a 15 gallon sump/fuge. I'm currently setting up a 125 gallon reef, and have decided to use Randy's 2-part. So, I've been using it in the 29 gallon for almost a month now. I've followed the instructions (at least I THINK I followed them...), making a gallon of CA using Pelodow, and a gallon of alk supplement using baked baking soda, using the amount described in recipe 1 of http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php

So, started out using 20 ml of both a day. Calcium was fine, but alk kept dropping from about 10dKH to 7.5-ish dKH. So, upped to 40 ml. Same result. Upped to 50. Same result. Upped to 70, then 100 ml, same result. But now I'm getting a thin white film on the glass that is very hard to get off. I figured the calcium was way to high, so this morning I took some readings:


Alk: 6.85 dKH
CA: 380
Mag: 1320

All tests done with Salifert kits that are not too old.

So, what the heck am I doing wrong? Maybe the only possiblity is that I somehow screwed up making the alk supplement. But I figured I'd ask here to see if there are any other possiblities. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated!
 
I hate trying to read these dang PH tests. PH had been steady at 8.2 before I started the 2-part, and for most of the time since then. I just checked it, and by my bad eyes, in the house can't really tell, but outside in daylight it appears to be 7.8. using an Aquarium Pharmaceuticals test kit. No, I don't mix them, I put the alk suppliment in the tank, let it mix for 15-20 seconds (no more 'milk cloud'), and then put in the CA supplement. There was one exception to that, a couple of days ago. In a real hurry 2 or 3 days ago, I put the alk supplement in the return section of the sump, and then put the ca supplement in right after that. Was quite the white cloudy mess, but I couldn't stick around to watch it. There appears to be a whitish residue on the the stuff in the return section. Might that account for the thin white film on the glass? The problem with the alk has been from the start, though, not since I used the return section.
 
Any idea as to why the alk keeps dropping? That was happening way before I mixed the 2 parts in the return section.
 
You may have been allowing much of it to be wasted as calcium carbonate precipitation. So I'd add a lot less but more often and see what that does after a few days. Maybe back off to a half an mL per gallon per day and see what that does.
 
Two days ago, readings were:

Alk: 6.85 dKH
CA: 380
PH: 7.8 (I think, bad eyes, ya know)

For the last two days, I've been adding 20 ML of the alk suppliment, waiting at least 30 minutes, and then adding 20 ML of the CA suppliment. Tonight the readings are:

Alk: 6.1 dKH
CA: 380
PH: 8.2

CA is remaining steady (I'd like it a bit higher), and the alk has dropped from 6.85 to 6.1 dKH. Should I keep adding 20 ML and see what happens the next couple of days? Or add more, maybe 40 ML? Or, raise the alk with baking soda to 9 or 10 dKH and then add maybe 40 ML? Or, some other option?
 
Boost the calcium to 420 ppm or so with just the calcium part. Then raise the daily dose of both parts to 30-40 ml per day and see what that does after a few more days. :)
 
Got home tonight, and found that slight white film starting to form on the glass again. Was dang hard to scrape off the first time, and I'm leary about putting in any more of the supplements. I figure it's calcium deposits, but what the heck, I'm not the chemist. ;) Anyway, after adding 40 ml of both supplements last night, readings tonight are:

Alk: 6.1 dKH
CA: 410

So, CA is up a bit, alk steady at 6.1. With the white buildup starting again on the glass, I'm not sure if I should add more or not. Any opinions?
 
Where exactly are these deposits and where not?

Can you look closely to be sure it isn't an organism (like coralline algae).

I can't see any reason for you to have precipitates, unless one of the tests is wrong.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8323056#post8323056 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 20 20
Yep, 1320.
Click to expand...

I used to have the exact same problems as you.


I highly suspect your magnesium is low.

What test kits are you using? Up to date?

What salt?


I imagine your magnesium is a little low and once you bring that up you will have no problems.
 
Salifert test kits. Magnesium test kit expires in 2008, so it should still be good. I believe 1320 is an exceptable level for magnesium, or am I mistaken? Should it be higher?
 
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