Alk dosing depositing on glass

[Averhoeven]

Attached is a picture of where my alk and calcium dosing drips into. Essentially I get these long, hard deposits under the alk and it tracks along the glass at the surface. I'm guessing this is why my alk stays pretty constant with my current dosing, but my calcium is really creeping up. The tubing is above the deposits and the waterline, so it drips in. There is pretty good flow through there and it clears in 2 secs if I intentionally let it run for a sec to test it.

Current levels per Trident
Dkh 8.97
Ca 560
Mg 1400

 

[HuduVudu]

Maybe separate you lines further apart. Also it could be that the flow is pushing one into the other too quickly.

Many people will alternatively dose different times of the day so that the alk and Ca aren't running at that same time.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm guessing this is why my alk stays pretty constant with my current dosing, but my calcium is really creeping up.

That part at least isn't true. The deposits are calcium carbonate, taking out both equally (2.8 dKH for each 18-20 ppm of calcium).

The pH and alkalinity are locally high by the alk addition, and if not mixed in fast enough, calcium carbonate will preciptiate.

Mix in faster (though you may not have enough flow through the sump to really do that well), dilute the additive, or switch to a low pH version, like sodium bicarbonate. That will reduce or eliminate the issue. The bicarbonate will have a big effect, but will also not keep the tank pH as high.

 

[Averhoeven]

Alright, I'll try to figure out which of those things will be more effective for me. Seems weird that this only started since allowing my trident to control it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Alright, I'll try to figure out which of those things will be more effective for me. Seems weird that this only started since allowing my trident to control it.

You may be dosing it at the high pH time of day, when alk is being used fastest.