Buffer forming stalactite at end of tube?

[Texas Reefer]

I got home tonight after being gone for a week, and I have a buffer stalactite growing from the end of the Doser tube. This tube feeds into the return portion of my sump, just an inch or two from the return pump, so I figured it would get mixed well in the current. Why is it doing this? I'm concerned it has gummed up the tube. Any thoughts?
Its the white stuff coming from the end of the blue tube.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It is the alkalinity buffer, right?

And it is above the water line (as it should be)?

Assuming these are true, it just evaporated and deposited on the tip and then grew down. It is just the sodium carbonate or bicarbonate. I doubt it extends much inside. You can just break it off, and force a pencil or something inside to clean it out, if anything is inside.

Diluting the buffer with more water may help, if it concerns you.

A limewater/kalkwasser drip tip gets a more serious deposit of calcium carbonate which can actually plug it. I've had that happen many times if I forget to clean it once in a while.

 

[Texas Reefer]

Yep, its in the water. I'm going to have to get some more tubing and run it to the other end of the sump so that I can drip from above my sock.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, definitely get it out of the water. When in contact with the water, you precipitate calcium carbonate on it.