Calcium Bloom

[Tdawg]

Recently, Upon returning from vacation, I noticed my Ca had dropped to 330, Alk 2.5, and Ph to 8.0. after some research, I start dosing with sodium carbonate instead of sodium bicarbonate to increase Ph and Alk and Reef Advantage Calcium to raise Ca to 420 and Alk to 4. After two days, I started getting what I call "Ca Bloom" (see white blotches on attached photo) Now, after a 40% water change, over the last 48 hours, I've been able to increase Ca to to 370 and Alk to 3. The white blotches will not come off with scaping and if they do, they reappear in a couple of hours.

So,should I tear down the tank, remove all coral, and scrub the display with distilled vinegar to remove the white blotches from the display or have I just hosed my $3k tank. Thanks in advance.

 

[Hitman]

Glass or acrylic?

 

[Rlreefing]

give it a few days and keep doing water changes and get the alk to the correct levels and see if that remedies the issues before doing so drastic as scrubbing the tank down.

 

[Tdawg]

Glass or acrylic?

Glass

 

[Tdawg]

give it a few days and keep doing water changes and get the alk to the correct levels and see if that remedies the issues before doing so drastic as scrubbing the tank down.

Ok, thanks for the suggestion

 

[TexasTodd]

I'd get second test kits to be sure also. I've had this once years ago dosing two part without testing, just figuring the tank would always use per dosing directions. CA ended up super high and started coating the glass.

 

[OrionN]

Are you suggesting that your calcium and carbonate precipitate out of solution?
Are your reading accurate?
What is your magnesium level?
Normally calcium and carbonate should not precipitate out of solution at the level you have. I never experience this but if you have very low Magnesium level, Calcium carbonate may precipitate out of solution at a lower concentration.

 

[Tdawg]

I'd get second test kits to be sure also. I've had this once years ago dosing two part without testing, just figuring the tank would always use per dosing directions. CA ended up super high and started coating the glass.

Ca testing with salifert. Will get API when LFS opens, Good idea, thanks

 

[Tdawg]

Are you suggesting that your calcium and carbonate precipitate out of solution?
Are your reading accurate?
What is your magnesium level?
Normally calcium and carbonate should not precipitate out of solution at the level you have. I never experience this but if you have very low Magnesium level, Calcium carbonate may precipitate out of solution at a lower concentration.

Yes, I'm suggesting that my calcium and carbonate precipitated out of solution.
Mag and Ca testing with salifert, Ph and Alk with Multitest Kit (argh). According to salifert and as of this writing, Mag 1410 and Ca 365. Thanks for asking

 

[OrionN]

I guess the Doctor is off at this time. Will see what he said when he return. There got to be some strange chemistry or error in testing. I would suggest you list what salt you use, what additive you normally use and ect.
Good luck.

 

[Hitman]

Glass

You can use a razor blade to clean your glass.
Don’t waste your money on a API test kit they are no where near accurate. Have you checked your expiration date on your Salifert kit?
With your numbers it just seems odd for it to come out of solution like this.

 

[Tdawg]

The mixed coral tank is bb and managed for ultra low nutrients. Tank is 80 gal. IM AIO with two filter socks, two fuges with Chaeto (replaced three year old Marine Pure), and Remora Pro. 6 gal biweekly water change and testing. Testing with Hanna ULN, Salifert, and Seachem. Salt is Red Sea Coral Pro Salt. Mag dosing with Kent Tech M, Ca dosing with Reef Advantage, Alk dosing with sodium bicarbonate (generic baking soda) and most recently Arm & Hammer sodium carbonate (to raise Ph). As of 7/28/19: Water temp was 78 f.; SP is 1.026; Mag was 1440, Ca was 330; Akl was 2.5; Phosphates 0; Nitrate 0; Ph 8.

I have read many of the Dr.'s articles and have many bookmarked

 

[Tdawg]

You can use a razor blade to clean your glass.
Don’t waste your money on a API test kit they are no where near accurate. Have you checked your expiration date on your Salifert kit?
With your numbers it just seems odd for it to come out of solution like this.

New single edge razor blade won't touch it. I agree that API is not as accurate as Salifert, at this level. Expiration dates are 2021 and 2023. I tested salt yesterday, before water change, Mag was 1440, Ca 460, Ph was 8.3. I started manually dosing two part in January, in response to an RTN event when Alk dropped to 7.5 (Never go on vacation). The dosing worked magic, the SPS are colonizing again. The only major change was the removal of three year old marine pure, which my LPS seemed to appreciate by extending polyps. I was not convince marine pure was bringing any value. I have a light bioload with 1 tang, 2 clowns, and 1 damsel. My wife suggested that removing the marine pure caused the event?

 

[Tdawg]

You can use a razor blade to clean your glass.
Don’t waste your money on a API test kit they are no where near accurate. Have you checked your expiration date on your Salifert kit?
With your numbers it just seems odd for it to come out of solution like this.

I stand corrected, razor blade will work but it's going to take a long time to remove.

 

[Hitman]

I wouldn’t think removing the marine pure would cause a issue as light of a bio load you have. Hopefully @Randy Holmes-Farley jumps on here as I’m definitely stumped.. let’s see if any of the #reefsquad can help as well.

 

[Tdawg]

I'll be moving the tank 400 miles within 90 days, so I'm going to include a vinegar bath and razor cut before I start to cycle the tank

 

[BeejReef]

you are measuring your alkalinity on meq/l... right?

 

[Tdawg]

you are measuring your alkalinity on meq/l... right?

correct

 

[OrionN]

New single edge razor blade won't touch it. I agree that API is not as accurate as Salifert, at this level. Expiration dates are 2021 and 2023. I tested salt yesterday, before water change, Mag was 1440, Ca 460, Ph was 8.3. I started manually dosing two part in January, in response to an RTN event when Alk dropped to 7.5 (Never go on vacation). The dosing worked magic, the SPS are colonizing again. The only major change was the removal of three year old marine pure, which my LPS seemed to appreciate by extending polyps. I was not convince marine pure was bringing any value. I have a light bioload with 1 tang, 2 clowns, and 1 damsel. My wife suggested that removing the marine pure caused the event?

If razor blade won't get it off on glass then it is something else, not calcium carbonate. I can't think of anything that I cannot scrape off glass with a razor blade.
ANYTHING CAN BE SCRAPE OFF GLASS WITH A RAZOR BLADE SCRAPER, UNLESS IT IS IN THE GLASS.

 

[BeejReef]

So, a total theory, but I've read about people having unexpectedly high alkalinity and calcium consumption when on vacation. The guy I'm thinking about, AmroAzul (youtube), believes that his ph rises with no carbod dioxide being expelled into the house by he or wife = faster growth, higher demand.

Maybe that's possible?

As to why an otherwise stable tank would start precipitating when dosed? I dunno.. guessing? It's a larger dose than usual. How is your flow near where the dose hits the tank/sump? Did removing the marine pure change your layout and/or flow? I have had it happen to me where those crystals form and they greedily suck up a good portion of whatever you dose.