Calcium precipitation - How to reduce

[GoPitt88]

In my tank with Carbonate I used to dose in the night to keep the pH up. In the day I didnt dose because the corals and algae keeps the pH up when light is on.

That may be it. I started dosing more during the day. I'll increase my night dosing and see what happens. Thanks.....I didn't think of that [emoji16] I don't think it's a low flow thing. I dose into the outlet of my HOB filter. I don't have a sump. I have an HOB and canister.....both are cleaned every weekend religiously.

 

[GoPitt88]

Plus.....I DID notice my pH climbing near 8.4 by mid afternoon when I dosed more during the day.

 

[pfoxgrover]

@Randy Holmes-Farley I have continued to get precipitation on my aquarium glass rear the sand bed. I have been following your advice and the problem is lightyears better but still some regular reoccurring precip. I was curious if the precipitate from my DIY mag solution (your recipe 1part 3a) might not be good to add to the tank since I am still seeing precip?
I know it says this in the article but thought I would check in my circumstances. "That precipitate is calcium sulfate (calcium as an impurity in the magnesium chloride and sulfate from the Epsom salts). It is fine and appropriate to dose the precipitate along with the remainder of the fluid by shaking it up before dosing."
Thanks for the help,
Paul

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

@Randy Holmes-Farley I have continued to get precipitation on my aquarium glass rear the sand bed. I have been following your advice and the problem is lightyears better but still some regular reoccurring precip. I was curious if the precipitate from my DIY mag solution (your recipe 1part 3a) might not be good to add to the tank since I am still seeing precip?
I know it says this in the article but thought I would check in my circumstances. "That precipitate is calcium sulfate (calcium as an impurity in the magnesium chloride and sulfate from the Epsom salts). It is fine and appropriate to dose the precipitate along with the remainder of the fluid by shaking it up before dosing."
Thanks for the help,
Paul

I do not think that solids in a mag solution are going to stick strongly to glass if they get into the tank, but it is certainly fine to let it settle in the container and decant the clear liquid for dosing.

 

[pfoxgrover]

Interesting that you used the word strongly. Most of the precipitate is much harder to remove than coraline but some patches come off pretty easy. Thanks for the help!