Can’t keep Alk up

[Travis Stewart]

If it collects on the bottom and stays there, its a problem.

If it seems to disappear as it disperses in the tank, its normal.

Cloudy water throughout the tank is also a problem.

Not cloudy in tank and disperses, but like I’ve seen it sit on top of my marine pure block in my sump and stay there for a while. I just know based on the calculator that I should have moved it at least 1 dkh in last 24 hours and it hasn’t moved a lick

 

[brmc1985]

Not cloudy in tank and disperses, but like I’ve seen it sit on top of my marine pure block in my sump and stay there for a while. I just know based on the calculator that I should have moved it at least 1 dkh in last 24 hours and it hasn’t moved a lick

Dose to a higher flow area. Are you just dumping it into the sump and letting it go?

 

[Travis Stewart]

Dose to a higher flow area. Are you just dumping it into the sump and letting it go?

Lol no my sump is also pretty high flow with skimmer and water agitation posting a picture of how it looks when added in high flow on dt

 

[brmc1985]

Lol no my sump is also pretty high flow with skimmer and water agitation posting a picture of how it looks when added in high flow on dt

Pretty high flow doesn’t really mean anything quantitatively. I would suggest dosing it directly above a power head and letting it get mixed in almost instantly. Just for reference I dose AFR directly above a Tunze power head running full out in my return chamber with 2 return pumps. Might be overkill but never had a problem.

 

[Travis Stewart]

Pretty high flow doesn’t really mean anything quantitatively. I would suggest dosing it directly above a power head and letting it get mixed in almost instantly.

Lol yes that’s what’s been happening

 

[Travis Stewart]

Pretty high flow doesn’t really mean anything quantitatively. I would suggest dosing it directly above a power head and letting it get mixed in almost instantly. Just for reference I dose AFR directly above a Tunze power head running full out in my return chamber with 2 return pumps. Might be overkill but never had a probl

Lol yes that’s what’s been happening

I’ve been in the hobby for quite some time and never had any issues. As you can see from the pictures, it almost looks as if it is turning into a solid

 

[brmc1985]

Lol yes that’s what’s been happening

Yea. Try dosing it more slowly. Don’t just dump in 48mls. Slower would be better.

 

[Travis Stewart]

Yea. Try dosing it more slowly. Don’t just dump in 48mls. Slower would be better.

Lol that picture was 3 mL and it wasn’t released any quicker than a dosing pump. I dose throughout the entire day and have been for 4 years on this tank. No issues before now. Appreciate the response.

 

[brmc1985]

I’ve been in the hobby for quite some time and never had any issues. As you can see from the pictures, it almost looks as if it is turning into a solid

Yea I can see that now. That is weird. I had that before in one of my old tanks. Looks like it is snowing. I do remember it started when I had high MG in that tank so maybe that could be the reason as someone mentioned earlier.

 

[brmc1985]

Lol that picture was 3 mL and it wasn’t released any quicker than a dosing pump. I dose throughout the entire day and have been for 4 years on this tank. No issues before now. Appreciate the response.

Oh wow. dang man. That is interesting. Sorry. Not trying to be combative or anything just trying to work through it in my head.

 

[Travis Stewart]

Yea I can see that now. That is weird. I had that before in one of my old tanks. Looks like it is snowing. I do remember it started when I had high MG in that tank so maybe that could be the reason as someone mentioned earlier.

I do have high mag but never have dosed and do bi weekly water changes and it never comes down. Doing 10% changes with Tropic Marin Pro

 

[Travis Stewart]

Oh wow. dang man. That is interesting. Sorry. Not trying to be combative or anything just trying to work through it in my head.

Ya I have a chemistry minor and I can’t figure it out either. :/

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is there a reason to think that it is permanently precipitating as calcium carbonate? Like lack of ability to maintain alk with it even if you increase the dose?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You can always switch to a low pH two part, using bicarbonate. There are several commercial brands as well as DIY.

 

[homer1475]

The cloud is normal, but it looks to be precipitating out to me.

Are you positive of your MG number?

 

[Travis Stewart]

The cloud is normal, but it looks to be precipitating out to me.

Are you positive of your MG number?

Yes 100% that is >1500

 

[Travis Stewart]

Is there a reason to think that it is permanently precipitating as calcium carbonate? Like lack of ability to maintain alk with it even if you increase the dose?

This would be a guess of mine for sure. Is the three day of not dosing resolve this?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

This would be a guess of mine for sure. Is the three day of not dosing resolve this?

Not dosing doesn't really change precipitation that is happening instantly in the bulk water column. It is designed to prevent precipitation onto existing calcium carbonate surfaces like rock and sand.

Perhaps the latter is happening coincidentally with the cloud formation, and wont hurt to try, but switching to baking soda may be the easiest thing to do.

 

[Travis Stewart]

Not dosing doesn't really change precipitation that is happening instantly in the bulk water column. It is designed to prevent precipitation onto existing calcium carbonate surfaces like rock and sand.

Perhaps the latter is happening coincidentally with the cloud formation, and wont hurt to try, but switching to baking soda may be the easiest thing to do.

why does this happen in the first place? Why after 4 years all of a sudden?

Baking soda for only the alk component?

 

[jcdeng]

what is your pH sitting at? and also do you run gfo?