Red Sea alkalinity floud

[Wildreefs]

I am trying to use limewater for alkalinity consumption, but was using sea Chem alk liquid to make daily adjustments.

ran out of seachem, picked up Red Sea foundation liquid, when I use it, it’s a 150 gallon tank, I usually go a few drops at a time near a power head, and with seachem I got a cloud of smoke. Now with this Red Sea two part, I get some of the cloud, but more dandruff looking particles.

what is this, and is it harmful if it hits corals or fish? I place it near an mp60, however by the time it gets sucked into the intake and blown out, 3-4 seconds, it is still in this cloud /dandruff state and no doubt hits some live stock.

thank you

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It is likely magnesium hydroxide which precipitates with any high pH additive. It should redissolve, but if not you may need to change the way you dose it.

 

[Wildreefs]

It is likely magnesium hydroxide which precipitates with any high pH additive. It should redissolve, but if not you may need to change the way you dose it.

Just to get level up to where I need it to bed, i I dose drop by drop into top of tank with a pipette . Is this stuff , mag hydroxide harmful of it hits a coral 3-4 seconds after being introduced into the water? Is it like as if you were adding salt mix indisolved to tank?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Just to get level up to where I need it to bed, i I dose drop by drop into top of tank with a pipette . Is this stuff , mag hydroxide harmful of it hits a coral 3-4 seconds after being introduced into the water? Is it like as if you were adding salt mix indisolved to tank?

I would not want it landing on delicate organisms. The local pH will be fairly high under it.

 

[Wildreefs]

I would not want it landing on delicate organisms. The local pH will be fairly high under it.

The mag flakes would have high ph localized?

that’s l not good if that’s the case, really no place to put it where it can stall or mix more than 4-5 seconds before dissipating

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The mag flakes would have high ph localized?

that’s l not good if that’s the case, really no place to put it where it can stall or mix more than 4-5 seconds before dissipating

Let's be clear. The term Mag flake applies to flake magnesium chloride sold as Mag flakes. It has no pH effect.

The magnesium hydroxide precipitate in the aquarium will have an elevated pH around it as it dissolves because it is releasing hydroxide.

Do you see it settling out?

 

[Wildreefs]

Let's be clear. The term Mag flake applies to flake magnesium chloride sold as Mag flakes. It has no pH effect.

The magnesium hydroxide precipitate in the aquarium will have an elevated pH around it as it dissolves because it is releasing hydroxide.

Do you see it settling out?

Understood , two different animals as far as magnesium goes.
As far as settling out, I have a lot of flow in the tank, and I see them suspended for 6-7 seconds or so before disappearing, with all that flow I doubt they are settling at the bottom, so my thought would be yes , it settles or remixes into the water, it’s just that 5 second window before they disappear if what they’re hitting I’m worried about .

To show the amount I’m talking about, I use a 3 ml pipette, and drip it at the top of the tank near the power heads, over the course of 15 seconds or so, so figure 1 ml, or 15-20 drops, in 5 seconds or so