Red Sea Foundation Liquids

[Bradley Crocker]

I dose the Reef Foundation A B and C liquids. The last time I restocked on Ca and alk, the calcium was partly solidified in the bottle. I bought all three Saturday and both Ca and alk are partially solidified.

Has anyone else had this issue? They don't expire until 2021, and I bought them from separate trips to different stores, so I don't think it's a batch issue (there's not a batch # on the box anyway).

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'd try warmign them slightly and/or adding a bit more water.

 

[Bradley Crocker]

I'd try warmign them slightly and/or adding a bit more water.

Thanks! That seems to help. Is it because they're getting too cold?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks! That seems to help. Is it because they're getting too cold?

The alk parts of two parts are often pushing the solubility limit, and they are more soluble in warm water. If they got cold, they may have precipitated.

 

[Bradley Crocker]

The alk parts of two parts are often pushing the solubility limit, and they are more soluble in warm water. If they got cold, they may have precipitated.

I'll be more conscious of where I store them from now on. I left them in my car overnight and it was pretty cold.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[GoVols]

The alk parts of two parts are often pushing the solubility limit, and they are more soluble in warm water. If they got cold, they may have precipitated.

@Bradley Crocker
Thanks for the thread!

Randy,
Good to know.
Thank You, GoVols

 

[Bradley Crocker]

@Bradley Crocker
Thanks for the thread!

Randy,
Good to know.
Thank You, GoVols

Absolutely. I wasn't able to find anything about it anywhere. Heating them up helped a lot. The alk went back into solution quite quickly, but the calcium took considerably longer.

Looking back, when it happened the first time (back in Feb) my lfs didn't have any Ca on the shelf, but they had some in their van that they use for their maintenance company. Then this weekend I had left all 3 parts in my garage overnight and it got down in the low 30's. So I'm fairly convinced Randy's right that the cold caused it.