soda ash buildup/precipitation (?)

[BonelessEvil]

So, I decided to hang out with the cool kids at school and got myself a couple of magnetic stirrers to place under my apex DDR. I programmed a Wi-Fi surge protector (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077HVGXSK/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) to stir my alkalinity and calcium solutions once a day for 10 minutes. However, shortly after that I started noticing build up around the exit tube into my sump. The first time I sought it created a beautiful "frozen waterfall" that actually looked really cool.

Should I call this precipitation? Or is this literally soda ash from the bottom of the alkalinity container. Mind you, I'm using Randy's reef recipe for my alkalinity solution.

2nd, if this is soda ash building up inside the sump, is that a problem? My alkalinity, nor pH are going crazy, so I assume… No.

 

[P-Dub]

It is precipitation. The problem that you have is that the tube is submerged. You should not submerge your dosing effluent tubes.

 

[BonelessEvil]

thanks a bunch!

 

[P-Dub]

You are very welcome!

 

[stacksoner]

It is precipitation. The problem that you have is that the tube is submerged. You should not submerge your dosing effluent tubes.

IME the precipitate formed on the closest solid object when it wasn't submerged. Placing them in the high flow area did the trick (usually before the filter socks).

 

[Faulkner’s maze]

So, I decided to hang out with the cool kids at school and got myself a couple of magnetic stirrers to place under my apex DDR. I programmed a Wi-Fi surge protector (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077HVGXSK/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) to stir my alkalinity and calcium solutions once a day for 10 minutes. However, shortly after that I started noticing build up around the exit tube into my sump. The first time I sought it created a beautiful "frozen waterfall" that actually looked really cool.

Should I call this precipitation? Or is this literally soda ash from the bottom of the alkalinity container. Mind you, I'm using Randy's reef recipe for my alkalinity solution.

2nd, if this is soda ash building up inside the sump, is that a problem? My alkalinity, nor pH are going crazy, so I assume… No.

I get the same. But the effluent seems to drip off the precipitation and my alk remains stable.

 

[BonelessEvil]

IME the precipitate formed on the closest solid object when it wasn't submerged. Placing them in the high flow area did the trick (usually before the filter socks).

removing the tubes from the water didn't stop the effluent. I'll try putting them in a higher flow area. While my calcium and alkalinity tubes are together, they are separated by about 40 minutes in dosing times, so I don't think that's the source of the precipitation.

 

[stacksoner]

removing the tubes from the water didn't stop the effluent. I'll try putting them in a higher flow area. While my calcium and alkalinity tubes are together, they are separated by about 40 minutes in dosing times, so I don't think that's the source of the precipitation.

Keep us posted!