Tank cloudy from kalkwasser :(

[Picassoclown]

Hello everyone. So my PH is quite low from a real bad bacteria bloom from my tank cycle. PH hit as low as 6.7 about 3 weeks ago (cycled was completed on June 6th) and as of this moment is 7.41. I am getting it up there nice and steady. However, the issue I have now is my tank is cloudy from kalkwasser being dosed in from my ATO. I have a 215 gallon system and I have a 16 gallon ATO reservoir. I am only doing 15 gallon water changes weekly and I mix about 1.5 teaspoons for each of the 16 gallons of my reservoir (RO/DI water heated to 78 degrees and use a pump to stir for 1 minute). How do I get rid of the cloudiness? I was thinking of removing the top layer of calcium carbonate after it settles and try to slowly siphon the middle water column out and add it into the ATO. I know this cloudy water is not harmful to the tank as all my corals are doing fine, as well as fish, but man it just looks so ugly! I thought the protein skimmer would help some, but doesn't seem to be doing anything. I was thinking of adding in some carbon, but not sure what quantity I should add. Any feedback on how to clear this up would be appreciated!

 

[1ocean]

I am not sure what you did or maybe I am reading it wrong, but your tank is cloudy from kalk mxture? When you made the kalk mixture you let it settle and then only used the clear rodi/kalk mix to add to the tank, right? If you put the cloudy kalk/rodi water mixture into the tank before it settled, then yes, your tank would become cloudy.

 

[Pico bam]

you want to make sure that none of the Kalk sediments get into the tank. Bacterial blooms have killed tons of my coral witch is why I run a I’v sterilizer Also good for film algae on glass you almost never have scrape the tank down. Also depending on how many corals you have 1 1/2 tsp is at or close to maximum saturation And not what you generally start with. I’d recommend trying less kalk per gallon possibly. putting kalk in your ato isn’t the best route. The ato pump can stir up and produce a slurry every time it turns on. The sediment is not supposed to enter the tank only what’s soluble depending what grade of kalk you use Some kalkwasser has a lot of sediment left over.

I haven’t heard of kalk use to combat a bacterial bloom and both things can cloud the water. This is adding some confusion imo. Are you sure the bacterial bloom isn’t just getting worse? In my experience the only cure for a bacterial bloom is a uv sterilizer. But I believe some people have been able to ride them out. Just hope that it doesn’t return.

I’d suggest setting up your kalk up on a dosing pump that can handle the amount you need to dose. putting kalk in your ato can very easily be recipe for disaster.

 

[Picassoclown]

I am not sure what you did or maybe I am reading it wrong, but your tank is cloudy from kalk mxture? When you made the kalk mixture you let it settle and then only used the clear rodi/kalk mix to add to the tank, right? If you put the cloudy kalk/rodi water mixture into the tank before it settled, then yes, your tank would become cloudy.

Hello 1ocean. Yes, my tank is cloudy from kalkwasser. I do let it settle, but the tank is still cloudy when it gets dosed. Is there anything I can do, besides water changes, to get it a bit more clear?

 

[Picassoclown]

you want to make sure that none of the Kalk sediments get into the tank. Bacterial blooms have killed tons of my coral witch is why I run a I’v sterilizer Also good for film algae on glass you almost never have scrape the tank down. Also depending on how many corals you have 1 1/2 tsp is at or close to maximum saturation And not what you generally start with. I’d recommend trying less kalk per gallon possibly. putting kalk in your ato isn’t the best route. The ato pump can stir up and produce a slurry every time it turns on. The sediment is not supposed to enter the tank only what’s soluble depending what grade of kalk you use Some kalkwasser has a lot of sediment left over.

I haven’t heard of kalk use to combat a bacterial bloom and both things can cloud the water. This is adding some confusion imo. Are you sure the bacterial bloom isn’t just getting worse? In my experience the only cure for a bacterial bloom is a uv sterilizer. But I believe some people have been able to ride them out. Just hope that it doesn’t return.

I’d suggest setting up your kalk up on a dosing pump that can handle the amount you need to dose. putting kalk in your ato can very easily be recipe for disaster.

Hey Pico. Thanks for the response. I believe some of the kalkwasser sediment is getting into the tank, but as soon as my reservoir empties, I will wash it out completely and start dosing it manually. I think you may have mistaken my post. I am not using kalkwasser to combat a bacterial bloom. I am using kalkwasser to get my PH higher after I already battled a bacteria bloom in the tank when it was going through its cycle.

Is there anything I can do at the moment to help get the water a bit clearer? Will activated carbon help? I have 3 trumpet coral frags and 14 zoa frags as well. I was going to put in a bag to help, but want to make sure that is the correct thing to do.

 

[bnord]

I too am confused by the Kalk cloudiness

Firstly I really think Kalk in the ATO is both inconsistent and potentially dangerous

Suggest you use a Kamoer type dosing pump to add the Kalk with the feeder line suspended in the talk solution above the sediment

Test your alk daily to to determine when your dosing is dialed in

also make sure you pH meter is calibrated, because that sounds really low even with a bacterial bloom

 

[Picassoclown]

I too am confused by the Kalk cloudiness

Firstly I really think Kalk in the ATO is both inconsistent and potentially dangerous

Suggest you use a Kamoer type dosing pump to add the Kalk with the feeder line suspended in the talk solution above the sediment

Test your alk daily to to determine when your dosing is dialed in

also make sure you pH meter is calibrated, because that sounds really low even with a bacterial bloom

Sorry for the confusion. I will explain again. I have cloudy water in my tank due to kalkwasser being dosed in by my ATO. I am mixing 1.5 teaspoons per gallon, for a 16 gallon reservoir. The mixture is always cloudy, so I am thinking of dropping the amount I use down to 1 teaspoon, or maybe half a teaspoon. PH probes were accurate and PH did get that low. Moving forward, I am going to be dosing it manually. However, what can I do in the meantime to get the tank a little more clear? Or will it just dissipate over time.

 

[Pico bam]

Are you certain the bacterial bloom is over? @Picassoclown low ph is a sign of it, i don't think carbon will do much in this situation but if you have it on hand give it a shot. You can look into A aquarium water polisher aswell.

 

[Garf]

Sorry for the confusion. I will explain again. I have cloudy water in my tank due to kalkwasser being dosed in by my ATO. I am mixing 1.5 teaspoons per gallon, for a 16 gallon reservoir. The mixture is always cloudy, so I am thinking of dropping the amount I use down to 1 teaspoon, or maybe half a teaspoon. PH probes were accurate and PH did get that low. Moving forward, I am going to be dosing it manually. However, what can I do in the meantime to get the tank a little more clear? Or will it just dissipate over time.

If your dosing near saturated kalk as evaporation top off, your more than likely increasing Alkalinity too quickly in a low demand tank. You must check your Alkalinity, pronto.

 

[Picassoclown]

Are you certain the bacterial bloom is over? @Picassoclown low ph is a sign of it, i don't think carbon will do much in this situation but if you have it on hand give it a shot. You can look into A aquarium water polisher aswell.

Hey Pico. Yes I am certain the bloom is over. After the cycle was over, I thought there was something wrong with the PH probes, as the readings were very low, but no, they were very accurate. I started dosing the kalk about 2 weeks after that. Will the carbon affect the small amount of corals I have in there?

 

[Picassoclown]

If your dosing near saturated kalk as evaporation top off, your more than likely increasing Alkalinity too quickly in a low demand tank. You must check your Alkalinity, pronto.

ALK is 10.8 at this very moment and PH is at 7.41.

 

[Pico bam]

Granular carbon will have almost no affect on coral.

 

[Garf]

ALK is 10.8 at this very moment and PH is at 7.41.

You got a skimmer, or at least good water movement? A pic would be good.

 

[Picassoclown]

Granular carbon will have almost no affect on coral.

As far as cloudiness, will that dissipate over time?

 

[Picassoclown]

You got a skimmer, or at least good water movement? A pic would be good.

Yup, I have a skimmer running and very good water movement. 2 MP40's and M5 spectra. Here are some pictures.

 

[Pico bam]

As far as cloudiness, will that dissipate over time?

I don't know the answer to that one unfortunately.

 

[Garf]

Yup, I have a skimmer running and very good water movement. 2 MP40's and M5 spectra. Here are some pictures.

Looking good. I don’t believe your pH meter.

 

[Picassoclown]

Looking good. I don’t believe your pH meter.

Even with that cloudiness?! :0, look at the side picture, you cannot even look through the tank

 

[Garf]

Even with that cloudiness?! :0, look at the side picture, you cannot even look through the tank

I would stop the kalkwasser, you don’t need it yet. Have you got another pH test you can use? Even the API liquid one would give you an idea of the true value, a brownish to purple result is ok. What pH probe have you got and is it able to be calibrated?

 

[Picassoclown]

I would stop the kalkwasser, you don’t need it yet. Have you got another pH test you can use? Even the API liquid one would give you an idea of the true value, a brownish to purple result is ok. What pH probe have you got and is it able to be calibrated?

I am using the PH probes that came with the apex system, I am also using the Red Sea test kit and it's definitely less than 7.6. Both are reading the same values, so I believe it's 7.4 at the moment. I also have a skimmer sucking air through a C02 scrubber.