streaks hard to remove daily

trevscout · Feb 28, 2015

I have looked everywhere for this answer to a problem i a having and nobody can answer it for me.. I have a 90 gallon reef tank. everyday my alk goes from 9-10 to 4-5, i have to add baking soda daily to keep it up. My calcium levels drop the same way daily. When I add baking soda,or calcium i get these white hard to remove streaks on the glass, i have to manually scrape it off with a razor daily. for it to appear again a few hours later. I do weekly water changes using reef crystals my magnesium is at 1400. what is causing these streaks and why does my alk swing so much along with the calcium?

kuba · Feb 28, 2015

Magnesium look into it

trevscout · Feb 28, 2015

kuba said:
Magnesium look into it

its 1400

candcreef · Feb 28, 2015

I agree with kuba....sounds like your alk and calc are precipitating out due to low magnesium levels....are you testing for mag? If so, what are your levels? They should be between 1300 - 1460....

trevscout · Feb 28, 2015

yes 1400, its always that

candcreef · Feb 28, 2015

Didn't see your last post! I would cross check that with another test...(different brand or have a buddy test it for you)

candcreef · Feb 28, 2015

Do you dose mag?

candcreef · Feb 28, 2015

And how often?

trevscout · Feb 28, 2015

dose maybe once or twice a week to keep it up.

candcreef · Feb 28, 2015

What test kit are you using for mag?

trevscout · Feb 28, 2015

salifert

candcreef · Feb 28, 2015

What kind of coral are you keeping in your tank?

trevscout · Feb 28, 2015

toadstool, montis,

candcreef · Feb 28, 2015

Yeah....in my opinion I would get another test kit....your bio load for coral doesn't justify the uptake on alk and calc...I would be fairly certain that you are low on mag causing precipitate to gather on your glass....have you checked your pumps or heaters for precipitate?

NanaReefer · Feb 28, 2015

His Magnesium is fine. First I would double check your testing and or kits. That is a mighty big drop over night. Is your tank loaded with stony corals?
I agree with the streaks being precipitation. Besides low mag as being the cause you'd be better off asking Randy-Holmes Farley

Sounds like you need to start dosing a 2part additive, equal amounts of both CA/ALK daily, added slowly to a high flow area. 10-15min apart from each other.

candcreef · Feb 28, 2015

I can't make the judgement that your mag is fine because I don't know your system nor do I trust just one test....

trevscout · Feb 28, 2015

yes they have it on them as well

trevscout · Feb 28, 2015

no just montis and a pagoda cup

candcreef · Feb 28, 2015

Then that is a tell tale sign of low mag....this is just my opinion and what i have learned in the past 5 years of reefing....just my two cents and good luck I hope you get to the bottom of this!