Kalkaska residue on glass??????

malira · Feb 10, 2017

About 2 weeks ago I started using a different salt with a lower alk. So I needed to add more Kalkaska to my ato. I uped the ratio from 1 Tbs per 1 1/2 gallons to 1.5 Tbs.
Now I'm getting Kalkaska residue on one side the aquarium. It's the side closest to the return nozzle but more water actually hits the front glass directly from the nozzle than the side glass. Especially more than the bottom of that side. I don't believe it's the amount of Kalk i believe it has to do with the glass. I can scape it off but it comes back within a few hours.

Pepcrylic · Feb 10, 2017

From what is see for livestock in your tank . I dont understand why you would be doseing anything. WC should keep the parm. up enough.

malira · Feb 10, 2017

Pepcrylic said:
From what is see for livestock in your tank . I dont understand why you would be doseing anything. WC should keep the parm. up enough.

So you don't know why it's doing this?

Pepcrylic · Feb 10, 2017

Not sure why it wouldnt be on all the glass. I have never ran Kalk.
Someone will jump in with a probable reason.

wkscott · Feb 10, 2017

Is the kalkwasser completely clear (fully disolved) before it goes into the tank or is it cloudy? If cloudy, it needs to disolve more or you are using too much mix. Also, it will precipitate out if your calcium and manesium levels are not in balance. What are your current Ca, manesium and alkalinity levels?

malira · Feb 11, 2017

wkscott said:
Is the kalkwasser completely clear (fully disolved) before it goes into the tank or is it cloudy? If cloudy, it needs to disolve more or you are using too much mix. Also, it will precipitate out if your calcium and manesium levels are not in balance. What are your current Ca, manesium and alkalinity levels?

It is fully desolved and settled. I'm only at 1.5 Tbs per 1.5 gallons. It's not over saturated. My alk in this tank is usually very low.

But this should not be the issue. Why only one glass? This is odd.

I think I'm going to stop call for now and dose just alkalinity. I'll see if it goes away. Then slowly add kalk back.

Bdog4u2 · Feb 11, 2017

What's your magnesium at? if it gets to high it makes precipitate and it can build up on power heads and heaters but can't aye I've seen it build up on glass

mfinn · Feb 11, 2017

Why are you dosing kalkwasser?
Regular water changes should be able to keep up with ca. and alk demands in your tank.
Are you testing ca and alk, and mg? What are the test results?

malira · Feb 11, 2017

mfinn said:
Why are you dosing kalkwasser?
Regular water changes should be able to keep up with ca. and alk demands in your tank.
Are you testing ca and alk, and mg? What are the test results?

I'm using Aqua forest salt. It mixes at 8 dKh. I don't do a water change that often. Once every 2 weeks. But again this is not the issue.

Why is the build up only on one glass?

mfinn · Feb 11, 2017

malira said:
I'm using Aqua forest salt. It mixes at 8 dKh. I don't do a water change that often. Once every 2 weeks. But again this is not the issue.

Why is the build up only on one glass?

My guess is that it's because the flow on the front glass is too strong and that the side glass is a settling area.
But if it were my tank, that's not what I would be concerned about.
I would be concerned with why I was getting the residue at all.

IMO the corals in the tank are not using up the ca.and alk fast enough and it hits a point and it has to go somewhere.

If you didn't dose anything, what would the ca, alk and mg test out to in the tank?

malira · Feb 11, 2017

mfinn said:
My guess is that it's because the flow on the front glass is too strong and that the side glass is a settling area.
But if it were my tank, that's not what I would be concerned about.
I would be concerned with why I was getting the residue at all.

IMO the corals in the tank are not using up the ca.and alk fast enough and it hits a point and it has to go somewhere.

If you didn't dose anything, what would the ca, alk and mg test out to in the tank?

Good point.

I'm going to stop using kalk and figure that out.

Sabellafella · Feb 11, 2017

malira said:
Good point.

I'm going to stop using kalk and figure that out.

1 tablespoon per gallon is over saturation. 2 tsp per gallon is saturation. Try using alot less kalk in your topoff

malira · Feb 11, 2017

Sabellafella said:
1 tablespoon per gallon is over saturation. 2 tsp per gallon is saturation. Try using alot less kalk in your topoff

Your right, I've been over saturating the ato.

Sabellafella · Feb 11, 2017

malira said:
Your right, I've been over saturating the ato.

Try a half a tsp per gallon, then work your way up.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 11, 2017

It is normal for limewater to result in local precipitation where it is added, but not across the whole tank.

Are you adding it very slowly to a high flow area?

malira · Feb 11, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
It is normal for limewater to result in local precipitation where it is added, but not across the whole tank.

Are you adding it very slowly to a high flow area?

I am adding it into the return area of my 10g AIO.
I was over saturating.

But it's just wierd only on one glass and the whole glass.