Preciptiation from Soda Ash.

[MichaelReefer]

It's been so long that I've had to deal with this is pretty much forgot what to do.

I recently moved to a new tank. I began dosing slowly to raise my alk levels back up to around 10.5-11dkh where i normally kept them. Over the last few days my alk keeps dropping, and I noticed when im dosing it am getting a lot of preciptiation in the return chamber. Any recommendations? I dose Soda Ash, and have for around five years. Haven't had this problem in ages.

 

[Reef Jedi]

Make sure you are dosing into a high flow area of the sump. You could always add a cheap powerhead incase you don’t have a high flow area. I drop mine right in front of the intake of the return pump. This way it gets sucked in and mixed on its way up to the DT. I also separate my ca line to a different area of the sump (1st chamber) and dose them at different times.

 

[MichaelReefer]

Make sure you are dosing into a high flow area of the sump. You could always add a cheap powerhead incase you don’t have a high flow area. I drop mine right in front of the intake of the return pump. This way it gets sucked in and mixed on its way up to the DT. I also separate my ca line to a different area of the sump (1st chamber) and dose them at different times.

It's in the return like I normally have it. It turns to snow immediately and solid chunks. Magnesium and calcium are good so not sure why its happening.

 

[Reef Jedi]

It's in the return like I normally have it. It turns to snow immediately and solid chunks. Magnesium and calcium are good so not sure why its happening.

I was just going to ask what your MG level is?

Also sounds like it’s could be “over saturated” and is instantly bonding when it’s hitting the water.

 

[MichaelReefer]

I was just going to ask what your MG level is?

Also sounds like it’s could be “over saturated” and is instantly bonding when it’s hitting the water.

1268

 

[fish_collector]

You only dose soda ash? It's usually dosed as a separate 2 part with calcium chloride for ionic balance. What do you mean when you say it precipitates? Soda ash solution with generally cause a white cloud when you first add it to the tank but it quickly dissolves.

You may want to manually check the alk, it may not be consuming all that your apex is saying it is. What's the pH?

Alk at 10-11 is ok but 8ish seems like the sweet spot for most reefers, but it doesn't appear that you're new at this

 

[Reef Jedi]

Oh duh, you posted your apex picture. Sorry I forgot about that.

Curious have you tested your trident readings against another test kit specifically your alk?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is there solid collecting somewhere, or does it seem to redissolve?

Switching to baking soda can resolve the problem, but once widespread precipitation starts it needs active measures to stop since all of the bare surfaces act as clearing sites for more precipitation.

 

[MichaelReefer]

You only dose soda ash? It's usually dosed as a separate 2 part with calcium chloride for ionic balance. What do you mean when you say it precipitates? Soda ash solution with generally cause a white cloud when you first add it to the tank but it quickly dissolves.

You may want to manually check the alk, it may not be consuming all that your apex is saying it is. What's the pH?

Alk at 10-11 is ok but 8ish seems like the sweet spot for most reefers, but it doesn't appear that you're new at this

I dose Soda ash for alk, seachem reef trace, seachem reef plus, and seachem reef fusion 1 for calcium. Been running the same stuff for over five years. It's turning to snow and hard pieces in return chamber.

 

[MichaelReefer]

Is there solid collecting somewhere, or does it seem to redissolve?

Switching to baking soda can resolve the problem, but once widespread precipitation starts it needs active measures to stop since all of the bare surfaces act as clearing sites for more precipitation.

There are more solid pieces collecting at the end of my dosing lines. I've been using soda ash for over five years. Weird it just all of a sudden started? I did get a new tank and all that, but ive always kept my ph and alk elevated. About five years since I've had this happen.

 

[allof fish]

There are more solid pieces collecting at the end of my dosing lines. I've been using soda ash for over five years. Weird it just all of a sudden started?

Do you dose calcium and alk in a similar area. When I use to do that I got some precipitation but moved the alk doser farther away in a baffle and that seemed to solve it

 

[Nano_Man]

Is it a different brand you have started using

 

[MichaelReefer]

Is it a different brand you have started using

Nope. Brs. My red sea went down and I got a new tank so maybe that's why? It's been fine for two weeks, I was slowly increasing alk and then noticed it was going down instead of up.

 

[MichaelReefer]

Do you dose calcium and alk in a similar area. When I use to do that I got some precipitation but moved the alk doser farther away in a baffle and that seemed to solve it

I do but my doser has a pause between any dosing cycles. It waits 5 minutes between them.

 

[allof fish]

I do but my doser has a pause between any dosing cycles. It waits 5 minutes between them.

That’s the issue then. I have mine spread out over 2 hours each and then a hour gap in between. 5 mins isn’t enough time IME. Try spacing it out longer like 45 min or an hour and that should help fix it

 

[allof fish]

I do but my doser has a pause between any dosing cycles. It waits 5 minutes between them.

Also when I use to have mine too close with not enough time my calcium precipitated heavily and it would drop in the 300s because of it

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Once it starts it becomes self sustaining since seawater is supersaturated in calcium carbonate.

This is my generic recommendation for excessive precipitation issues (such as hardening sand):

1. Stop all efforts to boost pH.
2. Stop dosing alk for a bit and let it decline.
3. Reduce pH by switching to a low pH alk mix like sodium bicarbonate, or a calcium organic such as Tropic Marin All for Reef.
4. Ensure magnesium is normal to high.
5. Keep organics and phosphate on the high side.

After a few days of not dosing alk, restart slowly, adding additives to a very high flow area so it mixes in fast.

 

[MichaelReefer]

Once it starts it becomes self sustaining since seawater is supersaturated in calcium carbonate.

This is my generic recommendation for excessive precipitation issues (such as hardening sand):

1. Stop all efforts to boost pH.
2. Stop dosing alk for a bit and let it decline.
3. Reduce pH by switching to a low pH alk mix like sodium bicarbonate, or a calcium organic such as Tropic Marin All for Reef.
4. Ensure magnesium is normal to high.
5. Keep organics and phosphate on the high side.

After a few days of not dosing alk, restart slowly, adding additives to a very high flow area so it mixes in fast.

ok, I put a hold on dosing, added some magnesium. What should I aim for? over 1350?

Is there a chance I can just start again after and wont get precipitation? I just find it weird I dosed Soda Ash for over five years and had no problem with Precipitation.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

ok, I put a hold on dosing, added some magnesium. What should I aim for? over 1350?

Is there a chance I can just start again after and wont get precipitation? I just find it weird I dosed Soda Ash for over five years and had no problem with Precipitation.

I would not rely on home magnesium testing to usefully indicate the magnesium level as they are so often inaccurate, and I personally would not add a bunch of extra in this scenario unless you have a good reason to think magnesium is excessively low (such as an ICP test).

 

[MichaelReefer]

I would not rely on home magnesium testing to usefully indicate the magnesium level as they are so often inaccurate, and I personally would not add a bunch of extra in this scenario unless you have a good reason to think magnesium is excessively low (such as an ICP test).

Hmmm ok, I just know extra magnesium can keep it at bay. Again It's just frustrating because I ran for years exactly the same way and never had the precipitation. I'm more worried about keeping my PH up without Soda Ash.