White flake-like residue?

[micl10]

My return pump just blew a bunch of white flake like residue into my display tank. I've been noticing it for a while...they even build up in my return nozzles, so I imagine they're a bit viscous to withstand that much pressure. I've been noticing whenever i scrape my glass, they clump up into this white residue as well. They look like white wet fish flakes (i don't feed fish flakes)

What could cause this residue?

Things I put in my tank:
no3po4x
phosphate rx
ME amino polyp xtender
API marine stress coat
Seachem Marine Buffer

I feed Seawee Extreme, Frozen Mysis with selcon, reef roids.

I do use socks, but the more porous nylon ones by red sea

 

[redfishbluefish]

I don't know what's in Seachem Marine Buffer, but would guess that it also raises alkalinity. So I'm guessing you're simply seeing calcium carbonate precipitaion that has broken loose from the pump. The heat from the pump causes it to precipitate out there first.

What are you calcium, alkalinity and magnesium numbers? And what are you doing to maintain them?

 

[nemo1017]

+1 for precipitation.

 

[micl10]

hmm, interesting. i've been trying to raise my pH using that Marine Buffer, and it does increase Kh. maybe the imbalance caused the precipitation? And i do add the buffer in my sump, so it probably raised the Kh way too much, and it just started to precipitate.

Kh: 10.1
Ca: 380
Mg: 1400

My Mg seems pretty healthy...wonder why not buffering properly.

 

[nemo1017]

I believe you're seeing the Precipitation by dosing too much or dosing too frequently. The concentration is really saturated.

 

[nemo1017]

To answer your question:
A: This is a temporary magnesium carbonate precipitate. No need to worry, it will redissolve in half an hour or so. Sometimes this can form if your magnesium is on the high side.


^^^^^straight from seachem^^^^^

 

[redfishbluefish]

hmm, interesting. i've been trying to raise my pH using that Marine Buffer, and it does increase Kh. maybe the imbalance caused the precipitation? And i do add the buffer in my sump, so it probably raised the Kh way too much, and it just started to precipitate.

Kh: 10.1
Ca: 380
Mg: 1400

My Mg seems pretty healthy...wonder why not buffering properly.

My recommendation, stop chasing pH. There are many successful tanks at pH 7.7 - 7.8. The only thing I'd recommend for pH stability is to run an air line outside for your skimmer.

 

[micl10]

My recommendation, stop chasing pH. There are many successful tanks at pH 7.7 - 7.8. The only thing I'd recommend for pH stability is to run an air line outside for your skimmer.

That was my original thought as well, but my params are not dropping at all. I'm not sure i'm getting any skeletal growth on my tank. Granted I have mostly LPS. So i'm thining pH might be my prob.

But ya, i think i'm gonna stop or at least reduce my pH dosing. Or at least dose it on my DT and not sump.