HELP! Two Part Disaster!

Sailfin11 · 01/13/2019, 03:26 PM

I have recently set up a new reef tank-- no fish yet. I was attempting to add calcium and alkalinity to help speed along coralline algae growth. I followed my test kit and added the appropriate amount of Calcium chloride and Soda Ash as well as a mix of Magnesium sulfate and chloride. An hour later I came back to see my tank SUPER murky with precipitation on the glass. I am assuming that it is calcium precipitation. What can I do? It is an absolute mess!

Uncle99 · 01/13/2019, 04:54 PM

Back to back water changes.
Any salt will maintain the early stages of coraline with dosing.
When your water changes don't keep parameters on-point, then dose small amounts daily.

Pslreefer · 01/13/2019, 04:58 PM

If you have a new tank there’s is absolutely no reason to dose anything.

MarineGP · 01/13/2019, 05:04 PM

Assuming tank is still cycling.... Just wait ... the excessive calcium or magnesium salts will dissolve as calcium and magnesium are used.

bertoni · 01/13/2019, 06:00 PM

I'd wait for the precipitate to settle, and then measure the calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium levels, and correct as needed. Most tanks come through such problems with no problems.

Daddi0 · 01/13/2019, 06:12 PM

With a new tank, you should not need to be dosing any calcium/alk. Your salt mix should have plenty to keep you going until your tank inhabitants are "sucking" it up faster than your water changes can keep up.
Cheers! Mark

Sailfin11 · 01/13/2019, 08:18 PM

Thanks for all the help! I knew that most salt mixes contained most everything you need, but when I tested the levels they were reading very low. I think I am going to try a different test kit.

The problem now is that there is a hazy coating (calcium precipitate?) on all the glass panels and powerheads. I have tried scraping and scrubbing it off and it is very stubborn. I know vinegar would remove it, but I would prefer to not drain my tank and remove the rock/sand. Will this eventually dissolve? What should I do?

bertoni · 01/13/2019, 10:36 PM

If it's attached to the tank walls, then you're stuck. It won't redissolve. That's odd, though. I haven't heard of that happening. I agree with trying a different test kit.

Daddi0 · 01/14/2019, 07:50 AM

Your tank has no livestock? I would drain/clean and restart

Uncle99 · 01/17/2019, 07:41 PM

Maybe MG is too low (well below the lower range of 1250) and both the ALK and CA are just coming together quickly.....I trust you did not dose at the same time.

Just a thought!

Sailfin11 · 01/19/2019, 08:41 PM

Update: SUCCESS!

I drained the tank and used vinegar to clean off the calcium-based precipitate on the glass and pumps. I determined that the precipitate was probably a combination of an old test kit not giving correct readings and me putting the two-part directly in the saltwater. It is the same stuff that coated my glass heater in my saltwater mixing station. Here is the picture of the tank after an hour of cleaning! I am planning on eventually moving my pair of Clarkii's to this tank after it finishes cycling.

Sailfin11 · 01/19/2019, 08:44 PM

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hb-...ew?usp=sharing

Daddi0 · 01/19/2019, 09:23 PM

Well done! No more shortcuts, slow and steady.
Cheers! Mark
On a side note, my reef is almost 2 years old and while all the corals are happy and growing, I have almost no coraline growing.

bertoni · 01/19/2019, 09:38 PM

That's a lot of cleaning!

Good luck!

crawlerman · 01/21/2019, 02:15 PM

good lesson to learn before livestock was added.

01/13/2019, 03:26 PM	#1
Sailfin11 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Posts: 11	HELP! Two Part Disaster! I have recently set up a new reef tank-- no fish yet. I was attempting to add calcium and alkalinity to help speed along coralline algae growth. I followed my test kit and added the appropriate amount of Calcium chloride and Soda Ash as well as a mix of Magnesium sulfate and chloride. An hour later I came back to see my tank SUPER murky with precipitation on the glass. I am assuming that it is calcium precipitation. What can I do? It is an absolute mess!

01/13/2019, 04:58 PM	#3
Pslreefer In Memoriam Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Port St Lucie, FL Posts: 597	HELP! Two Part Disaster! If you have a new tank there’s is absolutely no reason to dose anything.

01/13/2019, 06:00 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I'd wait for the precipitate to settle, and then measure the calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium levels, and correct as needed. Most tanks come through such problems with no problems. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/13/2019, 06:12 PM	#6
Daddi0 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Redwood City Posts: 1,354	With a new tank, you should not need to be dosing any calcium/alk. Your salt mix should have plenty to keep you going until your tank inhabitants are "sucking" it up faster than your water changes can keep up. Cheers! Mark __________________ 2x 65g displays with a 30g cryptic refugium and 30g sump - 55g reef 30g Bio-cube reef - I.M. 30g reef - 45g freshwater

01/13/2019, 10:36 PM	#8
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If it's attached to the tank walls, then you're stuck. It won't redissolve. That's odd, though. I haven't heard of that happening. I agree with trying a different test kit. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/13/2019, 04:54 PM	#2
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	Back to back water changes. Any salt will maintain the early stages of coraline with dosing. When your water changes don't keep parameters on-point, then dose small amounts daily.

01/13/2019, 05:04 PM	#4
MarineGP Registered Member Join Date: May 2018 Location: Dartmouth NS Posts: 20	Assuming tank is still cycling.... Just wait ... the excessive calcium or magnesium salts will dissolve as calcium and magnesium are used.

01/13/2019, 08:18 PM	#7
Sailfin11 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Posts: 11	Thanks for all the help! I knew that most salt mixes contained most everything you need, but when I tested the levels they were reading very low. I think I am going to try a different test kit. The problem now is that there is a hazy coating (calcium precipitate?) on all the glass panels and powerheads. I have tried scraping and scrubbing it off and it is very stubborn. I know vinegar would remove it, but I would prefer to not drain my tank and remove the rock/sand. Will this eventually dissolve? What should I do?

01/14/2019, 07:50 AM	#9
Daddi0 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Redwood City Posts: 1,354	Your tank has no livestock? I would drain/clean and restart __________________ 2x 65g displays with a 30g cryptic refugium and 30g sump - 55g reef 30g Bio-cube reef - I.M. 30g reef - 45g freshwater

01/17/2019, 07:41 PM	#10
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	Maybe MG is too low (well below the lower range of 1250) and both the ALK and CA are just coming together quickly.....I trust you did not dose at the same time. Just a thought!

01/19/2019, 08:41 PM	#11
Sailfin11 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Posts: 11	Update: SUCCESS! I drained the tank and used vinegar to clean off the calcium-based precipitate on the glass and pumps. I determined that the precipitate was probably a combination of an old test kit not giving correct readings and me putting the two-part directly in the saltwater. It is the same stuff that coated my glass heater in my saltwater mixing station. Here is the picture of the tank after an hour of cleaning! I am planning on eventually moving my pair of Clarkii's to this tank after it finishes cycling.

01/19/2019, 08:44 PM	#12
Sailfin11 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Posts: 11	https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hb-...ew?usp=sharing

01/19/2019, 09:23 PM	#13
Daddi0 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Redwood City Posts: 1,354	Well done! No more shortcuts, slow and steady. Cheers! Mark On a side note, my reef is almost 2 years old and while all the corals are happy and growing, I have almost no coraline growing. __________________ 2x 65g displays with a 30g cryptic refugium and 30g sump - 55g reef 30g Bio-cube reef - I.M. 30g reef - 45g freshwater

01/19/2019, 09:38 PM	#14
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	That's a lot of cleaning! Good luck! __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/21/2019, 02:15 PM	#15
crawlerman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 503	good lesson to learn before livestock was added.