Kalkwasser help needed

Discussion in 'Water Chemistry' started by Ryland, Nov 4, 2011.

to remove this notice and enjoy 3reef content with less ads. 3reef membership is free.

  1. Ryland

    Ryland Stylophora

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2010
    Messages:
    962
    Location:
    Southeast Iowa
    I currently run a 125 DT with a 50 gallon sump. I have a mix of softies, LPS, and SPS however, I have recently takin a liking to more SPS (since my Majestic doesnt pic at them) and have been adding more and more of them. I currently sit at (SPS) 4 plating montipora (3 red 1 purple), 1 Birdsnest, and 1 blue acro. (LPS) Chalice, 4 large colonies of starpolyps, and 2 large heads of Hammer. (Softies) 3 giant hairy mushrooms which are fun to feed, 1 toadstool over 5 inches, a couple of Kenya trees (dont really care for them), and a couple groups of pumping xenia. I also have a large purple gorgonian. I think thats about it off the top of my head. Anyways on to the question. I recently started having low alk (7) and ca (360) even with regular water changes. PH was holding steady at 8.3 though. So i thought I would give kalk a try. I mixed about 1-1.5 tsp per gallon into my ato. My ato is gravity driven as the line runs into another room and is attached to a float valve in the sump. The bulb floats down and adds water till its full. Pretty fail safe. The problem, the water in the ato is cloudy and has formed a thin but yet semi hard film at the top of the water. When the water drips into the sump the ato water seems to solidify into a white snow flake and then float to the top of the water in the sump. Nearly the entire surface is covered in this area of the sump with this semi solid white substance. Testing daily as I am worried. Ph holding steady at 8.4, alk holding at 10, and ca holding at 420. This film forming at the top of the water in my sump and ato doesnt seem right. Need somebody to point me in the right direction. What is this film? I lose about 1.5 gallons a day in evaporation. Long but I thought necessary.
    THANK YOU!;D
     
  2. Click Here!

  3. Ryland

    Ryland Stylophora

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2010
    Messages:
    962
    Location:
    Southeast Iowa
    Is this something I should move to the ASAP section??
     
  4. Ryland

    Ryland Stylophora

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2010
    Messages:
    962
    Location:
    Southeast Iowa
    bump for me. I am fearing a PH spike. FYI I mixed about 1.5 tsp per gallon in my ato
     
  5. Ryland

    Ryland Stylophora

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2010
    Messages:
    962
    Location:
    Southeast Iowa
  6. lmr2o

    lmr2o Millepora

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2011
    Messages:
    947
    Location:
    NE Ohio
    I'm not sure how to help you, but I'll give you a bump. Maybe put (unresolved) in the title?
     
  7. Ryland

    Ryland Stylophora

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2010
    Messages:
    962
    Location:
    Southeast Iowa
    This is still unresolved however, I have done some more reading. I believe the white substance I am getting in my sump from the ATO is calcium carbonate. Somebody feel free to correct me if I am wrong but this means there is not sufficient CO2 in the water to react with and allow the kalk mix to soak the water. So my new questions are as follows. Should i add vinegar to my ATO with the kalk water to stop the precipitation of the kalk into calcium carbonate? (The white stuff forming in my tank) Or should I try reducing the amount of kalk until I find either A. everything becomes balanced, or B. my CA and ALK levels begin to fall, or C. when the calcium percipitation ceases. I realize this is a delicate balancing act and I dont have much control over my C)2 levels. But I want the CA to stop percipitating. Although I have not YET had any problems I can see where this will lead to problems. I could use the advice of some experts here. Thank you
     
  8. Click Here!

  9. proreefer

    proreefer Feather Star

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2011
    Messages:
    776
    Location:
    georgia
    ok, do you mix and start dripping immediately, if thats what your doing then thats the problem, you must mix the day before use, let the powder that doens't desolve go the bottom of the container then siphon off the top water leaving the powder in the bottom then drip the clear kalk, don't throw away the unmixed powder put more kalk in and remix it with the new.:)
     
  10. Ryland

    Ryland Stylophora

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2010
    Messages:
    962
    Location:
    Southeast Iowa
    I mix 12 gallons at a time in a rubbermaid container. I run a powerhead for approximately 1 hour and then shut if off. After approximately 3-4 hours I siphon out the solution leaving the sludge on the bottom. I guess I should note my kalk water always remains a milky white no matter how long I let it sit. Thoughts?

    Also, my kalk water has always formed a thin white film at the top of the water in my mixing container. It also does this in my ATO container. I try to avoid this film too. Any advice or thoughts are appreciated.
     
  11. proreefer

    proreefer Feather Star

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2011
    Messages:
    776
    Location:
    georgia
    trust me on this, if you let it sit long enough it will clear, and a crust will form on the top layer of water then siphon.
     
  12. leighton1245

    leighton1245 Horrid Stonefish

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2010
    Messages:
    2,081
    What kind of Kalk are you using? normally is should only be 1tsp per gallon