BC29 turned into a snowglobe???

[Convict2161]

So I use Kent A&B every now and again. I usually try and NOT dose anything to my tank other then water changes...

Reason being is, I was overwhelmed with ALL the different chemicals for your saltwater tank that my head started to spin. Long story short I decided that A&B was gonna be my thing. I should mention I do use things for my corals, clams etc.. But I do not go crazy.

Anyway... I dosed my part A per directions. Then dosed B per directions. It turned cloudy like always then... Bam!!! Snow globe!! What does that mean? My calcium is 480. It was 380 3 days ago. A guy at the LFS told me that 380 may be the magic number for my tank? Possible?

I'm confused...

 

[Bige]

What's your alk at? Could have precipitated.

 

[Convict2161]

What's your alk at? Could have precipitated.

Alk is at 140ppm. Maybe I didn't wait long enough between adding the A then the B?

 

[Bige]

It sounds like that's what happen. I would do a pwc because alk will actually attach to your glass and put a crusty film on glass or rocks. Second, I would dose calcium in morning and alk at night.

With that being said, what is your calcium at before dosing and after? In such a small tank, dosing can quickly change chemistry and cause spikes. Just test and test again. Your tank is doing great.

 

[Convict2161]

It sounds like that's what happen. I would do a pwc because alk will actually attach to your glass and put a crusty film on glass or rocks. Second, I would dose calcium in morning and alk at night.

With that being said, what is your calcium at before dosing and after? In such a small tank, dosing can quickly change chemistry and cause spikes. Just test and test again. Your tank is doing great.

My calcium is usually 380. So I should dose the B at night and the A in the morning maybe before work?

My calcium is always pretty much always 380-420 depending on the time of day and how close to a water change I'm at. I do a 5 gallon water change every Saturday.

Do answer your question direct I have seen spikes all the way to 480 after dosing.

 

[Bige]

I would do alk at night and calcium in morning. Which ever letter goes with what. I would also test daily until the process is under control. A spike of 480 isn't bad but a alk spike of the same increase might be. With my part a b dosing, I have to add 2 to 1 ratio. 2 parts alk to 1 part calcium. But I only need to add it every 3 days or so. But if I wait for wate change it seems to keep things more stable. Just my experience. And I use bright wells a b solution.

 

[Convict2161]

I would do alk at night and calcium in morning. Which ever letter goes with what. I would also test daily until the process is under control. A spike of 480 isn't bad but a alk spike of the same increase might be. With my part a b dosing, I have to add 2 to 1 ratio. 2 parts alk to 1 part calcium. But I only need to add it every 3 days or so. But if I wait for wate change it seems to keep things more stable. Just my experience. And I use bright wells a b solution.

Thanks for all the info. I'll try it that way and see what happens.

 

[Therealgijoe]

The reason it started snowing is because u added to much to fast. It actually causes the alkalinity or calcium to instantly harden. If u have to I would dose more than one time furring the day. U don't want to raise the alkalinity by more than two at one single dose. Calcium is a little less touchy like that so u can jump it up about 80 per dose and it won't solidify.

 

[Schism]

Never dose calcium or alk without checking magnesium. They are all linked together. If magnesium is too low you can begin to overdose calcium and precipitation can occurs.

This is a major issue if not paid attention too. Salifert mag test kit is good. It is a little pricey like other mag test kits but you will not need to test it often. Should usually be between 1280-1500ppm anything lower can cause problems when dosing and testing alk/calcium.

Just so you know. Way more information on this if you do google search. Magnesium is very important in its relationship with calcium and alk.