Precipitate in new tank???

[William L. Vanstralen]

Hello All,

I'm starting up a new tank: 55 gallons with 5 watts/gallon PC lighting.
I've just begun to mix up my salt when I've developed this white precipitate
on all the interior tank walls. Here's where I am in the salt-mixing:
Filled tank with tap water, treated with Tetra Aquasafe. Water is pretty
hard, from deep city wells, but is partially softened.
3 circulating pumps on.
Added slightly less Instant Ocean than I thought would be needed for 55
gallons.
Let it circulate 24 hours.
S.G. = 1.017. Added 2 cups Instant Ocean. Let circulate 24 hours.
S.G. = 1.019. Added 2 cups Instant Ocean. Let circulate 24 hours.
White haze! Looks almost like skim milk!
S.G. = 1.021. pH 8.4, alk > 360. Added 2 cups Instant Ocean. Letting it
circulate right now.

Any thoughts my learned friends? Will this clear on its own? Should I add
my live rock once the S.G. is 1.023 anyway?

Bill

[DrC]

Yes, that happened to me when I was starting up. I just wiped the
precipitate off the surfaces back into the water and after 24 - 48
hours it had disappeared. I put it down to buying cheap salt - bulked
out with Calcium Carbonate? I don't know.

David

[William L. Vanstralen]

Thanks David, I appreciate your prompt response. I will wipe it off back
into the tank and stop staring at it so intently!

Bill

"DrC" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Yes, that happened to me when I was starting up. I just wiped the
> precipitate off the surfaces back into the water and after 24 - 48
> hours it had disappeared. I put it down to buying cheap salt - bulked
> out with Calcium Carbonate? I don't know.
>
> David
>

[Wayne Sallee]

Also using hard tap water will cause such precipitate. But
good salt mixed with ro water should not do that.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



William L. Vanstralen wrote on 2/10/2006 10:38 PM:
> Thanks David, I appreciate your prompt response. I will wipe it off back
> into the tank and stop staring at it so intently!
>
> Bill
>
> "DrC" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>
>>Yes, that happened to me when I was starting up. I just wiped the
>>precipitate off the surfaces back into the water and after 24 - 48
>>hours it had disappeared. I put it down to buying cheap salt - bulked
>>out with Calcium Carbonate? I don't know.
>>
>>David
>>
>
>
>

[Boomer]

William

Your problem is right here if ;

" pH 8.4, alk > 360" ....if this is in ppm, 7.2 meq / l or 20 dKH.

Normalized seawater is 125 ppm, 2.5 meq / l or 7 dKH.

It sounds like you got a bad batch of salt with a high very Alk. We have seen this before.
That high alk and slightly high pH, coupled with a loss or without a loss of CO2, will
easily produce what you have seen. The carbonate ions will attach itself to a Calcium
ions and precip out CaCO3, the white stuff ( Calcium Carbonate / Calcite.). New tanks are
more prone to this, as there is very CO2 production to keep it in solution and it does not
take much to drive it off.

--
Boomer

If You See Me Running You Better Catch-Up

Former US Army Bomb Technician (EOD)
Member; IABTI, NATEODA, WEODF, ISEE & IPS

Want to talk chemistry ? The Reef Chemistry Forum
http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/index.php

Want to See More ! The Coral Realm
http://www.coralrealm.com



"William L. Vanstralen" > wrote in message
. ..
: Hello All,
:
: I'm starting up a new tank: 55 gallons with 5 watts/gallon PC lighting.
: I've just begun to mix up my salt when I've developed this white precipitate
: on all the interior tank walls. Here's where I am in the salt-mixing:
: Filled tank with tap water, treated with Tetra Aquasafe. Water is pretty
: hard, from deep city wells, but is partially softened.
: 3 circulating pumps on.
: Added slightly less Instant Ocean than I thought would be needed for 55
: gallons.
: Let it circulate 24 hours.
: S.G. = 1.017. Added 2 cups Instant Ocean. Let circulate 24 hours.
: S.G. = 1.019. Added 2 cups Instant Ocean. Let circulate 24 hours.
: White haze! Looks almost like skim milk!
: S.G. = 1.021. pH 8.4, alk > 360. Added 2 cups Instant Ocean. Letting it
: circulate right now.
:
: Any thoughts my learned friends? Will this clear on its own? Should I add
: my live rock once the S.G. is 1.023 anyway?
:
: Bill
:
:
:

[Boomer]

I forgot, your SG is to low, needs to be around 1.025- 1.026. With your issue the white
stuff will/may get even worse it you raise it now.

Second, who's Alk kit are you using ? Please do not say Red Sea ::-)

--
Boomer

If You See Me Running You Better Catch-Up

Former US Army Bomb Technician (EOD)
Member; IABTI, NATEODA, WEODF, ISEE & IPS

Want to talk chemistry ? The Reef Chemistry Forum
http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/index.php

Want to See More ! The Coral Realm
http://www.coralrealm.com



"William L. Vanstralen" > wrote in message
. ..
: Hello All,
:
: I'm starting up a new tank: 55 gallons with 5 watts/gallon PC lighting.
: I've just begun to mix up my salt when I've developed this white precipitate
: on all the interior tank walls. Here's where I am in the salt-mixing:
: Filled tank with tap water, treated with Tetra Aquasafe. Water is pretty
: hard, from deep city wells, but is partially softened.
: 3 circulating pumps on.
: Added slightly less Instant Ocean than I thought would be needed for 55
: gallons.
: Let it circulate 24 hours.
: S.G. = 1.017. Added 2 cups Instant Ocean. Let circulate 24 hours.
: S.G. = 1.019. Added 2 cups Instant Ocean. Let circulate 24 hours.
: White haze! Looks almost like skim milk!
: S.G. = 1.021. pH 8.4, alk > 360. Added 2 cups Instant Ocean. Letting it
: circulate right now.
:
: Any thoughts my learned friends? Will this clear on its own? Should I add
: my live rock once the S.G. is 1.023 anyway?
:
: Bill
:
:
:

[Wayne Sallee]

hehehe Red Sea is one manufacture that I don't want
anything from.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Boomer wrote on 2/13/2006 6:06 PM:
> I forgot, your SG is to low, needs to be around 1.025- 1.026. With your issue the white
> stuff will/may get even worse it you raise it now.
>
> Second, who's Alk kit are you using ? Please do not say Red Sea ::-)
>

[~Roy~]

Um........for the most part your right, however thier little 2 gal
pico wave tanks are super neat as are their 7 watt and 13 watt power
compact clip on lights, especially when you get them on closeout for
dirt cheap prices..........but their test kits, skimmers and other
products leave a lot to be desired......


On Mon, 13 Feb 2006 23:35:06 GMT, Wayne Sallee >
wrote:
>><>hehehe Red Sea is one manufacture that I don't want
>><>anything from.
>><>
>><>Wayne Sallee
>><>Wayne's Pets

>><>
>><>
>><>Boomer wrote on 2/13/2006 6:06 PM:
>><>> I forgot, your SG is to low, needs to be around 1.025- 1.026. With your issue the white
>><>> stuff will/may get even worse it you raise it now.
>><>>
>><>> Second, who's Alk kit are you using ? Please do not say Red Sea ::-)
>><>>

--
\\\|///
( @ @ )
-----------oOOo(_)oOOo---------------


oooO
---------( )----Oooo----------------
\ ( ( )
\_) ) /
(_/
The original frugal ponder ! Koi-ahoi mates....

[William L. Vanstralen]

Guys, it is a Red Sea alk test kit. Crap! This is all bungling up!

Bill

"Boomer" > wrote in message
...
>I forgot, your SG is to low, needs to be around 1.025- 1.026. With your
>issue the white
> stuff will/may get even worse it you raise it now.
>
> Second, who's Alk kit are you using ? Please do not say Red Sea ::-)
>
> --
> Boomer
>
> If You See Me Running You Better Catch-Up
>
> Former US Army Bomb Technician (EOD)
> Member; IABTI, NATEODA, WEODF, ISEE & IPS
>
> Want to talk chemistry ? The Reef Chemistry Forum
> http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/index.php
>
> Want to See More ! The Coral Realm
> http://www.coralrealm.com
>
>
>
> "William L. Vanstralen" > wrote in message
> . ..
> : Hello All,
> :
> : I'm starting up a new tank: 55 gallons with 5 watts/gallon PC lighting.
> : I've just begun to mix up my salt when I've developed this white
> precipitate
> : on all the interior tank walls. Here's where I am in the salt-mixing:
> : Filled tank with tap water, treated with Tetra Aquasafe. Water is
> pretty
> : hard, from deep city wells, but is partially softened.
> : 3 circulating pumps on.
> : Added slightly less Instant Ocean than I thought would be needed for 55
> : gallons.
> : Let it circulate 24 hours.
> : S.G. = 1.017. Added 2 cups Instant Ocean. Let circulate 24 hours.
> : S.G. = 1.019. Added 2 cups Instant Ocean. Let circulate 24 hours.
> : White haze! Looks almost like skim milk!
> : S.G. = 1.021. pH 8.4, alk > 360. Added 2 cups Instant Ocean. Letting it
> : circulate right now.
> :
> : Any thoughts my learned friends? Will this clear on its own? Should I
> add
> : my live rock once the S.G. is 1.023 anyway?
> :
> : Bill
> :
> :
> :
>
>