Toby Flenderson Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 I dose 2 part from BRS in my system and accidentally let the alk solution run out. Over the course of a day my alk dropped from 9 to 6. I used the reef calculator and have been adding extra to get back up to 9 but it doesn't want to go over 8. I decided to give an extra quarter cup dose last night and after 15 minutes the water was so milky you could not see tough it. Checked this morning and everything's fine but there is a white hard film on all the glass surfaces. Anyone have any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islandoftiki Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 What is your Calc and Mag, and are you 100% confident about your ALK test kit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby Flenderson Posted October 3, 2012 Author Share Posted October 3, 2012 Havnt tested mag, I've never had to dose magnesium before. It never drops. The calcium I tested on Saturday. It was 430. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islandoftiki Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 It sounds like you were getting some precipitation, maybe your test kit is wacky? If you want to double check against mine, you could bring a water sample over tonight and we'll run it with my kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby Flenderson Posted October 3, 2012 Author Share Posted October 3, 2012 I'm using the elos kit which I'm almost out of. I think I'm going to run over to swf to get another kit and maybe I'll have them run some tests too while I'm there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islandoftiki Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 The fact that you're getting precipitation makes me think one of your test kits might be off. I'd want a second opinion on Alk, Calc and Mag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby Flenderson Posted October 3, 2012 Author Share Posted October 3, 2012 Agreed. But I think that me over dosing alk is what caused the precipitation. I just don't know how to balance everything out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islandoftiki Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 How many gallons are we talking about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVPaquatics Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 To do large raises I use 75% sodium bicarbonate and 25% sodium carbonate. This will allow you to raise it more at a time without the pH increases and precipitate issues that you get from using sodium carbonate by itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVPaquatics Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 Agreed. But I think that me over dosing alk is what caused the precipitation. I just don't know how to balance everything out. Its the carbonate that is the issue. Bicarbonate wont do that. Use majority of bicarbonate to do the increase and use a little carbonate to keep the pH stable (bicarbonate will lower it maybe .1-.2 pH points but a little carbonate will bump it back up) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islandoftiki Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 I was just thinking, if you want to do a quick test of your kit, mix up some fresh saltwater and test that. See if the alk reading on the new saltwater is plausible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby Flenderson Posted October 3, 2012 Author Share Posted October 3, 2012 Man, busy day. Needless to say i never made it to Saltwater fanta seas, let alone lunch. Anyway im certain the alk test is correct because im have 2 differnt bottles i tested from. Both are about an 1/8th full. Now that the tank has had time to stabilize i will test when i get home. Another factor is that its been awhile since i adjusted my doser. I should run bank 3 in a cup at the same schedule and see exactly how many ml of solution im pumping in the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby Flenderson Posted October 4, 2012 Author Share Posted October 4, 2012 Tested alk and ca tonight with multiple test kits. Alk 7, ca 350. I'm wondering if my dosing pumps were clogged or somthing because I cleaned everything and I measured out my daily amount and I am dosing 245 ml of each 2 part. Seems like a lot. My total system volume is 150 gallons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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