Bingo1213 Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 I have a quick question. What would cause almost all the alkalinity to precipitate out of a new batch if saltwater? I mixed up this batch a few days ago and went to use it and realized it was all cloudy and dusty. So I tested the alk and it was only 1.8 dkh. How can this be??? I used the same rodi filter I always use and my same trash can and mixing pump and heater. The only difference is that I used tropic Marin in stead of IO. Could it be bad salt? I'm making more rodi water now but I need to figure out how to not make this happen again. Thanks! Link to comment
rhodium Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 It seems to me that the most likely precipitate would be carbonates of Ca and Mg. This could easily happen if the pH gets high enough, since the hydrogen carbonate (bicarbonate) ion becomes deprotonated and allows the carbonate ion to pair up with both Ca and Mg to form the quite insoluble carbonates. Any idea what the pH was of the water you made up? Link to comment
Markburns43 Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 What salt are you using? I cant let my salt sit for that long unless i use a power head other wise it gets cloudy and tanish dust sits on the bottom assuming same thing happens. Red sea pro btw Link to comment
Bingo1213 Posted July 21, 2015 Author Share Posted July 21, 2015 I used tropic Marin salt which this was the first time I used it. I usually just use instant ocean. The ph is only 8.2 which doesn't dxplain the low alk. I just used a test solution to make sure it wasn't my alk test kit and it's not. I'm gonna test calcium now. Also I always leave a power head or air stone in the trash can to keep it fresh. Link to comment
Bingo1213 Posted July 21, 2015 Author Share Posted July 21, 2015 I just tested the water and here are all the results: Ph 8.2 Alk 1.8dkh Calcium 275 Magnesium 860 Salinity 1.025 Link to comment
gus6464 Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 The low mag is the culprit. Maybe you just got a bad batch of salt. Link to comment
Markburns43 Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Is it a buckett maybe mix it up it could have settled or is it the boxed version? Link to comment
Bingo1213 Posted July 21, 2015 Author Share Posted July 21, 2015 It was the boxed version I didn't buy much in case I didn't like it. I'll try my left over instant ocean today I guess. Any ideas why the alk was so low? Link to comment
Markburns43 Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Have you mixednsome freshbreally stir uo thenhox and then mix some and see again if itsnthe samenyou gotna badnbox that's a really good salt well exp anyways Link to comment
spinycheek Posted July 31, 2015 Share Posted July 31, 2015 Throw some epsom salt (Magnesium sulfate) or magnesium chloride in the water first (make sure it's dissolved), then add your salt. The magnesium being in there will prevent the precipitation. Sometimes the calcium and alk components dissolve and precipitate out before the magnesium is dissolved. Plus you get an extra boost of magnesium which is always nice Link to comment
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