additives

[eeldarb21]

I am using alk. and calcuim as my additives for my two tanks.. should i add anything else to my cycling tank? When i add the alkalinity to my cycling tank it turns into snowflakes.. what does this mean? not enough calcium to stabilize? my established tank just turns milky then goes away in a few seconds... what's wrong? need more input.! thanks

 

[goldrush]

If I understand your post,You are adding a Part A and B System? I'm assuming that you get the "snowflakes" when you add Part A?If that is the case ,your water is probably way to hard.Have you checked Dkh?

 

[timo]

There was a post recently that went into great length about this. Goldrush is, as usual, correct, probably alkilinity is the issue here.

 

[eeldarb21]

i used tap water to fill up 55 gal tank originally... that was two weeks ago.. i am using ro/water for top off's. When time comes and levels are good and cycling is done should i do a large water change? or just 25%? thanks for the answers

 

[cadbury]

I think 25% is rather extreme, specially for a new tank. I would'nt do more than a 10 or 15% change. I usually do a 15% change in my 180, just my recommendation.

 

[broomer5]

I would not be adding alkalinity or calcium supplements to a cycling tank yet. Water chemistry is still unstable.
Especially pH
Continue to monitor ammonia, nitrite and nitrate and when the amm/nitrite is zero - consider doing the first water change.
I don't like to dose a new tank until several weeks after the initial cycle finishes - and things settle down.
There's no real reason to.