B-Ionic ESV

[jumpfrog]

I've been puzzled by something for some time. Maybe someone has an explanation.
I use 2 part as I don't have any calcium hungry animals and do regular water changes.
Latest readings for calc 480 and alk 11-12.
Sometimes when I add the 2 part I get a nice cloud. Other times it seems to instantly turn to a cloud of snow flakes.
Is it that I'm on the edge of what this product can do and it's precipitating?
Any other thoughts?
TIA

 

[hkdonreefs]

That is whats happening. Alk and cal are closely tied together. The higher your alk. the less cal will dissolve in your water. wetwebmedia.com has an excellent article on this.

 

[jumpfrog]

Thanks, I'll beam over there and learn more.
Any recommendations on dosing then? Perhaps eliminate dosing for a few days and see if there is a shift in my readings and then create a schedule of dosing to keep it constant?

 

[thegrog]

If you don't have any calcium demanding animals, you really don't need to dose. Regular water changes will keep your calcium where it needs to be.

 

[jumpfrog]

Thegrog;
Thanks. The more research I'm doing on this the more I'm buying into the overall concept of testing then adding.
I think I'll track the readings over a period time and see what my ca consumption really is and go from there.
Cheers