How do I get rid of calcium deposits?

[tirtza]

I have a new tank (7 days old), and I have calcium deposits all over the glass, and I think (but not positive) all over my base rock as well.
The basics:
Tank size - 29 gal biocube
Type - 2 Damsel Fish with live rock
Status - Still cycling and I'm waiting for my live rock or live sand to start growing something (hopefully purple?) or spread something to my base rock.
Water perameters- pH = 8, Ammonia = 0, Nitrite = 0, Nitrate = 0
Salinity - 1.025
Temperature - 79
I was trying to buffer the water with Seachem Marine buffer and I got huge calcium buildup all over glass.
1.The question is how to raise the pH without turning the tank white from excess calcium buildup?
2. I think a pH of 8 isn't ideal...or is it okay if it's a fish/live rock only type of aquarium?
3. If there is is calcium build up on the base rock or live rock should I try to get it off, or just leave it alone?
bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">
4. Will the calcium build up hurt the two yellow tail Damsels in there?
5. I was advised to use a straight razor (very carefully so as not to scratch the glass) to get the stubborn calcium deposits off the inside glass of the aquarium. Is there any problem with this?
6. Can I scrape the calcium deposits off the sides with out harming my fish? They've been in the tank for only two days now, and I don't want to stress them out.
7. Would a protien skimmer help get all of the loose calcium particles out of the water once I start scraping it off, or will the filter take care of it?
Thanks for all of your help!!!
-Tirtza

 

[mxsnow145]

ok now 1st of all you if you are doing a fish only tank you dont really need calcium....
1. ok so to raise the pH you just get a ph buffer 8.2 or 8.3 and dont add much.
2. The generally accepted pH level in saltwater systems is between 7.6 and 8.4, but reef tanks are a bit more sensitive to pH and should be kept towards higher levels. so 8 is ok but you should aim for 8.2 or 8.3
3.i would just leave it alone once the tank cycles it will go away
4. no calcium build up will not hurt the two yellow tail Damsels (on a side note you should never cycle a tank with fish and if they die its not from the calcium) ; / ***check out this vid when you get a chance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttR-RO7nXUE
5. you can use a straight razor... but i would advise buying one just for fish tanks from you LFS (local fish store)
6. they should be ok b.c they are very hardy fish
7. you should always have a protein skimmer.... and yes it will help.
**** I hope this helps ;p

 

[flower]

Hello...welcome to the site.
I think I answered you on the cycle question....7 days..really?
Okay....when a brand new tank is set up..the saltwater mix at the right salty level, called SG..should be between 1.022 to 1.024, you don't need anything in the tank to raise PH or anything. And secondly.... PLEASE take the damsels back to the store and for the money, buy a book on starting a saltwater fish tank.... PLEASE, I'm begging you.
Take a paper towel and swipe it on the glass and swish water around to get any deposits off...and DO NOT ADD ANYTHING ELSE to your tank, leave it alone to cycle. Take the fish back to the store ASAP. You need patients to leave the tank alone and not putz with it. It is WAY to soon to be trying to play with the chemistry of the water, the tank has all kinds of changes it needs to go through first.
It seems to me you have so very much to learn, and we really want to help you. A tank with no fish will allow us time to get you through the basics and point you in the right direction so you willl have a healthy happy fish tank...Otherwise you will have everything you add to the tank die, and you land up swearing saltwater tanks are too hard to do.

 

[tirtza]

I found another discussion thread on 'thereeftank.com' http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f6/low-ph-and-alk-buffered-with-ca-precipitation-160648.html and the same thing happened to that person. The pH buffer in combination with something else (perhaps the salt water since the Kent salt mix has calcium already in it??) caused a huge calcium build up all over the glass. The calcium precipitation even covered the glass thermometer, and the glass heater. I was able to get the calcium off with a straight razor, it wasn't easy because the biocube has a couple of curved corners ( in those corners I just used a really rough pad used to clean algae off of glass), it wasn't easy cleaning off the calcium but it worked! I'm hoping the calcium precipitation won't hurt my live rock.
I'm definitely planning on buying a protein skimmer. I was thinking of getting the Oceanic Biocube protein skimmer since I know it'll fit well, but I've heard mixed reviews about it. What protein skimmer would you suggest? When is the right time to add the protein skimmer to the aquarium? After the cycle is complete or during?
Thanks for your help!

 

[saxman]

So, do you have Ca BUILDUP as in a hard film on panels or do you have Ca PRECIPITATION, which are simply loose particles all over everything?
Is the tank new, as in did you buy it new, or could the Ca/hard water marks be leftovers from a previous setup? In a week, there's no way the stuff could be built up on your glass already.

 

[tirtza]

I think it's Ca precipitation, however it did stick to the inside of the glass and create a film. I was able to remove the film using a straight razor. It's a brand new aquarium. I think I caused the Ca precipitation when I was adding a ph buffer each day to increase my ph. I stopped adding the buffer, and the problem has stopped.