The last couple days I noticed my tank consuming more alk and calcium. Chalked it up to a pH increase due to changing my CO2 scrubber and corals which have been exploding lately. So I just tuned my dose up to compensate - no big deal with my apex I can just do that remotely without going downstairs to the pump itself.
Well, this evening I went downstairs to dose some trace elements and there is a mountain of white precipitate streaming down the side of my sump on the inside. It seems my 2-part dosing lines got crossed or possible just one of the 2-parts was streaming down the side every time the pump ran. So it has built up over time with droplets, almost like stalagmite in a cave!
I’ve adjusted the lines, but now I’m not sure what to do about this giant mound of precipitate stuck to the inside of my sump. I’m afraid if I disturb it, its going to crumble and go into the water, nuking my tank.
I suppose the first unknown to solve is the identity. I run Calcium Chloride and NaOH as my 2-part components - so it could theoretically be pure solid NaOH (lye), calcium chloride, calcium hydroxide, or even just sodium chloride. I’m leaning towards one of the caustic compounds because it seems to have partially melted the acrylic inside of my sump
I’m thinking the safest option is to shut down the return pump, try to remove the precipitate carefully, then test parameters in the sump water to see if I need to change it or not. Thoughts?
Well, this evening I went downstairs to dose some trace elements and there is a mountain of white precipitate streaming down the side of my sump on the inside. It seems my 2-part dosing lines got crossed or possible just one of the 2-parts was streaming down the side every time the pump ran. So it has built up over time with droplets, almost like stalagmite in a cave!
I’ve adjusted the lines, but now I’m not sure what to do about this giant mound of precipitate stuck to the inside of my sump. I’m afraid if I disturb it, its going to crumble and go into the water, nuking my tank.
I suppose the first unknown to solve is the identity. I run Calcium Chloride and NaOH as my 2-part components - so it could theoretically be pure solid NaOH (lye), calcium chloride, calcium hydroxide, or even just sodium chloride. I’m leaning towards one of the caustic compounds because it seems to have partially melted the acrylic inside of my sump
I’m thinking the safest option is to shut down the return pump, try to remove the precipitate carefully, then test parameters in the sump water to see if I need to change it or not. Thoughts?
