white residue

[pokmingsheng]

hey guys..

i dont know if this is considered algae,

but i've been seeing a few layers of white residue on my tank wall here and there..

each time i scrub them off, after a few days they'll be back...

any idea whats the cause of it?

tested PO4, its 0..

turn my lights on around 7hrs a day..

running on 4tubes of T5, 2W2B..

[comycus]

hey guys..

i dont know if this is considered algae,

but i've been seeing a few layers of white residue on my tank wall here and there..

each time i scrub them off, after a few days they'll be back...

any idea whats the cause of it?

tested PO4, its 0..

turn my lights on around 7hrs a day..

running on 4tubes of T5, 2W2B..

could be calcium precipitation bro. how's your dk/kh and calcium levels?

[pokmingsheng]

could be calcium precipitation bro. how's your dk/kh and calcium levels?

oo.. quite high..

just checked...

around 460.. haha...

is too much harmful to corals?

[comycus]

oo.. quite high..

just checked...

around 460.. haha...

is too much harmful to corals?

460's on the high side. Did you overdose calcium recently? Check your alkalinity levels also. I suspect you might have v. low alkalinity levels, which might also affect ph. You can read more about it here: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

Corrections for Zone 4

Zone 4 problems are also a little harder to correct. It is typically caused by overdosing calcium RELATIVE to alkalinity, but does not necessarily imply that alkalinity is either to high or too low (though it is almost always too low). To correct problems in this zone, monitoring of calcium and alkalinity values during correction is especially important.

If this problem is extreme (i.e., you are far from the line at the left hand edge of zone 4), then water changes may be the best way to correct to the problem. In most cases, however, water changes aren’t necessary. If alkalinity were less than 4 meq/L (11 dKH; the most common situation in zone 4; shown in Figure 5), I would advise correcting this problem by adding an alkalinity supplement until you have moved into the target zone (or zone 1). For systems with a pH of 8.2 or above, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a good choice. For systems with a pH below 8.2, washing soda (sodium carbonate) is a good choice (though use some baking soda too if the correction is a large one and the pH gets too high; that is, above pH 8.5 or so).

[pokmingsheng]

460's on the high side. Did you overdose calcium recently? Check your alkalinity levels also. I suspect you might have v. low alkalinity levels, which might also affect ph. You can read more about it here: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/chem.htm

Corrections for Zone 4

Zone 4 problems are also a little harder to correct. It is typically caused by overdosing calcium RELATIVE to alkalinity, but does not necessarily imply that alkalinity is either to high or too low (though it is almost always too low). To correct problems in this zone, monitoring of calcium and alkalinity values during correction is especially important.

If this problem is extreme (i.e., you are far from the line at the left hand edge of zone 4), then water changes may be the best way to correct to the problem. In most cases, however, water changes aren’t necessary. If alkalinity were less than 4 meq/L (11 dKH; the most common situation in zone 4; shown in Figure 5), I would advise correcting this problem by adding an alkalinity supplement until you have moved into the target zone (or zone 1). For systems with a pH of 8.2 or above, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a good choice. For systems with a pH below 8.2, washing soda (sodium carbonate) is a good choice (though use some baking soda too if the correction is a large one and the pH gets too high; that is, above pH 8.5 or so).

hmmmm..

my calcium tend to always be on the high side,

even after water change...

as for alkalinity, i'm not very sure cos i didnt get the test kit for it...

but i've checked my PH throughout the day and it doesnt fluctuate much...

its either 8.0 or 8.1..

[comycus]

If your tank inhabitants are all happy with your parameters, then don't need to change anything. I still suggest testing for alkalinity though and adjust if needed. Calcium precipitation is just a waste of your calcium.

[pokmingsheng]

If your tank inhabitants are all happy with your parameters, then don't need to change anything. I still suggest testing for alkalinity though and adjust if needed. Calcium precipitation is just a waste of your calcium.

ok noted....

thanks for the advice