reefphish
03-15-2003, 04:12 AM
Hey all, set up my system over the past month and a bit. Ran into a problem and could use your input...
My setup...
2x 87 gallon tanks,
2x40 gallon plastic drums connected as sump,
play sand (silica)deep bed filters in sumps covered with coarse (aragonite based)sand.
1 tank shallow sand bed (2 inches) of coarse sand, main tank with 3 inches of SWC sugar sized aragonite sand.
The problem...
Although the tank has been running with water for about 2 weeks, didn't add salt until last week. (waiting for leaks and temperature to get past 68, this cold snap made it really cold in the basement)
Today, bought a cleaning magnet for the glass. The glass was looking filmy all week but didn't really think anything of it, assumed it was just loose silt from the sugar sand.
When I tried the magnet nothing came off the glass, so I dipped in my hand to try and rub away the film... argh! it was solid shower door grade, lime water deposit film. Then I noticed that the sugar sized sand actually had developed a crust!
Advice???
Any advice on how to clean up the glass fronts?? obviously need to drain tanks and wash down glass with vinegar or CLR to remove film from my Starfire glass, but open to any other suggestions.
My theory...
Running the system with freshwater for two weeks with the aragonite sand. the lower pH in the freshwater, dissolved Ca from the sand. When I mixed in the salt, the increase in pH, lead to the Ca precipitating out of the solution.
Any idea when it will stop?
Do I need to replace all the water???
thanks for any input!
ps.
Before anyone asks about pH... I don't know yet .... my brand spanking new pH monitor was shipped missing the 10 pH calibration solution, which I discovered this evening. Thought I was smart and went to local Mac store to buy some borax (and a slurpee) to come up with an alternate 9.x solution, but they don't carry it! (incidentally, here's a great link from Craig Bingman regarding borax and calibration: http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm/2000/feb/bio/default.asp
My setup...
2x 87 gallon tanks,
2x40 gallon plastic drums connected as sump,
play sand (silica)deep bed filters in sumps covered with coarse (aragonite based)sand.
1 tank shallow sand bed (2 inches) of coarse sand, main tank with 3 inches of SWC sugar sized aragonite sand.
The problem...
Although the tank has been running with water for about 2 weeks, didn't add salt until last week. (waiting for leaks and temperature to get past 68, this cold snap made it really cold in the basement)
Today, bought a cleaning magnet for the glass. The glass was looking filmy all week but didn't really think anything of it, assumed it was just loose silt from the sugar sand.
When I tried the magnet nothing came off the glass, so I dipped in my hand to try and rub away the film... argh! it was solid shower door grade, lime water deposit film. Then I noticed that the sugar sized sand actually had developed a crust!
Advice???
Any advice on how to clean up the glass fronts?? obviously need to drain tanks and wash down glass with vinegar or CLR to remove film from my Starfire glass, but open to any other suggestions.
My theory...
Running the system with freshwater for two weeks with the aragonite sand. the lower pH in the freshwater, dissolved Ca from the sand. When I mixed in the salt, the increase in pH, lead to the Ca precipitating out of the solution.
Any idea when it will stop?
Do I need to replace all the water???
thanks for any input!
ps.
Before anyone asks about pH... I don't know yet .... my brand spanking new pH monitor was shipped missing the 10 pH calibration solution, which I discovered this evening. Thought I was smart and went to local Mac store to buy some borax (and a slurpee) to come up with an alternate 9.x solution, but they don't carry it! (incidentally, here's a great link from Craig Bingman regarding borax and calibration: http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm/2000/feb/bio/default.asp