Help: mixing water

[Coleus]

I know exactly what i need to dose to bring all parameters up. If i dose after the salt mix then i get even more precipitation :-(

[burrows14]

how long are you leaving between dosing and adding salt?

[burrows14]

also what color is the precipitaion and how long do you let everything mix together before adding it to your system?

[Coleus]

Originally Posted by burrows14

how long are you leaving between dosing and adding salt?

24 hours between dosing and adding salt

then another 24 hours before adding to the tank

The color is white or greyish

[burrows14]

Whats the alk at? I know if my alk is on the low side and I add calcium I get a snow storm in my tank kinda like what your describing

[Coleus]

after adding the salt, my alk is 10

[kien]

I thought reef crystals had high(ish) levels of calcium and magnesium? Isn't that why it is more expensive than Regular IO?

Anyway, these days I dont dose my new salt water (I dose my main tank) but after mixing my heater and the inside if the mixing drum is coated with a fine white/brown powdery substance. I read that this is normal with regular IO. Not sure if it is the same as your powdery substance tho. It has been like that for me for a long long time. Doesn't seem to affect anything and I just accept it :-)

[Coleus]

well, i tested it serveral times with several different buckets of reef crystals and they are not any near what they claim on the bucket label so I have to dose to bring it to match with my tank params

I am experiencing the white/brown coating just like you do. It is not affecting anything but i have to clean the container and heater after mixing water which sucks