what exactly is a "snowstorm" and how do you prevent it?

[wasp9166]

ive seen it mentioned, just want to know how to prevent it from happening

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It usually only happens if you add too much limewater (kalkwasser) too fast. I've done that several times myself. You might cause it by adding some other high pH alkalinity supplement too fast as well.

[Boomer]

You can also get it if the ratio of atmospheric carbon dioxide to that in water becomes considerably less, which cause the rapid precipitation of carbonates. This seems to be a problem usually in tall tanks and is due to continuously adding for evaporated water, with a long time in between water changes. At least twice I have come home to such a cloud many years ago, where the tank was always crystal clear. One time it was so bad that the glass was heavily coated and it took quite awhile to clean it off with razor blades and muriatic acid