Consequences of calcium carbonate precipitation?

[blaze422]

I've been using a saturated kalkwasser mix as a top-off for evaporation.(2 gallons/day) An epiphany...actually reading an aricle by Randy concerning using a diluted mix...has caused me to realize that I am looking at precip "snow-flakes" in my tank. (my ph probe needs a new battery) I will obviously cut down on the concentration...but was wondering will the precipitate eventually disolve. Any consequences of the precip?...anything I need to do? TIA

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

There is some cloudiness when limewater hits seawater that is the short term precipitation of magnesium hydroxide. That material redissolves as it mixes in and the local pH drops. Could that be what you mean?

At large limewater overdoses, the whole tank can go milky. That is a true snowstorm of CaCO3 precipitation. Usually there are no lasting effects if the pH came back down fairly quickly (below 8.5-8.6). Such particles disappear from view over a few days, but I do not believe that they dissolve since tank water is supersaturated with respect to calcium carbonate.

[blaze422]

I am not seeing milky cloudiness, but flakes of white 1-2mm...looks like stuff that carbon should take out...any idea what this precipitate is? ...parameter are normal altho I only test for alk, CA++, salinity, and nitrate/nitrites..TIA

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Does it happen right where the limewater hits the tank, or all over?

Does it dissolve if you stir it up?

[blaze422]

not sure...will check Thanks for your patience....

[blaze422]

does not appear to precipitate when drop hits water.
doesn't appear to disolve...altho the flakes a few/small and hard to really make out

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I wouldn't worry about a few small flakes. They are most likely CaCO3, but might be other things. :)

[blaze422]

thanks ...

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Happy reefing. :)