White spots on my live rock - Calcium Buildup?

[pammy]

Hey all.

My tank has been up and running for 6 months. Calcium wasn't getting above 340 (Magnesium is 1200 - Salifert test kits). I wanted to avoid dosing anything so tried switched salts after about 4 months from Tropic Marin to Reef Crystals, but didn't see any increase, so finally bought some Seachem Advantage Calcium and Magnesium. I dosed the Calcium only, twice a week for two weeks (1.25 tsp for 60gallon total volume), and also at a waterchange, and calcium is now at 395 which I'm happy with. Magnesium was still at 1200, so I dosed that twice last week per instructions, but haven't retested yet. All of a sudden, there are some whitespots in the nooks and crannies on top of some of the live rock. Almost looks like it snowed on it. Not covering it, but just pockets of it. It doesn't blow off with a turkey baster. Is this normal when you add calcium? Does it go away, or signal a problem?

Just fyi...the rest of my parameters.... Nitrites, Nitrates, Ammonia, and Phosphates all zero. PH 8.0 lights off / 8.25 lights on.
Alk is low.... 2.5 . Salinity 1.026 Temp - 80f. RO/DI water.

Also, now that I have my calcium where I want it, I know I'll probably have to probably just experiment, but are there chances I can just add a dose of calcium with waterchanges, or am I most likely going to end up dosing twice a week. I have LPS and Soft corals only. One rock with about 8 mushrooms, some zoos, sun coral, aussie duncan, 1 crocea clam, two feather dusters, 5 fish.
Tank is 53 gallons with a 7 gallon sump.

Thanks, Pam

[lReef lKeeper]

so you did not notice a calcium increase when you used reef crystals ?? hmmm ... that is SUPPOSE to have a higher calcium content than reg. IO.

i use Red Sea Coral Pro and my calcium stays between 450 and 480 (i have a SPS tank) without dosing anything. i would be careful when changing salts AND dosing supplements. i would stay with the Reef Crystals and do larger water changes until you think that you have switched out all of the water in the system, THEN check the calcium level. i am thinking that your WC's are not large enough to change your parameters enough to detect the changes. i would do these partials over a 4 week period ...

week 1 - 30%
week 2 - 30%
week 3 - 30%
week 4 - 30%

i know that is 120%, but it pretty much insures that you have changed out all of the water. FWIW, Tropic Marine salt came in dead last in a salt study done by a well known author and hobbyist last year. the test results have not been released yet, but they are coming out as soon as he has a little free time to write them up.

[CarmieJo]

Hi Pam

Overdosing Ca can cause a white precipitate but that will blow off the rocks. I sometimes get white spots that I think are bleached areas of coralline. They seem to appear for no reason at all and disappear without any intervention from me.

[pammy]

Thanks Bobby. I only did about 6 waterchanges since I switched salts, but really didn't notice the calcium come up. Maybe now that I have the Calcium up to 395, maybe the Reef Crystals will contain enough Calcium to keep it at that level.

Interesting about your comment about the Tropic Marin. I bought Tropic Marin to begin with, because two LFS' told me it was the best salt on the market. A lot of reefers on the forums seem to agree, but I really didn't want to start dosing if I didn't have to. I had read that Reef Crystals was a good salt, so decided to try that, even though I still have 1/2 bucket of Tropic Marin. I've been hearing about that report and am anxious to read it when it comes out.

Thanks again.
Pam

[pammy]

Good to know Carmie! By the way, enjoying listening to you on the podcast.
Thanks, Pam

[rroselavy]

Originally Posted by lReef lKeeper

i use Red Sea Coral Pro and my calcium stays between 450 and 480 (i have a SPS tank) without dosing anything. i would be careful when changing salts AND dosing supplements. i would stay with the Reef Crystals and do larger water changes until you think that you have switched out all of the water in the system, THEN check the calcium level.

Sorry to come to this thread late, but I've been using Reef Crystals since the inception of my tank and the Ca has not been above 370 before I started dosing. My initial batches of SW were even a bit high in salinity (1.027 on Salifert). It is interesting that you have measured so high without dosing. I'll have to double check my Alk and my vat to make sure I am not precipitating the Ca out before it reaches the tank...

Shouldn't Pam get her Alk level up to avoid precipitation?

[CarmieJo]

I would push the alk up a little but 2.5 is at the bottom of normal scale so I don't think it is an immediate concern. Here is an srticle that you might be interested in. FishGeeks :: Tropical fish - Marine Fish - Aquarium Fish - Pond Fish - Aquatic Plants