I am using B-Ionic Calcium Buffer System component No. 1 Alkalinity and component No. 2 Calcium in both 55 and 180 gallon tanks. Normally, No. 1 turns the water cloudy briefly then I add No. 2. Starting yesterday, when I add No. 1 it turns lumpy and or clings to the algea. Is something wrong??? PH is 7.95 for both tanks.
I add one ml of each component per 4 gallons of water daily. In the 180 gallon tank I add it to the wet/dry on the pump side. In the 55 gallon I slowly add it in front of the power heads.
If you read on component one you need to shake it up well before using (I do believe) and it is prone to collecting precipitate on the bottom of the container. If you are forming precipitate they have suggestions on how to use warm/hot water to turn it back into a liquid in the container.
I don't know if that is causing the problem you are having as I've never had this happen the couple of times that I have used it.. However mine is old, came with my setup and has large amounts of precipitate on the bottom that I had to take care of before using.
I would think though that if part of it is turning into crystals it would cause the component to change in chemical structure.. Is yours forming crystals?
Did they use liquid tests and specifically test for alk? I'm betting your alk is a little high as well. Another issue sometimes it the salt mix. Sometimes the Mg will throw it off. Personally I've had luck not dosing yet and hope not to even when I get more SPS and a clam or two.
We were told by the fish store to use these liquids to help feed and enhance the color of the figi rock. Not sure what you mean by liquid test. I believe it is a liquid test and they test I believe everything.
Unfortunately I think your LFS was just trying to make a little extra money. Do you have your own test kits? Did they at least give you the numbers to all the tests they ran? And I doubt they ran a test for everything. They might have, I just doubt it.
I do not know the numbers off hand. I just know they said it looked good. The tank is a year old, but we just brought it from someone and moved it 3 weeks ago. Will get a sample done over the weekend.
