Calcium Precipitation

[DawnMichele]

Hi everyone. Hope your doing well. I recently added a piece of driftwood to my 72 gallon tank. I didn't like it so I took it out. I added purigen to help with the tannins. For some reason the calcium precipitation buildup is out of control. Did removing the driftwood cause it?

 

[duanes]

Tannis in hard water tend to make calcium preciptate faster., as the water acidifies, with the adidtion of tannins in the wood.
As opposed to adding purigen I would have just done a series of water changes after removing the chunk of wood to dilute the tannins.
Might take a half dozen water change, but in so doing you do not alter tthe normal tank waters equilibrium, like you do when addinga resin like purigen
What is your normal pH?
what is your normal alkalinity?
what is your normal/average hardness levels?
These are all factors that influense that happens when you alter a tanks equilibrium.

 

[duanes]

I forgot to ask.....
after you added the wood (beyond the tannin strain) did the normal pH of your tank change?

 

[DawnMichele]

Hi. I have to test the water. My bad.

 

[DawnMichele]

Hardness 300
Alkalinity 180
pH. 8.0

 

[duanes]

That's the kind of water that may get stained by a log, but the alkalinty totally resists change in pH.
In my 180 gal with very similar water parameters, and 3 or 4, five ft long logs, the water will temporarily turn brown

But pH will barelly drop a tenth.

 

[DawnMichele]

Is there anything I can do?

 

[phreeflow]

that is unfortunate, that was basically my last hope lol
the only thing thats helped is lids, i used to not run lids, and adding lids i think keeps evaporation to a minimum, im still cleaning the crust, but its not building up nearly as much

I agree with this. Come to think of it, it’s only my rimless tanks or tanks that have large openings that get massive crusty buildup. My tanks with tight fitting lids and less evaporation don’t have this issue. Is your angelfish tank rimless DawnMichele ?

 

[DawnMichele]

I agree with this. Come to think of it, it’s only my rimless tanks or tanks that have large openings that get massive crusty buildup. My tanks with tight fitting lids and less evaporation don’t have this issue. Is your angelfish tank rimless DawnMichele ?

Hello. I have a 72 gallon bow front. I have 2 small openings in the back where the heaters are.

 

[phreeflow]

Hello. I have a 72 gallon bow front. I have 2 small openings in the back where the heaters are.

Hmm…that is a mystery then. Odd why your angelfish tanks gets it but not the other.