Alkalinity precipitation

[Lance]

Originally Posted by chris121277

I'm using soda ash as well.....and no matter how slowly I add it to the sump the same thing happens.....what I've discovered it that if I dump in the return section (as it has the highest flow) it snows in there but after getting chopped up in the return pump I don't see anything in the display.

+1 The BRS soda ash is really bad for precip.
It's by a Drew's Doser to the return section of the sump, where I had to add an MJ 900 to move the water around enough to stop precipitate.

[marie]

I just dump it in front of a powerhead in the display tank by the cupful, I've never had any precipitate......although come to think of it, it is in the morning when the lights are off maybe I just don't see it

[Myka]

Why are you using Soda Ash anyway? That stuff is a PITA.

[christyf5]

Originally Posted by Myka

Why are you using Soda Ash anyway? That stuff is a PITA.

LOL I know but I thought maybe I was doing something wrong when I was just baking the baking soda. I thought the prepared stuff might be better. Turns out it really IS a PITA

[christyf5]

Thanks everyone, I think I might just run it into my skimmer effluent, theres lots of turbulence there. If it doesn't pile up in the sump then thats good, if it does, this stuff is getting the old heave ho.

[ALang]

Pretty normal for that to happen.
I use the dosing pumps to drop into the return part of the sump. That way it gets swirled into the pump and I don't ever see it in the DT.
But when I dose manually I always see precip. Just need to use a small pwr head to mix or manually mix with small cup. It clears up quickly once stirred.