Ohio Reef

Reef Discussion => Water Chemistry => Topic started by: Wall_Tank on April 03, 2013, 20:20:55

Title: accidentally mixed 2 part
Post by: Wall_Tank on April 03, 2013, 20:20:55

If I mixed my alk with a little of the ca in the storage containers, does this ruin the mix?

Title: Re: accidentally mixed 2 part
Post by: Steve on April 03, 2013, 20:55:42

I think it would depend on how much CA is a little. I know when I used Seachem Reef Builder for alk it had a small amount of cal chloride if I remember correctly.

Title: Re: accidentally mixed 2 part
Post by: Wall_Tank on April 03, 2013, 21:09:36

There was probably a cup of CA solution in the gallon jug.....poured in the alk to top it off, instead of using the CA.

The solution did foam a little.....

Title: Re: accidentally mixed 2 part
Post by: Steve on April 03, 2013, 21:14:12

I am not a chemist but if it is already mixed in the jug and not causing any kind of chemical reaction, seems like it would be ok.

Title: Re: accidentally mixed 2 part
Post by: Ashlar on April 04, 2013, 10:57:37

Well, you probably ended up with some precipitate in the bottom of the jug, right? That's likely calcium carbonate, and it's now inert.

Your alk solution won't be as potent as it could be, so if you're dosing to maintain a certain alk, it will take more of this tainted solution.

It won't hurt anything, but if you've carefully tested to determine the optimum dose needed to keep your alk in line, you'll have to throw out that calculation and start over.

Were it me, and I was just using baked baking soda, I'd pitch the gallon and start over. Baking soda is cheap.

Title: Re: accidentally mixed 2 part
Post by: Wall_Tank on April 04, 2013, 11:18:03

Thanks for the feedback.

Title: Re: accidentally mixed 2 part
Post by: aquavista99 on April 04, 2013, 23:32:27

 I would pitch the gallon of two part and start over again as well. When it happens to me, the reaction is nasty...white cloud water and i just dump it.