White Sludge in water mixing can.

[rottielover]

I would have thought I could find info on the internet about this, but I'm probably searching the wrong keywords.

This is probably me being a dumb@ss again, but...

This last batch of SW that I mixed got REAL cloudy, and it never settled, so I unplugged the heater and powerhead and let it sit a couple days... Now in the can I have this thick, sticky, white sludge stuff. I'm guessing that I did something wrong yet again

I scrapped this batch of water, took the trashcan out and hosed it out... but I don't want to make the same mistake again. What did I do wrong, and what was this white stuff?

RO/DI water from a Kent Maxxima 24gpd unit (TDS reading on product water = 7 ) IO (instant Ocean) salt mix, SeaChem Marine Buffer, SeaChem Reef Advantage Calcium. 32 Gal Brute can, I used the buffer to raise the hardness and I can't remember how much advantage calcium, but I remember I tested the IO after mixing and the calc level was low, so I added the reef advatange to the water to bring the calc up to 400ppm... Maybe it was too much to fast??

[1979camaro]

sounds like undisolved salt to me...are you using a new brand of salt mix, perhaps?

ive found that "Red Sea" is a pain in the arse and often leaves a sludge at the bottom no matter how long i mix...

[Geoff]

yea, what brand of salt are you using? what order did you add the salt? it is best to add the salt to the water not the other way around. you also need to add it slowly so that it will not clump and cause sludging to occur.

G~

[rottielover]

I'm using Instant Ocean, I add the salt to the full can of water after I already start the power head one 1/2 cup at a time until I get to ~1.025 SG. After I'm done adding the salt I put a few measures of Marine Buffer in.

I thought maybe the sluge could be calcium carbonate ? that I was adding too much calcium and bicarbonate too fast and it precipitated out? I ask because the "sludge" wasn't disolved by fresh water when I hosed out the can, the white stuff just flowed on down the driveway and down the sewer and never dissolved.

[SPANKYSREEF]

I find that some salt mix require a bit warmer water themn others to completely disolve. If the water is too cold the salt just clumps and settles at the bottom...HTH.....Anthony