Snowstorm

[johngeb]

Could somebody tell me what a "Snowstorm" means in a reeftank. I have heard that in Calcium problems they refer to a Snowstorm.

I been having a snowlike affect on my blue coralline and wondering if this is the Snowstorm affect that some people refer to.

Thanks

 

[mountainbiker619]

I think what they are talking about is when you add a two part additive, such as B-Ionic. When you pour in the first part, Alk, if it is not added into a strong water current, it will turn into snow flake looking particles.

 

[Anonymous]

Another common snowstorm is a new tank with sugar sized sand. Southdown or Caribbean Aragonite oolitic sand are good examples. When adding water for the first time, you will almost certainly stir the sand up and it will remain suspended for days, perhaps a couple weeks. At least until is gets a coating of bacteria on it.

In established tanks when you stir the sand, it settles within minutes usually. Lots of beginers panic when the water doesn't clear right away.

You can minimize a snowstorm by setting the bags your sand came in on top on the sand and placing plates on them. Then carefully adding water by running it on the plates. Once full, remove the plates and let the bags slowly surface. Any water movement in the first few weeks may stir the sand up, so you will want to be careful.

 

[ChrisRD]

Could somebody tell me what a "Snowstorm" means in a reeftank. I have heard that in Calcium problems they refer to a Snowstorm.

When tank water reaches a saturation point of calcium and alkalinity, it's possibly to experience a sudden precipitation out of solution. That is what is referred to as a "snowstorm".

 

[Anonymous]

Here you go, an article about snow:

http://www.reefs.org/library/article/harker_toonen.html

 

[saltnmyeye]

one way you can prevent this cloud, is to go to your neighborhood dollor store, and purchase, for a buck a silverware holder which holds washed utensils. Some come with suction cups and have holes in them on the side.Stick it to the side of your tank, (inside), and when you pour the water in the bottom of the apparatus breaks the flow of water, keeping it from stirring the water on the bottom of the tank, and the holes in the side let the water flow smoothly into your tank

 

[tmc]

I think what they are talking about is when you add a two part additive, such as B-Ionic. When you pour in the first part, Alk, if it is not added into a strong water current, it will turn into snow flake looking particles.

how would you fix this, not from having happening again but to get it to go away now


thanks tmc

 

[ChrisRD]

Hi tmc, and :welcome:

If you've had a precipitation event, there's really no way to reverse it. Just give the tank some time to stabilize - a large water change or two will help get things back on track.