270 Gallon Rimless Peninsula Tank Miracles with fish room
- Thread starter kewadiak
- Start date
chemistry help switching salt
chemistry help switching salt
OK guys i need some help this is where i struggle in this hobby the chemistry aspect. I have decided to switch salt brands from tropic marin pro to instant ocean. Reason to switch from tropic marine pro is its expensive and i was slacking on my water changes. My new plan is to change out 50 gallons a week using instant ocean salt. whats the best way to make the switch changing parameters. My Total water volume is 380 Gallons
Current tank parameters Tropic marin pro
DKH 8.2
MG 1340
Cal 440
New salt just mixed 24 Hrs Instant ocean not Reef crystals
DKH 10.2
MG 1200
Cal 400
I do not dose my tank at all currently because i barley have any corals or coralline algae.
Do i dose the new saltwater in the mixing station
chemistry help switching salt
OK guys i need some help this is where i struggle in this hobby the chemistry aspect. I have decided to switch salt brands from tropic marin pro to instant ocean. Reason to switch from tropic marine pro is its expensive and i was slacking on my water changes. My new plan is to change out 50 gallons a week using instant ocean salt. whats the best way to make the switch changing parameters. My Total water volume is 380 Gallons
Current tank parameters Tropic marin pro
DKH 8.2
MG 1340
Cal 440
New salt just mixed 24 Hrs Instant ocean not Reef crystals
DKH 10.2
MG 1200
Cal 400
I do not dose my tank at all currently because i barley have any corals or coralline algae.
Do i dose the new saltwater in the mixing station
woodnaquanut
Active member
You might want to post this in the chemistry forum. Also do a search for articles and threads by Randy Holmes-Farley. He has a new article out (probably shouldn't link from here
) about Triton testing. He's also a IO user.knutrainer
New member
I love this set up you got going on.
I have been just checking my parameters every 2 weeks or so mainly just the alk is the only thing that changes very little. If I need to dose I just do it by hand I don't have any demand yet
Grayson84
New member
Awesome setup man, love the clean look. Was reading your post I have spent lots of time at Something Fishy. Did a big job out that way last year and use to stop at her shop couple times a week we don't have anything like that in Harrisburg. I too struggle with the Chem part but the switch I made was the opposite due inconsistent readings from Instant Ocean salt IMO Tropic Marin is much better but your right it hurts your wallet a little more def with those amounts of water change every week. Also I learned a easy lesson in the couple years I have been in the hobby is that salt mix stratifies so every time you get a new bucket box whatever get another clean container and pour it into that and back forth a couple times and mix it back up it it will help with more consistent readings and maybe higher levels I can't remember but I thought Instant Ocean was suppose to be 420 on the Calc. Also dosing with 2 part is going to cost you a fortune I know Calc reactor is a lot more pricey up front but will save you a ton in the long run on a system of that size plus they are just easier to use.
Anyways keep up the good work.
Cheers Dan
Anyways keep up the good work.
Cheers Dan
Grayson84
New member
I do the same thing when it comes to over complicating things. But whatever you do NOT get in a hurry to dump chemicals in your tank the biggest thing IMO above anything a reef needs is stability I have terrible patients to go along with my OCD but I crashed my tank twice with 2 part partially to blame I think was the stuff from BRS but thats a whole other rant LOL. It is possible that your over doing it with trying to over filter the water it does not look like you have a very high bio load so you may not need to be running PO4 reducers and maybe add a few more small fish I have read posts and heard of ppl having to dose a source of nitrate for a ULNS corals do need some nutrients to thrive and grow. By the look of your skimmer its pulling some really dark stuff I was always told to shoot for a "iced tea" color skimate so maybe you could tune your skimmer to run that water a little higher in the neck. If you are trying to only keep Softies and some LPS you shouldn't have to mess with chemicals a whole lot any way water changes will keep everything in check and keep the system more stable IMO. But believe me your not the only one that over thinks things my friend I am sure others will admit they do the same. You will not find the answers to everything all the time some things are trial and error and unfortunately in this hobby they can be expensive mistakes but I guess we all live and learn lol.
Oh by the way I am in no way a expert just offering a little friendly advice from the things I have learned since I have been throwing money in this hobby LOL
Dan,
Oh by the way I am in no way a expert just offering a little friendly advice from the things I have learned since I have been throwing money in this hobby LOL
Dan,
Does the green algae you have produce "bubbly snot" looking things? If so, probably dinos and I would stop doing water changes for a bit. Read up on them, you really have to wait them out. Considering your fish and coral load, weekly water changes shouldn't be needed.
I've read through your whole thread, nice build! I'm looking at on similar so I'll be following along!
I've read through your whole thread, nice build! I'm looking at on similar so I'll be following along!
Hey just wanted to show an update photo finally saved enough money for an ati power module led :spin3:
my algae is all gone did nothing really other then time it went away.
i also added a bio pellet reactor last week with doctors Tim's pearls.
for the first time ever i am going to attempt sps problem being living in northeast pa there is no where to get frags of sps that are good looking and thriving anyways. How do you guys feel about getting sps online any thoughts or advice there?
my algae is all gone did nothing really other then time it went away.
i also added a bio pellet reactor last week with doctors Tim's pearls.
for the first time ever i am going to attempt sps problem being living in northeast pa there is no where to get frags of sps that are good looking and thriving anyways. How do you guys feel about getting sps online any thoughts or advice there?
I just got some SPS from Vivid Aquariums last week that looked really good. They have a WYSIWYG section that has a picture of the exact coral you'll get. I'd definitely order from them again.
Marco rocks, i like them so far it took awhile to get rid of algae over a year but i did not acid wash the rocks or anything just rinsed and used
Hey thanks ill check them out just nervous i guess with shipping from cal to pa. Especially since the temperature is up.
