A couple of questions.

[mercuryxs]

I have a 40 gal tank with proten skimmer and eheim canister.
I have been doing 10% WC's every 2 weeks is this to much? not enough? I have read where the more water changes you do the less there is to supplement is this true. One more question is there a predominately better brand of salt I should be using? I am using instany ocean currently.

 

[gflat65]

Ahh mixed questions. I'm not the best to reply, since I'm really bad about water changes (every couple of months, if I get around to it-that's about to change), but 10% every two weeks isn't too much.

You should be adding trace elements back more often with more frequent water changes, but you have to start watching alk and Ca. Different salts have high or low alk and Ca, so too many water changes with a high alk salt could create problems, if you aren't checking alk and Ca regularly. There's always some sort of give and take.

As for brands, I've used IO for over a decade and have only ever used Reef Crystals as an alternate (had more problems with it dissolving). This was 12 years ago and I haven't run it since, so things may have changed.

 

[jrobison]

i think the best place to look/read for advice about tank maintenance and any other aquarium topic is on wetwebmedia.com, Bob Fenner is definitely an expert on most topics, his book "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" is great, I think they may have just released a revised edition, definitely worth the money. good luck

 

[8BALL_99]

Most consider 10% a month the standard. Nothing wrong with changing more water or changing it more often. If you do monthly 10% water changes then for the most part the only things you should have to dose is CA, ALK, MG. Fresh saltwater will help, but trying to maintain those with nothing but water changes in a reef isn't very practical.

Instant ocean is ok.. It has lower levels of CA ALK and MG then alot of other salts. Reef Crystals is made by the same company and has higher levels those big three plus other trace elements. To give you and idea a fresh batch of instant ocean has a CA of around 350 vs Reef crystals 420 or so. Doesn't really make IO bad just means you would probably want to raise both the CA and ALK of your new Saltwater. IMO saving a few bucks on IO just to have to turn around and take the time and money to boost the levels isn't worth the trouble, well for me anyway.
Seachem Reef salt is said to be a good salt also. I myself use Reef Crystals and I've been happy with it..

 

[atlantisaquari]

instant ocean salt (and many others for that mattter) has been designed for use with basic tap water which has an average calcium level of 100 ppm. which is why it would read really low if used with ro/di type water. kent makes a product called osmo prep that reconstitutes ro/di for use with these salts.

 

[mercuryxs]

Thanks for the info

Thanks for the info

Since I have a 40gal its easy to do WC's so I wanted to make sure I wasnt over doing it.