A General Guide to Salt Mixes

[NotSure]

I'm having issues with red sea coral pro salt. I bought this pale of it roughly a month ago and since then I've been battling with my mg tests. It's not my test kit because my local fish store also gets these readings. I'm having to dose the crap out of it to keep it within spec. So today I figured that instead of testing the tank water, I would mix up a fresh batch of ro/di water, add salt to 1.023 salinity, then run a mg test. It was just under 900! No where close to 1300! This of course is probably why my other tests are off. Maybe I have a bad batch of salt? This is my first time using this salt and so far I'm not impressed with it.

No other tests were done in this water. I do have tests from my aquarium water for calcium and alk. Calcium hovers around 500, alk is in the low 4.x range.

 

[Linkblaze]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13041234#post13041234 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
Dana, you alk and mag numbers are right on. I suspect you have a bad calcium kit or testing error.

I ran this at work on an instrument we use to measure Ca in blood. I had to do a 10X dilution to get a result of 47.9 mg/dL. It also gave me a Mg result of 138.8 mg/dL at a 20X dilution. Multiplying these results by 10 will give results in mg/L that we use in the aquarium hobby.

Since the instrument isn't really meant to give results in this range I would think they are suspect, but ballpark is probably reasonable. I'm definetly leaning towards the direction of thinking my Ca is in the high 400's to low 500's.

 

[Billybeau1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13043589#post13043589 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NotSure
I'm having issues with red sea coral pro salt. I bought this pale of it roughly a month ago and since then I've been battling with my mg tests. It's not my test kit because my local fish store also gets these readings. I'm having to dose the crap out of it to keep it within spec. So today I figured that instead of testing the tank water, I would mix up a fresh batch of ro/di water, add salt to 1.023 salinity, then run a mg test. It was just under 900! No where close to 1300! This of course is probably why my other tests are off. Maybe I have a bad batch of salt? This is my first time using this salt and so far I'm not impressed with it.

No other tests were done in this water. I do have tests from my aquarium water for calcium and alk. Calcium hovers around 500, alk is in the low 4.x range.

You can not expect 1300 ppm of magnesium at 1.023

My numbers are posted at 1.0264 or 35 ppt

There is a direct correlation between specific gravity and the amount of calcium and magnesium you can expect.

1300 div by 26.5 is about 49 ppm. 49 x 3.5 is 171.5 ppm. 1300 minus 171.5 is 1128 ppm or so.

Add to that a little test kit noise and bingo.

Same thing applies to calcium only calcium test kits have less test noise.

I would mix a batch at 1.0264 and test again. Lets see what you get.

 

[Billybeau1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13044660#post13044660 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Linkblaze
I ran this at work on an instrument we use to measure Ca in blood. I had to do a 10X dilution to get a result of 47.9 mg/dL. It also gave me a Mg result of 138.8 mg/dL at a 20X dilution. Multiplying these results by 10 will give results in mg/L that we use in the aquarium hobby.

Since the instrument isn't really meant to give results in this range I would think they are suspect, but ballpark is probably reasonable. I'm definetly leaning towards the direction of thinking my Ca is in the high 400's to low 500's.

I don't think those tests are very accurate. I would try another brand calcium kit and test for yourself and compare. Anyone but Seachem.

 

[SCIFI_3D_zoo]

Oh boy. I didn't know that. I mean 1.023 is low but I didn't know it would have that big of an effect on how much Mg/Ca your water can hold. I'm keeping it right at 1.026 right now but would 1.027 be better... and would 1.025 keep me from keeping high Mg/Ca #'s like 1500/500?

 

[NotSure]

I didn't know that would make that big of difference. Looks like I'll slowly bring it up. No reason why I been running it that low. I never really bothered to ask whats suggested to use. Maybe my corals will look more alive then. My frogspawn and galaxy aren't doing very good.

 

[Billybeau1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13049335#post13049335 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SCIFI_3D_zoo
Oh boy. I didn't know that. I mean 1.023 is low but I didn't know it would have that big of an effect on how much Mg/Ca your water can hold. I'm keeping it right at 1.026 right now but would 1.027 be better... and would 1.025 keep me from keeping high Mg/Ca #'s like 1500/500?

I'm not speaking of how much it can hold, I'm referring to how much is added by the salt mix. It takes more salt to get to 1.026 so consequently more cal and mag is added.

I see no reason to keep a reef tank at anything other that 1.0264 but anywhere between 1.025 and 1.027 is probably ok too.

 

[Billybeau1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13051167#post13051167 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NotSure
I didn't know that would make that big of difference. Looks like I'll slowly bring it up. No reason why I been running it that low. I never really bothered to ask whats suggested to use. Maybe my corals will look more alive then. My frogspawn and galaxy aren't doing very good.

Yes, I believe you will see quite a difference going up to 1.0264

Go slow. Good luck.

 

[leoslizards]

Hi, I was wondering which salt mix would be best for my system? I usually use IO. Right now I'm leaning towards IO, RSCSP, RC, and Oceanic. I currently have a problem with hair algae and green and red cyano, I use tap water with Prime btw. The tank has been set up since October and I would love to finally see some coralline algae in it. To increase the growth of coralline I need to increase calcium and magnesium correct?

I read somewhere here on RC that raising Mg to 1600 will help kill the hair algae. The Oceanic brand has 1650 Mg. It would be nice to not have to supplement Mg. It also has the highest Cal. rating and it says " reduces aggressive algae growth". My tank specs are in my sig, No sump/fug or protein skimmer. Making a DIY phosphate reactor and hopefully a DIY PS.

Thanks.

 

[joebecker]

Leo,

You would benefit greatly in making a switch to RO/DI water over tap water. Tap water can be a source of multiple algae nutrients that wouldn't be present in RO/DI water. From personal experience, I can say that making the switch to RO/DI (I used tap for the longest time as well) proved to be a much better control over nuisance algae than a switch in salt brands. I didn't want to spend the money, but it was worth every penny in the end.

 

[leoslizards]

Sorry double post.

 

[leoslizards]

I know, I've heard the same thing 4 times today already.
I'm saving up to get a decent RO/DI unit.

 

[oceannano]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13063691#post13063691 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by leoslizards
I know, I've heard the same thing 4 times today already.
I'm saving up to get a decent RO/DI unit.

Or you can do what I do.... Get your R/O water from a vending machine. I got a TDS meter from ebay for $15 dollars and tested all the vending machines in my area. Luckily the one closest to my house is the cleanest @ 3-6 ppm of TDS. Walmart sells the 5 gallon jugs for $6 and it costs me $1.50 to fill each one up.

 

[NotSure]

I'm having a terrible problem with red cyano algae. I mean the stuff is everywhere. I clean it off the rocks the best that I can and the stuff is back a couple days later. Lots of bubbles around those areas also. Any ideas? Wonder if it will change once I get my salinity up higher.

 

[leoslizards]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13063836#post13063836 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by oceannano
Or you can do what I do.... Get your R/O water from a vending machine. I got a TDS meter from ebay for $15 dollars and tested all the vending machines in my area. Luckily the one closest to my house is the cleanest @ 3-6 ppm of TDS. Walmart sells the 5 gallon jugs for $6 and it costs me $1.50 to fill each one up.

Doesn't sound too bad. Thanks.

 

[subman719]

Hi Leo, You might want to take a look at (Bulk Reef Supply)www.bulkreefsupply.com for an RO/DI unit. They have a wide selection of units at decent prices. You can also get one from (Melev's Reef) http://www.melevsreef.com/ro_di.html . Hope this helps!

 

[leoslizards]

Subman thanks.

 

[NotSure]

My tank is currently at 1.024 now. Slowly stepping up the salinity. It was 1.022~1.023 before. However, my green torch coral now appears to be dying. I noticed it not looking too good this morning. My galaxy coral for the past couple weeks or so hasn't been as full anymore either. I just don't know what else to do. I'm getting so sick of it.

 

[Pedro Borges]

Great thread, anyone has info on BLAU-Aquaristic Reef Salt?

Cheers,

 

[Billybeau1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13083223#post13083223 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NotSure
My tank is currently at 1.024 now. Slowly stepping up the salinity. It was 1.022~1.023 before. However, my green torch coral now appears to be dying. I noticed it not looking too good this morning. My galaxy coral for the past couple weeks or so hasn't been as full anymore either. I just don't know what else to do. I'm getting so sick of it.

How are you measuring s.g. ? This may be the problem.