A General Guide to Salt Mixes

[Billybeau1]

Well Dr B, it is a response by someone who is selling salt. And a new one on the market for that matter. Doesn't surprise me at all.

Looks to me they do not want to be compared to Red Sea's Coral Pro salt, which is understandable.

As soon as I get my bucket, I will test it the same way I tested all of the other salt mixes in this thread and post my results.

With the exception of, since it was brought up, I will test PO₄ as well.

 

[joebecker]

Well, I made the switch to Coralife and it has been great so far. My Ca and Mg levels are now right up where I want them to be, which was always a struggle for me in the past.

Anyway, I have a sudden issue that baffled me and I still haven't figured this out. I've made probably 10 batches of Coralife the same way, in a 5 gallon bucket with a powerhead and RO/DI water. Never had an issue until the most recent batch. I filled the bucket with water as usual, started up the power head, and slowly added the salt using 5 separate, 1/2 cup scoops. The salt started to dissolve as usual and I left the bucket to mix for a few hours.

I come back to check on it several hours later and the mix is super milky-- I can't even see the powerhead at the bottom. I've left it mixing for another couple of hours... no change, still opaque milky.

Rekk reported this same issue on page 21. I can't figure it out... I always shake up the bag to stir up any settling of ingredients, and things have always worked out just fine, including the last several mixes I made from this particular bag. Any thoughts? I'm stumped.

 

[EvilE]

so what's the best salt to use?

 

[brshriver]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13394110#post13394110 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EvilE
so what's the best salt to use?

The cheapest one Instant ocean and dose it up the way you like it

 

[Billybeau1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13394009#post13394009 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by joebecker
Well, I made the switch to Coralife and it has been great so far. My Ca and Mg levels are now right up where I want them to be, which was always a struggle for me in the past.

Anyway, I have a sudden issue that baffled me and I still haven't figured this out. I've made probably 10 batches of Coralife the same way, in a 5 gallon bucket with a powerhead and RO/DI water. Never had an issue until the most recent batch. I filled the bucket with water as usual, started up the power head, and slowly added the salt using 5 separate, 1/2 cup scoops. The salt started to dissolve as usual and I left the bucket to mix for a few hours.

I come back to check on it several hours later and the mix is super milky-- I can't even see the powerhead at the bottom. I've left it mixing for another couple of hours... no change, still opaque milky.

Rekk reported this same issue on page 21. I can't figure it out... I always shake up the bag to stir up any settling of ingredients, and things have always worked out just fine, including the last several mixes I made from this particular bag. Any thoughts? I'm stumped.

I suspect it is just calcium precipitate. Coralife does have a lot of calcium and maybe some has finally collected on the sides of your mixing container.

I'll bet if you add that water to your tank, you will not see any cloudiness at all. I've seen this myself.

 

[subman719]

joebecker- I also use the Coralife and get the cloudiness initially. I mix it up in 30 gallon batches for more consistency and let it mix for a full day or two and the cloudiness clears up.

EvilE- In my opinion, I feel the Coralife is the best salt. The levels seem good right out of the bucket without additional dosing and it is cheap! This IS just my opinion though!

 

[Billybeau1]

Evil is just being silly guys. He pops in about once a month and asks the same question. Pay him no mind.

Hi Evil. :wavehand:

 

[Diveshaman]

Very helpful thanks for taking the time.

 

[Lytehouse]

Billybeau1,

Have taken a few days and read the 25 pages. Thanks for taking the time to test all these. Finding this thread comes at a good time for me. I've been having fits keeping up with dosing my tank and I'm just tired of it. I had just posted in another forum, why isn't there a salt with the components already there I'm looking for....? Flipped over to RC , hit the chemistry forum and found your thread. I've ordered a new brand of salt today. Will see how it works out.

Regardless, I have several options and tons of info thanks to this thread. Thanks to all who have contributed.

 

[DrBegalke]

Billybeau1:

I agree. It just struck me as odd.


As to the large point about "which salt to use," it still seems as though there is no getting around having to test samples now and then and adjust Ca/alk as needed. Even the major manufacturer's seem to have consistency issues every now and then.

I am still using a blend of IO/Oceanic, which seems to work for me and is fairly cost effective.

 

[Billybeau1]

Thank you Dives and Lyte.

Dr B, I always say "whatever works is good". Look at all the free calcium you get with Oceanic.

Believe it or not, some reefers actually use Oceanic full strength with great results.

 

[Diveshaman]

I have been using Tropic Marine since I can remember. I have always mixed my Tropic straight w/ a 45 gal barrel of fresh RO/DI and always have had to add a little Calcium after a 25% water change done once weekly followed by a little Superbuffer and tiny bit of Mg. After reading your post I have added a 1/2 teaspoon turbo calcium 40mL of Mg Tech M and 4 tbsp of kH superbuffer to my fresh RO/DI salt water. I look forward to testing tomorrow and see where the water is at. I like to keep my setup running at 420-440 Ca 11-12 kH 8.3 pH Mg 1300-1400 and think that your information will help stabilize even further. Thanks again and I will keep you posted on my results.

 

[Diveshaman]

The free Ca & Mg that Oceanic has might be the route that I am looking for, saving on the cost of chemicals. I just hesitate to change what has worked for so many years.

 

[Billybeau1]

Please keep us posted. :thumbsup:

Oceanic is the most unbalanced salt on the market. I would not be so quick to change. Especially if you have been comfortable using your brand.

Just a thought.

 

[tyleratl]

Billy, I don't use Oceanic, but was wondering what makes it unbalanced? These are your numbers for Oceanic:

Calcium 580
Alk 8.5
Mag 1650

Is it the very high magnesium that makes it unbalanced? It has high calcium, but not much higher than Coralife and some others.

 

[Diveshaman]

It is time to start tweaking the amounts I added. I tool some readings this morning and kH jumped to 12 which is perfect for me, although I brought the Ca down. I think too much superbuffer or not enough Ca. I will keep working on proportions and let you know when I got it tweak just right. Thanks again for your helpful information. Don't plan on switching salts anytime soon Also I was curious did you happen to take pH readings on the salts when you tested them?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Also I was curious did you happen to take pH readings on the salts when you tested them?

Once you allow aeration, pH is only determined by the alkalinity and the CO2 level in your home air, so it is not really an attribute of the salt itself.

 

[Diveshaman]

Randy thanks again for your time. I wanted to see if I could get your thoughts on the importance of using an air stone for the air line returning to sump from Pro-Calcium Reactor. I have been having a hard time getting my water lever to balance with use of air stone(potentially getting clogged quickly) causing build up of pressure. I have replaced the neoprene air line thinking they might be clogged but have been running tank last couple days with just air tubing bubbling in sump. Could this lead to problems in your opinion and should I look to why reactor water lever isn't balancing when using air stone. Potentially needing to change ball valves controlling pressure?? Your input is greatly appreciate.

 

[Billybeau1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13400740#post13400740 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tyleratl
Billy, I don't use Oceanic, but was wondering what makes it unbalanced? These are your numbers for Oceanic:

Calcium 580
Alk 8.5
Mag 1650

Is it the very high magnesium that makes it unbalanced? It has high calcium, but not much higher than Coralife and some others.

When I say the most unbalanced, yes, I mean high calcium. And you are right, Coralife is not much better. It doesn't make them bad salts though. Reefers that use these 2 salts just need to supplement alkalinity pretty regular.

 

[joebecker]

An update... I left that milky batch of Coralife to sit since my last post, and it has finally settled out. There was a pretty good bit of precipitate in the bottom of the bucket that took almost 3 days to settle, but it did finally sink.