I just bought a new pail of TMPR and the alk came in at 5.3 DKH, CA at 420 measured at a SG of 1.0255! This really is crazy how much the salt mixes vary from batch to batch. In the past I had batches of TMPR where the DKH was averaging at ~10. I used to use Seachem, or RC and they never varied that much between batches. This is frustrating.
A General Guide to Salt Mixes
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
Newreeflady
New member
Just to add to the Seachem data since some seem to have gotten numbers that were funny.
I just test Seachem Reef Salt batch 16 B 322. I received the salt on 3/29/10 from Drs. F&S.
Alk: 8.3 dkH - via Salifert
Ca: 520 ppm - via Salifert
I can't find my Mg testkit, sorry
If I find it I will post back with that number, otherwise I have to order a new one:/
I just test Seachem Reef Salt batch 16 B 322. I received the salt on 3/29/10 from Drs. F&S.
Alk: 8.3 dkH - via Salifert
Ca: 520 ppm - via Salifert
I can't find my Mg testkit, sorry
If I find it I will post back with that number, otherwise I have to order a new one:/
maynardjames
New member
got my first bucket of coralife tonight. been a longtime rc user. petsmart had bucket for 44 dollars & only had 25 dollar bags of rc. usually order salt online, but thought i would give the coralife a try & save a little on salt & shipping charges.
Finsky
New member
200 gallon box of Reef Crystals obsession
200 gallon box of Reef Crystals obsession
I got into the 200 gallon box of Reef Crystals when they came out with them "to help the environment". They cool thing is the box four easy to handle 50 gallon plastic bags. I pull two at a time and refill my current plastic container(I clean the reuseable container out with hot water and a cloth).
I think they still have them on sale for $49.99 with a flat shipping rate of $8.99.
This sale price marked has been marked down from $54.99 for a while and will be for a while according to their catalogue through 8/31/2010.
I was keeping three 200 gallon boxes stacked on top of each other and now I decided to let my reserve drop to one box left before reordering a second.
I was seeing them on sale and managed to stop myself at a three box reserve.
It was sort of giving me comfort to see that stack of three 200 gallon salt boxes?
It makes me think of frequent water changes make for a healthy aquarium?????????:hmm4:
I could order a new 160 gallon bucket although it would not be on sale!
I have more than a half dozen 160 buckets some of which I use for water changes.
200 gallon box of Reef Crystals obsession
I got into the 200 gallon box of Reef Crystals when they came out with them "to help the environment". They cool thing is the box four easy to handle 50 gallon plastic bags. I pull two at a time and refill my current plastic container(I clean the reuseable container out with hot water and a cloth).
I think they still have them on sale for $49.99 with a flat shipping rate of $8.99.
This sale price marked has been marked down from $54.99 for a while and will be for a while according to their catalogue through 8/31/2010.
I was keeping three 200 gallon boxes stacked on top of each other and now I decided to let my reserve drop to one box left before reordering a second.
I was seeing them on sale and managed to stop myself at a three box reserve.
It was sort of giving me comfort to see that stack of three 200 gallon salt boxes?
It makes me think of frequent water changes make for a healthy aquarium?????????:hmm4:
I could order a new 160 gallon bucket although it would not be on sale!
I have more than a half dozen 160 buckets some of which I use for water changes.
maynardjames
New member
thats usually what i get. mix up a bag at a time. thought i would give coralife a try until i need to order other supplys. also got a cool teeshirt with triggers on the back
maynardjames
New member
bummer got my first bucket last weekend
poolkeeper1
New member
Long time user, The 300gal box is where I'm having issues. The Grey Sludge, Along with grey dust on all the pumps heaters and the mixing container itself. This has been going on for the last three boxes i have bought. Now i have a open box stored the same as i have for many years and It's hard as a rock, It broke back up with crushing it in my hand and i mixed it as usual. the next day i checked the water to make sure the salinity was correct and i have Milk like water in my container! Coralife questioned my mixing method and tried to say my water was the problem (High Alk in my RODI water) Needless to say i will be finding a new brand to use from now on.
Bill
Bill
goochesfish
New member
I am having trouble with Brightwell Neomarine having phosphates of 0.5 ppm. I've had to run fluidized phosgaurd before using for a water change. Anyone else have this problem?
really? did you use another test kits or instrument to confirm? I just bought one recently, it is still on the way.
Finsky
New member
I perform 12 gal water changes weekly except on once a month I do a 20 gallon change which involves rinsing out my two Rena XP4 canisters. I use Reef Crystals and was wondering what benefit if any there was to adding Kent Marine Essential Elements as recommended every other week when doing weekly changes or every week when changing water every two weeks or more.
partsman70435
New member
funny , reading these posts it seems a lot of people are having high alk-dkh levels with several brand salts - including myself.
i've been using I.O REEF CRYSTALS for several years - usually in the 160 gallon buckets untill recently purchased - on sale from P.S. a 200 gallon box ...hmmm alk/dkh over 13 . switching to CORALIFE tonight as time is creating an emergency now.
dont post much - but i've been in the hobby over 25 years
spectrapure 4 stage ro system .........auto fill etc ...
hmmmmm ?
i've been using I.O REEF CRYSTALS for several years - usually in the 160 gallon buckets untill recently purchased - on sale from P.S. a 200 gallon box ...hmmm alk/dkh over 13 . switching to CORALIFE tonight as time is creating an emergency now.
dont post much - but i've been in the hobby over 25 years
spectrapure 4 stage ro system .........auto fill etc ...
hmmmmm ?
Finsky
New member
High Alkalinity
High Alkalinity
I use Seachem Reef Buffer to maintain stable pH and Seachem Reef Complete for calcium. Seachem recommends going as high as 6 meq/L with their Reef Buffer. They say you system is unbalanced when you do not reach at least a pH of 8.2 and your alkalinity is 6 meq/L.
I just performed a 20 gallon water change with Reef Crystals which included the five gallons replaced from the two canisters so it was around a 15% water change. Afterwards, my pH was at 8.0 and alkalinity was 4.5 meq/L. I dosed once with Reef Buffer and I had a Ph rose during the day to 8.20 and and an alkalinity around 5.0 meq/L.
Everybody including six bubble tips, gonioporas, angels, tangs, two Fu Manchu Lions, one Wartskin Angler and an Orange Indonesian Angler who gets up to six inches like the Warskin seemed happy as usual.
I seem to do alright with the Seachem products as I do not have a "coral only reef tank", I have a Reef Tank with corals, anemones, and fish.
High Alkalinity
I use Seachem Reef Buffer to maintain stable pH and Seachem Reef Complete for calcium. Seachem recommends going as high as 6 meq/L with their Reef Buffer. They say you system is unbalanced when you do not reach at least a pH of 8.2 and your alkalinity is 6 meq/L.
I just performed a 20 gallon water change with Reef Crystals which included the five gallons replaced from the two canisters so it was around a 15% water change. Afterwards, my pH was at 8.0 and alkalinity was 4.5 meq/L. I dosed once with Reef Buffer and I had a Ph rose during the day to 8.20 and and an alkalinity around 5.0 meq/L.
Everybody including six bubble tips, gonioporas, angels, tangs, two Fu Manchu Lions, one Wartskin Angler and an Orange Indonesian Angler who gets up to six inches like the Warskin seemed happy as usual.
I seem to do alright with the Seachem products as I do not have a "coral only reef tank", I have a Reef Tank with corals, anemones, and fish.
That isn't because Shedd thinks Instant Ocean is the best salt mix. IO won the salt supply contract because they bid the lowest price. The Chicago Shedd Aquarium, at least a couple of years ago, was using Tropic Marin for the same reason. It's just economics.
anothermineral
New member
Someone just gave me a bucket of 4 year old IO. Anyone ever heard of salt going bad?
HighlandReefer
Team RC
It should be fine as long as it is not in a lump. Even if it is in a lump, you could use it, but the moisture which causes the lumping may have reduced the alkalinity content and to a lesser degree calcium, which could be made up after mixing. The moisture causes calcium carbonate precipitation which results in a harmless sand at the bottom of your mixing container once you let everything settle out.
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anothermineral
New member
Thanks Highland, I'll test/post the results of the 4 year old bucket to see how far off it is from the expected values for IO.
HighlandReefer
Team RC
Your welcome.
FWIW, IO that is 4 years old had the old parameters. IO bumped up their parameters.
Old IO mixed at a salinity of 1.0264 using a properly calibrated refractometer:
kH: 12; Cal: 350; Mag: 1070
FWIW, IO that is 4 years old had the old parameters. IO bumped up their parameters.
Old IO mixed at a salinity of 1.0264 using a properly calibrated refractometer:
kH: 12; Cal: 350; Mag: 1070
