cccapt
New member
Dan, have you seen this salt available locally anywhere yet?
A General Guide to Salt Mixes
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
layer3switchguy
New member
Ditto on that, having the same issue with my batch of Neomarine, not too mention high alk and CA. Far off from what Brightwell claims. Not sure if I have a bad batch, or if there is a greater issue with BW quality control. Their products seem to be hit or miss... :mad2:
53.0 mS/cm is the canonical ocean water average that we use, and it's a good target. The recommended range for calcium is 350-450 ppm. This article might help:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm
Finsky
New member
Finsky
New member
I recently purchased Red Sea's Nitrate, Phosphate, Pro Alkalinity, Pro Calcium, and Magnesium test kits to replace my older test kits. I started using the Pro Calcium kit years ago and was familiar with it. The Magnesium kit has a similar set of testing procedures with three reqents and requires about the similar amount of time which I think is worth it for me.
Today I tested for Magnesium and got a number of 1350 ppm which is the upper range recommended in Randy's article.
I perform weekly 12 gallon/10% water changes with Reef Crystals along with a monthly 18 gallon/15% water change when I rinse/clean my two canisters filters.
I was wondering whether I should be testing weekly or monthly?
See their recommendations below:
"The frequency of testing for Magnesium is inversely proportional to the frequency of water changes. Auariums with sophisticated filtration or advance biological systems that require less water chagnes should be tested every week and supplemented with Magnesium supplement as required. Aquariums that rely on frequent water changes need only to be tested monthly. If your aquarium suddenly has a low alklanity, test for Magnesium as this is a potential cause of the alkalinity drop."
Today I tested for Magnesium and got a number of 1350 ppm which is the upper range recommended in Randy's article.
I perform weekly 12 gallon/10% water changes with Reef Crystals along with a monthly 18 gallon/15% water change when I rinse/clean my two canisters filters.
I was wondering whether I should be testing weekly or monthly?
See their recommendations below:
"The frequency of testing for Magnesium is inversely proportional to the frequency of water changes. Auariums with sophisticated filtration or advance biological systems that require less water chagnes should be tested every week and supplemented with Magnesium supplement as required. Aquariums that rely on frequent water changes need only to be tested monthly. If your aquarium suddenly has a low alklanity, test for Magnesium as this is a potential cause of the alkalinity drop."
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Finsky
New member
Local tap water test results
Local tap water test results
Inorganic Chemicals (IOCS) Report for tap water.
I use tap water as I live in a third story apartment and the kitchen sink faucet does not lend itself to many if any attachments for RO water since it was replaced with a smaller faucet I cannot even us my python water hose. Any ideas?
Maybe somebody can tell me what my tap water test results mean in layman's terms.
I have attached a copy of local water company's test results if it is not legible I have put the results below:
The first page has:
Arnsenic: <.002 mg/L
Barium: <0.1 mg/L
Cadmium <.002 mg/L
Chromium <0.01 mg/L
Mercury <0.0005 mg/L
Selenium <0.0005 mg/L
Beryllium <0.003 mg/L
Nickel <0.04 mg/L
Antimony <0.0005 mg/L
Thallium <0.002 mg/L
Cyanide <0.05 mg/L
Fluoride 0.2 mg/L
Nitrite-N <0.2 mg/L
Nitrate-N <1.4 mg/L
Total Nitrate/Nitrite 1.4 mg/L
Iron <0.1 mg/L
Manganese <0.01 mg/L
Silver <0.01 mg/L
Chloride 4 mg/L
Sulfate 5 mg/L
Zinc <0.02 mg/L
Sodium 7.0 mg/L
Hardness 65 mg/L
Conductivity 142 umhos/cm
Turbidity 0.2 NTU
Color <5.0
Total Dissolved Solids NA
Lead <0.002 mg/L
Copper <0.02 mg/L
The second page has:
Alkalinity 60 mg/L-5.0 PQL
Hardness 56.1-3.30 PQL
Iron ND mg/L-.050 PQL
Manganese ND mg/L - 005.0 PQL
Some salts like Reef Crystals say they have chemicals to remove heavy metals, etc. from the mixing water.
Local tap water test results
Inorganic Chemicals (IOCS) Report for tap water.
I use tap water as I live in a third story apartment and the kitchen sink faucet does not lend itself to many if any attachments for RO water since it was replaced with a smaller faucet I cannot even us my python water hose. Any ideas?
Maybe somebody can tell me what my tap water test results mean in layman's terms.
I have attached a copy of local water company's test results if it is not legible I have put the results below:
The first page has:
Arnsenic: <.002 mg/L
Barium: <0.1 mg/L
Cadmium <.002 mg/L
Chromium <0.01 mg/L
Mercury <0.0005 mg/L
Selenium <0.0005 mg/L
Beryllium <0.003 mg/L
Nickel <0.04 mg/L
Antimony <0.0005 mg/L
Thallium <0.002 mg/L
Cyanide <0.05 mg/L
Fluoride 0.2 mg/L
Nitrite-N <0.2 mg/L
Nitrate-N <1.4 mg/L
Total Nitrate/Nitrite 1.4 mg/L
Iron <0.1 mg/L
Manganese <0.01 mg/L
Silver <0.01 mg/L
Chloride 4 mg/L
Sulfate 5 mg/L
Zinc <0.02 mg/L
Sodium 7.0 mg/L
Hardness 65 mg/L
Conductivity 142 umhos/cm
Turbidity 0.2 NTU
Color <5.0
Total Dissolved Solids NA
Lead <0.002 mg/L
Copper <0.02 mg/L
The second page has:
Alkalinity 60 mg/L-5.0 PQL
Hardness 56.1-3.30 PQL
Iron ND mg/L-.050 PQL
Manganese ND mg/L - 005.0 PQL
Some salts like Reef Crystals say they have chemicals to remove heavy metals, etc. from the mixing water.
Attachments
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HighlandReefer
Team RC
If you haven't read this article, it provides some insight to the dangers of using tap water:
Tap Water in Reef Aquaria
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/jan2004/chem.htm
Tap Water in Reef Aquaria
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/jan2004/chem.htm
Finsky
New member
Thank you for the feedback
Thank you for the feedback
Any ideas on the best way for me to filter my tap water with my circumstances?
"I use tap water as I live in a third story apartment and the kitchen sink faucet does not lend itself to many if any attachments for RO water since it was replaced with a smaller faucet I cannot even us my python water hose."
Thank you for the feedback
Any ideas on the best way for me to filter my tap water with my circumstances?
"I use tap water as I live in a third story apartment and the kitchen sink faucet does not lend itself to many if any attachments for RO water since it was replaced with a smaller faucet I cannot even us my python water hose."
mandm25254
New member
So I have skimmed the last few pages, and havnt found a answer what are the top salt mix to be using right now. I have been using instant ocean.
Finsky
New member
Thanks Bertoni
Thanks Bertoni
Randy uses Instant Ocean because he thinks it comes as close to ocean water as a salt can.
I prefer the Instant Ocean Reef Crystals as I like the additional essential elements, calcium, etc. it has beyond Instant Ocean.
Thanks Bertoni
Randy uses Instant Ocean because he thinks it comes as close to ocean water as a salt can.
I prefer the Instant Ocean Reef Crystals as I like the additional essential elements, calcium, etc. it has beyond Instant Ocean.
Finsky
New member
I deferr
I deferr
Yes, I was going on memory although I do remember he did not like the "extra" things beyond what normal sea water contains like Reef Crystals does.
When asked why he preferrs Instant Ocean over Reef Crystals it made me want to switch back as I used Instant Ocean for the first year and have used Reef Crystals for the last three years.
Now I am afraid to switch back to Instant Ocean from Reef Crystals since it has been working for me and I do not want to "rock the boat" so to speak.
I deferr
Yes, I was going on memory although I do remember he did not like the "extra" things beyond what normal sea water contains like Reef Crystals does.
When asked why he preferrs Instant Ocean over Reef Crystals it made me want to switch back as I used Instant Ocean for the first year and have used Reef Crystals for the last three years.
Now I am afraid to switch back to Instant Ocean from Reef Crystals since it has been working for me and I do not want to "rock the boat" so to speak.
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HighlandReefer
Team RC
I agree with Randy's response to which salt mix one should use (This a quote of his comment):
"I do not think there is a "best" salt mix. Nearly all of them will work fine as long as you know their pros and cons.
I personally prefer Instant Ocean, and this is why:
I don't want excessive borate, which leaves out Seachem.
I don't want vitamins or anything else organic in my mix, so that tosses out some like Reef Crystals, hW Marinemix Plus BioElements, Kent, Coralife, and Nutri-SeaWater.
I don't want excessive calcium (long term use of limewater as I use drives up calcium, so I do not want it starting high), so that tosses out a bunch, such as Kent, Seachem, Coralife and Oceanic.
There are certain companies that I will not support due to their misleading claims and/or product lines. That tosses out a few which I won't detail here since it is my personal thought as opposed to a specific issue with their salt mix.
I won't use certain lines of natural seawater due to excessive metals in it.
That only leaves a few to choose from, such as Instant Ocean and Tropic Marin Pro. The remaining ones might all be fine for me, but IO is lower in cost, especially if you get it when it goes on sale (which it frequently does)."
"I do not think there is a "best" salt mix. Nearly all of them will work fine as long as you know their pros and cons.
I personally prefer Instant Ocean, and this is why:
I don't want excessive borate, which leaves out Seachem.
I don't want vitamins or anything else organic in my mix, so that tosses out some like Reef Crystals, hW Marinemix Plus BioElements, Kent, Coralife, and Nutri-SeaWater.
I don't want excessive calcium (long term use of limewater as I use drives up calcium, so I do not want it starting high), so that tosses out a bunch, such as Kent, Seachem, Coralife and Oceanic.
There are certain companies that I will not support due to their misleading claims and/or product lines. That tosses out a few which I won't detail here since it is my personal thought as opposed to a specific issue with their salt mix.
I won't use certain lines of natural seawater due to excessive metals in it.
That only leaves a few to choose from, such as Instant Ocean and Tropic Marin Pro. The remaining ones might all be fine for me, but IO is lower in cost, especially if you get it when it goes on sale (which it frequently does)."
mandm25254
New member
What does every one think of that new salt that's 100 for a bucket? (sorry forgot the name) I read up on it and alot of people reported good things about it, such as better pe and colors. I personally have used io from day one and I've never been disappointed but never thrilled. I like the cal/alk and mag straight out the bucket. Dislike the film it produces when mixed I and think it takes rather long to mix. The new salt seems to have "ok" Levals Alk is a little low for me at 8 but 450 cal and 1380 I think it was mag is ok.
HighlandReefer
Team RC
If the manufacturer published the heavy metal content of this $100.00 per bucket salt and the levels were at natural seawater levels, I would think about buying it. :lol:
The cost of producing a low heavy metal content salt mix would be very expensive and I don't believe that this salt mix does it either. All the manufacturers claim their salt mix is like natural seawater, which is not true when it comes to the heavy metal content. Unfotunately, this is the biggest gripe with all salt mixes and is the major thing we should be concerned with, provided the salt mix has appropriate alk, mag and calcium & other major componets. When salt mix manufacturers add additional organic chemicals like vitamins & don't tell us exactly what they are adding, I would not buy that either. Reef tanks have enough organic chemicals added by fish foods and fish excrement already. If I wanted add these organic chemicals like vitamins, I would want to do it myself. Fish foods are high in vitamins and one can overdose them as has been seen in vitamin dosing threads.
The cost of producing a low heavy metal content salt mix would be very expensive and I don't believe that this salt mix does it either. All the manufacturers claim their salt mix is like natural seawater, which is not true when it comes to the heavy metal content. Unfotunately, this is the biggest gripe with all salt mixes and is the major thing we should be concerned with, provided the salt mix has appropriate alk, mag and calcium & other major componets. When salt mix manufacturers add additional organic chemicals like vitamins & don't tell us exactly what they are adding, I would not buy that either. Reef tanks have enough organic chemicals added by fish foods and fish excrement already. If I wanted add these organic chemicals like vitamins, I would want to do it myself. Fish foods are high in vitamins and one can overdose them as has been seen in vitamin dosing threads.
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HighlandReefer
Team RC
FWIW, the salt mix manufacturers remind me of the elixir salesmen in the old, old days. They state all these things on their websites that make all kinds of claims that are simply a play on words & are meaningless if you analyze them closely. IMHO, if they actually had a better salt mix then the rest, they would be willing to publish a list of all the chemicals that make-up their salt mix and point out the actual chemical benefits. Many state that their chemical content is purer, but compared to what? :lol:
At least Instant Ocean has published the chemical content of their salt mix in the past, which is better than the others have done.
Introduction to the Science Behind
Synthetic Sea Salts
From the Labs of Instant Ocean
http://www.instantocean.com/uploade...pertPapers/Technical/IO White Paper final.pdf
Even $5,000.00 for proper chemical testing, on the part of the manufacturer would be cheap advertising IMHO & if they don't have the labs to test for all these ingredients we are concerned about, I would be deeply worried about their product. Quality control is a big issue & they all say they have the best, but do not provide any information (data) as to how they accomplish this. Each batch tested for everything is good, but how big is the batch for example & exactly what do they test for.
At least Instant Ocean has published the chemical content of their salt mix in the past, which is better than the others have done.
Introduction to the Science Behind
Synthetic Sea Salts
From the Labs of Instant Ocean
http://www.instantocean.com/uploade...pertPapers/Technical/IO White Paper final.pdf
Even $5,000.00 for proper chemical testing, on the part of the manufacturer would be cheap advertising IMHO & if they don't have the labs to test for all these ingredients we are concerned about, I would be deeply worried about their product. Quality control is a big issue & they all say they have the best, but do not provide any information (data) as to how they accomplish this. Each batch tested for everything is good, but how big is the batch for example & exactly what do they test for.
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