A General Guide to Salt Mixes

[Billybeau1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15219173#post15219173 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Padrino
Billy,
i always make sure that the SG is 1.026. i did buy about 92 lbs of live rock from another reefer tearing down a tank after 12 years. There is quite alot of nice purple coraline algae and a whack of star polps popping up everywhere.

Well that certainly explains the increased demand on calcium and alkalinity.

You may now need to decide which dosing regiment you will want to use for your tank.

There are many ways to go. If I were in your shoes, I would dose baking soda to keep my alk up, and some calcium chloride to keep your calcium in check for now.

Then after a couple of months you might be able to figure out what is going to be more consistent and economical.

 

[Billybeau1]

capn, FWIW, I found H2Ocean to actually produce 1.0264 (or close) with a half cup. I've seen much worse.

The amount of moisture in H2Ocean is under the average IMO.

 

[kc350twin]

I was thinking about my last post on the way home from work today.

I checked and it takes me 1 3/4 cup to make 1 lbs. of salt. Divide that by 2.9 and it is 0.60 of a cup per gallon of water. Give or take a little.
So I would agree with about a 1/2 a cup.

Food for thought.

 

[Aquarist007]

thanks guys --that is a better perspective on the two salt mixes.

 

[Padrino]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15223474#post15223474 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
Well that certainly explains the increased demand on calcium and alkalinity.

You may now need to decide which dosing regiment you will want to use for your tank.

There are many ways to go. If I were in your shoes, I would dose baking soda to keep my alk up, and some calcium chloride to keep your calcium in check for now.

Then after a couple of months you might be able to figure out what is going to be more consistent and economical.

Billy,
Thanks for the info. I would really like to get my calcium reactor online soon since coraline algae is drawing quite a bit. I have ESV b-Ionic 2 part solution that i think i will use till its finished then look at hooking up the ca reactor. In this case the levels have to be at the right spot before getting the reactor online.

 

[Billybeau1]

Sounds like a good plan.

Good luck Pad.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15227012#post15227012 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Padrino
Billy,
Thanks for the info. I would really like to get my calcium reactor online soon since coraline algae is drawing quite a bit. I have ESV b-Ionic 2 part solution that i think i will use till its finished then look at hooking up the ca reactor. In this case the levels have to be at the right spot before getting the reactor online.

You should be able to get away with using about 70 mL of the two part with your system---I don't believe you have that much in there yet do you--like clams and sps corals.

BTW
I believe corraline does best with 11.5 - 12 dkH alkalinity

 

[NanoCube-boy]

I think you are right because my coraline looks healthy at that point too.

 

[Padrino]

what is the safe value for raising alk? let me rephrase that how much alk can i add to teh tank at one time safely?

 

[NanoCube-boy]

usually it will show on your buffer or two part label.

 

[Billybeau1]

You can add as much as you want until you affect a pH rise of no more than .2 units at one time.

 

[Padrino]

great thanks

 

[R33fLover]

I have been using Tropic Marin (regular) with good success on LPS and SPS. I purchase mine from Marine Depot for $66 (200 gal mix) but then you have to pay a $20 shipping fee but I still think it's worth it. I know this sounds stupid but I have tried the taste test on other salts and TM taste more like real ocean salt water. Of course I live the west coast the east coast might taste different. LOL

 

[Padrino]

LMFAO wow, do you think you could go in more detail? Like could i taste my water and tell if something was out of whack?

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15231392#post15231392 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Padrino
what is the safe value for raising alk? let me rephrase that how much alk can i add to teh tank at one time safely?

I would use the chemistry dosing calculator and what you intend to use to raise the alk. It will give you daily maximums

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15237332#post15237332 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Padrino
LMFAO wow, do you think you could go in more detail? Like could i taste my water and tell if something was out of whack?

only if you laid off the french fries first:lol:

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15237189#post15237189 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by R33fLover
I have been using Tropic Marin (regular) with good success on LPS and SPS. I purchase mine from Marine Depot for $66 (200 gal mix) but then you have to pay a $20 shipping fee but I still think it's worth it. I know this sounds stupid but I have tried the taste test on other salts and TM taste more like real ocean salt water. Of course I live the west coast the east coast might taste different. LOL

[welcome]

I agree with Padrino and would like to know how you have aquired this particular skill.

 

[chops29]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15237189#post15237189 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by R33fLover
I have been using Tropic Marin (regular) with good success on LPS and SPS. I purchase mine from Marine Depot for $66 (200 gal mix) but then you have to pay a $20 shipping fee but I still think it's worth it. I know this sounds stupid but I have tried the taste test on other salts and TM taste more like real ocean salt water. Of course I live the west coast the east coast might taste different. LOL

My local reef store carries TM. So no shipping charges for us. Makes it very nice.

 

[lastduke]

Let me ask a newbie question. After been educated by Randy, homemade two parts dosing is a cheap and effective way to adjust CA, ALK. Why do we care about the readings from different salt? we can always dose it and adjust it to the normal range execpt mg too high. I know it sounds too easy to be believed, I just don't understand it.

 

[bertoni]

Lots of people, including me, dose their salt up to good levels. It is a small added cost and effort, though.