A General Guide to Salt Mixes

Ok, i tried reading this, but it was just too long and drab, haha story made short I use coralife, how does it stack up as far as the rest of the salts. I have a FOWLR. But i want to use the best salt i can, and so i also use the best equip. i can and try to treat it like it were a reef. So I guess the question is what salts are better, or what number does it stack up on the original list of salts tested as far as consistency and quality?
 
baldwin, I wish I could have saved this for repeating but I'll type it again just for you. :)

There is no BEST salt mix. Only the best for your tank and husbandry practices. If you don't mind supplementing, Instant Ocean is probably the most consistent salt mix available today. Other salt mixes provide elevated levels of the big three and allow the aquarist to maintain their levels with little or no supplementing without risking overdosing, as long as they do regular water changes.

The choice is really up to you. Most commercial salt mixes sold today are fine. Just pick one that suits your schedule.

That's my take on all of this stuff. :D
 
thinking about switching to seachem salt for a change. any reason why i couldn`t just use the marine instead of the reef.big three numbers in billy`s test are same except for ca. anything extra in reef version to choose it over standared marine?
 
My 2 cents. I switched to Seachem Reef Salt from Tropic Marin Pro, and in my case, it was the worst choice of a Salt Mix . Why did I change? To try and save some $$$$$$.
I had nothing but problems, mostly from the false Alk readings due to the Borate. This is in a SPS tank.
I have switched to Reef Crystals and it is a Magnitude of improvement.
-Wolfgang
 
I switched to the D-D H2O recently on my 240 mainly sps from Tropic Marin Pro because of price on the pro had just gotten to high and have corals stn'ing from the tips down and the bottom up. That is why I started reading this thread today and have read all 62 pages. On page 28 of the first part a David asked the same question and got no response, so thought I would ask again. I have been in the hobby for 30 yrs, the tank is 2yrs old this time since the move and I have changed nothing except salt mixes. The corals were growing like weeds and had brillant colors. I know there are a million things that can happen with sps, but I like David beleive it has something to do with changing salts. I change 5 gals a week faithfully. I have done about 6 water changes and started noticing stn'ing. It is either the two salts aren't interacting well or the salt itself. Anyone else had any issues like this with this salt? Thanks
 
if i wanted to change over to a diff salt mix in an established tank how many water changes and how much at a time would it take me to achieve the new salt mix a 100%
what if i use half instant ocean and half reef crystals has anbody ever done this takeing one good quality from one and one from the otheri have had modderate results in my reefkeeping life but i see that people see alot of changes in what salt they use and it seems so easy guess i never gave it thought was used to ocean water
on a side note funny on thow!
woke up in the middle of the nite at 3 to water splashin jumped up oh crap the hose on my nano tank popped off and was spraying water on the floor shut the tank down grabbed 3 5 gallon buckets ran to the inlet at hilsboro beach and filled all my buckets ran home filled the tank back up it was not high tide but it wasnt bad as not having any water so i filled the tank zipp tyed the hose tht poped off and went back to bed by 4 o clock cant do that in michigan
small story i thought i would share
thanks in advance for your input!
 
jmann said:
I switched to the D-D H2O recently on my 240 mainly sps from Tropic Marin Pro because of price on the pro had just gotten to high and have corals stn'ing from the tips down and the bottom up. That is why I started reading this thread today and have read all 62 pages. On page 28 of the first part a David asked the same question and got no response, so thought I would ask again. I have been in the hobby for 30 yrs, the tank is 2yrs old this time since the move and I have changed nothing except salt mixes. The corals were growing like weeds and had brillant colors. I know there are a million things that can happen with sps, but I like David beleive it has something to do with changing salts. I change 5 gals a week faithfully. I have done about 6 water changes and started noticing stn'ing. It is either the two salts aren't interacting well or the salt itself. Anyone else had any issues like this with this salt? Thanks
Click to expand...


5 gallons a week on a 240?
 
I think whatever salt, etc. works best for your system is the way to go.

I started out with Instant Ocean and went to their Reef Crystals about two years ago on a three one half year old tank. I figured I was starting to add more corals to the tank in addition to the live rock and fish; and why not go with their Reef Crystals which could only help the corals and shouldn't harm the fish.

I got an email from the education department of the Georgia Aquarium and they use 2,000 lbs bags of Instant Ocean mixed in big holding tanks. They did not say they added any supplements although they did not say they didn't. Who knows what they put in their large shark tanks compared to a coral reef tank?

I add Kent Marine Essental Elements, Iodide, and Strontium and Molybdenum every Wednesday and I notice a brightening up of my corals when I do. I figure I use an Aqua Medic protein skimmer rated at 250 gallons maximum on a 120 tank which could be taking alot of supplements out of the water. I raised my salinity to 35 ppt this over this past week.

My ph 8.27 today and I just buffered once with my last weekend 10% water change. Last night it went down around 8.13.

RC with supplements work for my system.
 
Last edited:
im going to do a 30 gl water change on my 90 gl today with reef crystals been using instant ocean forever will i shock the tank when should i do another 30 gl water change my goal is to get the tank a 100% reef crystals give it a trial of 6 months see if i see any difference
any input is welcome
thanks in advance
 
I add Kent Marine Essental Elements, Iodide, and Strontium and Molybdenum every Wednesday and I notice a brightening up of my corals when I do.

If that were my tank, I'd try dropping some of those and just do one for a bit and see if you still see the same positive effect. I'll bet, for example, that the iodide and the strontium wouldn't be missed. :)
 
OK made up a batch of the Seachem Reef Salt last night and did my water change today. 25 gallons on a 75 gallon tank. So far looks good nice and clear...

I tested last night after the water mixed for an hour and got

Alk 9
Cal 440
PH 8.5

Thats all I tested for now but I am happy with those numbers. I had been using Get Tanked salt for about 2 years so this is a major switch for me. Hope the Seachem can live up to the excellent results I had with Get Tanked salt.
 
RBU1 said:
OK made up a batch of the Seachem Reef Salt last night and did my water change today. 25 gallons on a 75 gallon tank. So far looks good nice and clear...

I tested last night after the water mixed for an hour and got

Alk 9
Cal 440
PH 8.5

Thats all I tested for now but I am happy with those numbers. I had been using Get Tanked salt for about 2 years so this is a major switch for me. Hope the Seachem can live up to the excellent results I had with Get Tanked salt.
Click to expand...

I would have expected a little higher numbers unless you are mixing less than 1.0264
 
Kent Marine Essential Elements, pH, and salinity?

Kent Marine Essential Elements, pH, and salinity?

Reef Chemist:

I think you are right and the thought has come to mind. I have a problem of having two 16 oz bottles each of the Iodide and Strontium and Molybdenum left?

Another issue is my pH is now at 7.96 after I buffered one dose of Seachem Reef Buffer with the 17% water change in addition to adding a Drs. Foster & Smith Colonize bacteria additive. The alkilnity is 12 dkh. Should I wait until the pH hopefully rises on its own like it has done before in a day or two with a salinity of 35 ppt?

I also did my monthly cleaning of my two canister filters and two powerfilters as well as changing my Chemi-Pure and Chemi-Pure Elite(Change every four months and I let my Phospure stay in for a second month).

I had to change more than the usual 10% weekly change due to my canisters holding five gallons between the two and my powerfilters holding about three gallons for a total water change on my monthly filter cleaning and water change of 20 gallons or 17%. I rinsed my Eheim Efisubstrate Pro bio-media in aquarium water and put it back in the filters and also just rinsed my canister sponges as well. I did change the powerfilter sponges.:rollface:
 
Well you could throw them away, of just use them sparingly until their gone if that makes you feel better.

I'm not sure why you are using the Colonize bacteria additive. Another waste of money IMO.

Your alkalinity is now high because of the Seachem buffer. This is never a good way to maintain pH. I would quit using that for now.

There is nothing wrong with your pH. Too many reefers get hung up on the 8.3 thing IMO. :)
 
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