A General Guide to Salt Mixes

Too bad there is not a saltmix out there with:
Alk: 9
Cal: 420
Mag: 1350

I think the closest thing to that is DD, but it mixes too dirty for me. After they clean it up, I will probably give it another try.
I suppose TMPR is close to that too, its just expensive in comparison to other saltmixes.
 
I like security, reliability, availability, reasonable price range which is what Instant Ocean (first 1 1/2 years) and Reef Crystals (last 2 years) have given me. Why dilly dally with various salt mixes unless you enjoy trying different salts searching for the best of the best? What about the Georgia Aquarium and their use of Instant Ocean for all tanks?

Use the best for a reasonable price.

I drive a 2006 Mazda 3 with 23,000 miles on it. Edmunds.com was comparing that years 3 as the best compact in its class with something about a BMW's reliability.

Hold on! I want a BMW AND I want Instant Ocean or Reef Crystals!
 
Just to add to the comments on Reef Crystal's brown gunk buildup. I use Seachem's Reef salt mix, I've also had the issue of the brown gunk building up on the inside my mixing tank (also made of white plastic). I've resorted to using my pressure washer to knock it off every few months.

I just switched to Salinity and I just cleaned out my mixing tank so I'll see if this still happens or not.
 
Finsky said:
I like security, reliability, availability, reasonable price range which is what Instant Ocean (first 1 1/2 years) and Reef Crystals (last 2 years) have given me. Why dilly dally with various salt mixes unless you enjoy trying different salts searching for the best of the best? What about the Georgia Aquarium and their use of Instant Ocean for all tanks?

Use the best for a reasonable price.

I drive a 2006 Mazda 3 with 23,000 miles on it. Edmunds.com was comparing that years 3 as the best compact in its class with something about a BMW's reliability.

Hold on! I want a BMW AND I want Instant Ocean or Reef Crystals!
Click to expand...

Hey Finsky--I use a 2008 Charger for business. It will hold 8 - 5gal pails of salt water in the trunk. However it doesn't stand up to the saltwater. The salt water(I was a little sloppy at times) took out the fuse box and relay in the trunk--2500 bucks---thank god for warrenties.
Guess I should have bought a Mazda:D
 
Oil_Fan said:
Just to add to the comments on Reef Crystal's brown gunk buildup. I use Seachem's Reef salt mix, I've also had the issue of the brown gunk building up on the inside my mixing tank (also made of white plastic). I've resorted to using my pressure washer to knock it off every few months.

I just switched to Salinity and I just cleaned out my mixing tank so I'll see if this still happens or not.
Click to expand...


I stopped worrying about it---just leave it there. It doesn't get into the salt mix so its once less pita I have to worry about.
 
instant ocean next time

instant ocean next time

jcmelski said:
I used to use IO, then I bought a 200 gallon box of RC. I noticed this brown slime(residue) in my mixing bin also. I thought it was the bin releasing something to the SW or that my RO/DI unit was FUBAR'd. I'm kinda glad to read that this is normal using IO or RC. I'm currently using TMpro. It's ok. I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary with it though. I don't test for mag though. Should I?
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have you noticed any improvents in tank from tmpro? just wondering because it is expensive to me. just wonderd if it was worth the extra cash. i used d&d a few times enough where majority was d&d mix in display if not all. it left same brown stuff for me as rc & cost almost twice as much when shipping was added. none of the online vendors that have it give flat rate shipping like foster& smith or pet solutions. so went back to rc.
might give instant ocean a try. if it works for randy & many others it can`t be bad
 
Oil_Fan said:
Just to add to the comments on Reef Crystal's brown gunk buildup. I use Seachem's Reef salt mix, I've also had the issue of the brown gunk building up on the inside my mixing tank (also made of white plastic). I've resorted to using my pressure washer to knock it off every few months.

I just switched to Salinity and I just cleaned out my mixing tank so I'll see if this still happens or not.
Click to expand...
did you get salinity online or from lfs?
 
eyebedam said:
From what I've been told Salinity will only be available to brick & Mortar LFS & if they are caught selling it online it will be pulled from them.
Click to expand...

wow guess they don`t want to sell a lot of salt. lots of people live hours from lfs . well me anyway. not worth a long trip to get a bag of salt imo
oh well. still plenty to choose from
 
So i got my first batch of saltwater mixing and aerating. I was wondering how long should i let it rest after about a 12 hour mix before adding to the tank.
 
Last water change

Last water change

Blayz77 said:
So i got my first batch of saltwater mixing and aerating. I was wondering how long should i let it rest after about a 12 hour mix before adding to the tank.
Click to expand...

I just did a 12 gallon water change plus 5 extra gallons for cleaning out my canisters on the beginning of each month. I let the 17 gallons circulate in my 32 gallon Rubbermaid Brute for a week with one heater set to match the tank's temperature and one 400 gph powerhead.

I unplugged the heater and left the powerhead running while I did a final salinity check and then remove 12 gallons and replaced it with the mixed water(This took about about 30 minutes all told and I did not think about letting it rest). The salinity stayed right around 53.0. I cleaned the canisters and reattached the hoses which required the tank needing another 5 gallons.:fish1:

I did notice a type of slime on the inside wall of the mixing container which I just rubbed loose with my hand. I also found I had about three to four gallons left so I just added 12 more gallons of water with more salt and put the heater back in for this next weeks water change which will probably be around 15%.

I really like to pump the water back into the tank and having the temperature and salinity matching the tank water. I did buffer with Reef Buffer from Seachem and my ph got up to 8.4 brightest time of day. It went down to 8.18 in the morning with the lights out. I think my cleaning of the canisters and adding two Chemi-Pure each to the two Renas as well as adding Drs. Foster and Smiths Phospure between the two prefilter sponges on one canister led to good things for the water although my LFS owner who does tank installs like overflows with sumps, etc. and is a well studied aquarist told me I had good water last September when he was coming over to top off and feed the fish for a week while I did the vacation thing. I do not have room in my apartment for a sump so I have to improvise with keeping two Rena XP4s very clean and using alot of live rock and circulation along with my favorite skimmer from Aqua-Medic which draws out black water with no adjustments, just plug and play.:bounce3:
 
Cool i thought i read somwhere before to let it sit for a bit beore using. Could be wrong. I was just curious if it was needed. Once i get off work im going to test the lvls. I tested my salinity before i left and it was spot on. Half cup salt per gallon is perfect. Now just need to see what the other values will be
 
Cool i thought i read somwhere before to let it sit for a bit beore using.

Once it is aerated, some solids may still precipitate out, but it is mostly done doing what it is going to do and you can likely use it about as fast as you need it. :)
 
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