Best Salt for Automatic Water Change

[Tuffloud1]

I was using HW Reefer Salt and mixing at room temperature with major precipitation problems when stored. It would mix clear and then have so much precipitation that it would clog my Neptune Dos tubing with white sludge.

I switched to Brightwell Neomarine and it mixes perfectly clear and stays clear when being stored.

I've heard from many on these forums including Randy Holmes Farley that Brightwell is a sketchy company and I don't like supporting companies with ridiculous marketing and false claims.

I was wanting to try Red Sea regular because I like the lower alk however when I called and spoke to their customer service, they say that their salt is supposed to be mixed and used and not necessarily stored. She stated that if it is not stored in an "air tight" container, it may precipitate over a weeks time.

My auto water change reservoir is has vents because if it was air tight the Dos would bind up.

Any recommendations on a salt mix close to NSW that can be mixed cold and stored cold without precipitation?

 

[slief]

In my opinion, it really depends on what your dosing plans or supplemental plans are as well as what you keep in your tank.

I have a very well stocked 500 gallon mixed reef display with SPS, LPS and soft corals. All of which thrive and grow like weeds. I use the cheap basic Instant Ocean (non reef) salt mix which is what I have used for the last decade or so. . While I didn't supplement anything for many years and my soft corals and LPS did great, I have since added a calcium reactor (again) to my setup to keep my Ca, Alk and Mg levels where I want them.

Fact is that most well stocked reef systems will deplete key elements regardless of the salt mix. That is unless you are doing larger water changes and using those water changes to "chase" numbers. As such, most people need to supplement with two part or other additives or use calcium reactors regardless of the salt they choose. In my case, I change out 5 gallons a day in a 650 gallon total volume system. That is pretty minimal by most peoples standards. That said, I don't have any nitrate issues despite having more than 50 fish of which many are larger tangs that are very well fed. I attribute that to the fact that my system is very well established (running 18+ years) with a lot of live rock, a very healthy well established deep sand bed and two refugiums. Point being that water change amounts are often dictated by nutrient levels and the tanks ability or lack of to deal with the nutrients. That or chasing numbers as mentioned above. Even so, I wouldn't' expect water changes alone to provide all the supplements needed to maintain ideal Ca, Alk and Mg levels regardless of the choice in salt. At least not in a system where corals grow like weeds. Therefore, you may still need to supplement regardless of your salt choice. With that in mind, it's often much cheaper to supplement than it is to buy expensive salt mixes. Thus, I use the cheapest quality brand on the market and supplement via my Ca reactor. The end result is that my tank is very happy and I see no reason to spend more on expensive salt that really isn't going to benefit my system.

FWIW.. There are many of us here who have been using the cheap instant ocean salt for many many years with great success. On the flip side, there are many who choose to spend much more on their salt mix and have equal success and or in some cases, less success. Does that make one mix better than the other??? I am not so sure but for me, the cheap stuff works great!

 

[jason2459]

Same here. Regular IO for my AWC.

What ever salt you choose I would suggest staying away from any with organics in it for this purpose.

 

[soulpatch]

I keep IO Reef crystals mixed in my mixing station with a vented top for well over a week at a time without any issues. I do leave it agitated though with a pump.

 

[jason2459]

I keep IO Reef crystals mixed in my mixing station with a vented top for well over a week at a time without any issues. I do leave it agitated though with a pump.

That would help. I turn off the mixing pump after a few hours.

 

[hart24601]

Instant ocean. No organics unlike reef crystals and the high alk isn't a problem when doing awc as its added so slowly. Just saves some dosing, lol.

 

[Tuffloud1]

Is anyone using Red Sea regular salt (blue bucket) for automatic water changes? Any precipitation when storing?

I really like the parameters on this salt.

 

[Tuffloud1]

In my opinion, it really depends on what your dosing plans or supplemental plans are as well as what you keep in your tank.

I have a very well stocked 500 gallon mixed reef display with SPS, LPS and soft corals. All of which thrive and grow like weeds. I use the cheap basic Instant Ocean (non reef) salt mix which is what I have used for the last decade or so. . While I didn't supplement anything for many years and my soft corals and LPS did great, I have since added a calcium reactor (again) to my setup to keep my Ca, Alk and Mg levels where I want them.

Fact is that most well stocked reef systems will deplete key elements regardless of the salt mix. That is unless you are doing larger water changes and using those water changes to "chase" numbers. As such, most people need to supplement with two part or other additives or use calcium reactors regardless of the salt they choose. In my case, I change out 5 gallons a day in a 650 gallon total volume system. That is pretty minimal by most peoples standards. That said, I don't have any nitrate issues despite having more than 50 fish of which many are larger tangs that are very well fed. I attribute that to the fact that my system is very well established (running 18+ years) with a lot of live rock, a very healthy well established deep sand bed and two refugiums. Point being that water change amounts are often dictated by nutrient levels and the tanks ability or lack of to deal with the nutrients. That or chasing numbers as mentioned above. Even so, I wouldn't' expect water changes alone to provide all the supplements needed to maintain ideal Ca, Alk and Mg levels regardless of the choice in salt. At least not in a system where corals grow like weeds. Therefore, you may still need to supplement regardless of your salt choice. With that in mind, it's often much cheaper to supplement than it is to buy expensive salt mixes. Thus, I use the cheapest quality brand on the market and supplement via my Ca reactor. The end result is that my tank is very happy and I see no reason to spend more on expensive salt that really isn't going to benefit my system.

FWIW.. There are many of us here who have been using the cheap instant ocean salt for many many years with great success. On the flip side, there are many who choose to spend much more on their salt mix and have equal success and or in some cases, less success. Does that make one mix better than the other??? I am not so sure but for me, the cheap stuff works great!

Will the elevated alk in IO be difficult to keep a lower alk in my tank? I guess I could just adjust my dosing accordingly. I would need to lessen the soda ash on my 2 part dosing.

The issue I see is when I do large water changed, I would need to adjust individual batches. Kind of a drag compared to having salt that already matches my water chemistry.

Is IO deficient in anything like potassium or trace elements for SPS that other salts may have?

Does it clump?