Best Salt mix

[M.Doshier]

I was just wondering, what would you consider the best over all salt mix? I was just wondering because to me it seems like there is a different number of types but most say the same thing. Some are for FO or FOWLR systems while most are for reefs. The thing is, there is a wide variety of what you would call a reef. I mean if someone is just starting out with one or two corals then would haveing the "more enhanced" nutrients in the water cause any adverse affects that wouldn't be good like say maybe easier to get microalgae? I was just wondering. Plus I was also wondering if switching from one salt mix to a other in a FOWLR took slow ajustment. I know it would in a reef and that is easy to see. Anyways thanks for your time!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

There are a number of mixes that I think are suitable, and a few that I do not recommend. I use Instant Ocean, and I boost the calcium with Dowflake and the magnesium with MAG flake. Tropic Marin is also a fine brand.

Switching to a new brand should not take any slow adjustment period.

I don't think any brands intentionally add any nutrients that will boost algae, except perhaps iron.

 

[M.Doshier]

Alright thanks, well I didnt know if haveing all those extra nutrients with like only 1 little coral lol. thanks

 

[rrome]

I prefer Tropic Marin myself.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Good luck.

 

[Horace]

Seachem salt is gaining big numbers lately because its ion levels very closely resemble NSW. IO (the salt i currently use, but not for much longer) has low mag, low calc and higher than normal Alk. I like to run my alk lower at 7-8dkh and each time I do a WC now it swings my alk....this I DO NOT LIKE! With seachem I wont have to add anything to it to get the calc/mag where I want them.

My vote is for Seachem!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Unfortunately, Seachem has elevated borate. I've not seen many other detailed analyses of it. Have you seen values for anything besides Ca++/Mg++/alkalinity?

 

[Horace]

I have also heard of eleveated borate. Some have expressed concern over this. However, noone has shown that it has caused or causes any problems either. One of the nicest tanks in the country that a guy has about 20 mins from me uses it with no problems on his 240g. He loves it, and apparently the Zeo guys really like it alot too because a big part of Zeo is keeping ion levels close to NSW and apparently this salt is about as close to NSW as it gets.....save for that eleveated borate.

 

[reverendmaynard]

If you're going to go with anecdotal evidence like that, there are many, many succesful reef tanks out there using IO, including Randy's. Many major public aquariums also use IO, including the largest in the world, I believe. It has an excellent reputation for consistency, if nothing else.

In a reef tank, you're going to have to dose alk, calc, and mag unless you do an absurd amount of water changes. IMO, the starting values of these elements shouldn't be the deciding factor in picking a salt mix. If you use randy's recipes, you'll save far more money buying IO and dosing it up to the levels you want (yes, dose it before you add it to the tank=no alk swings), then spending extra for some other salt.

Elevated levels of potentially harmful elements... Now that's something to be concerned about. For instance, the Oceanic that I tried tested positive for both phosphates and nitrates. Do you think the extra calcium is worth adding those things to your tank at every water change? And yet, if I search long enough, I'm sure I can find dozens of show tanks out there that use Oceanic.

 

[Steve9877]

Question for Randy

Question for Randy

Randy,
Can you elaborate on how and in what quantities you enhance you IO salt mix with the Dowflake and the Magflake?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Horace]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7110653#post7110653 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reverendmaynard
If you're going to go with anecdotal evidence like that, there are many, many succesful reef tanks out there using IO, including Randy's. Many major public aquariums also use IO, including the largest in the world, I believe. It has an excellent reputation for consistency, if nothing else.

In a reef tank, you're going to have to dose alk, calc, and mag unless you do an absurd amount of water changes. IMO, the starting values of these elements shouldn't be the deciding factor in picking a salt mix. If you use randy's recipes, you'll save far more money buying IO and dosing it up to the levels you want (yes, dose it before you add it to the tank=no alk swings), then spending extra for some other salt.

Elevated levels of potentially harmful elements... Now that's something to be concerned about. For instance, the Oceanic that I tried tested positive for both phosphates and nitrates. Do you think the extra calcium is worth adding those things to your tank at every water change? And yet, if I search long enough, I'm sure I can find dozens of show tanks out there that use Oceanic.

I never said I maintain my levels through water changes alone... FAR FROM IT infact. My point is I dont want to have to add things to my WATER CHANGE water, just to get it to the correct levels. In the case of IO, it also causes a peticular situation that I cannot avoid and that is HIGH alk. There is no good way to bring down the alk in a salt mix so how am I supposed to deal with that? What it means is I cant do a large water change or it will drastically swing my Alk...swinging alk can cause major problems with RTN. So in my case running IO is a problem.

I also never stated the only reason I want to use it is because a successful tank uses it....I also stated very real reasons why...mainly ION levels. If it wasnt for the high alk of IO, I would probably just deal with it and add the mag,calc to my WC water.

 

[whalloper]

well heres my 2 cents...

I have only used OCEANIC, and I cant wait for this bucket to be done, because its just not balanced. I never dose calcium, and have to dose carbonate like nuts to keep it up.

 

[PatMayo]

Humm some interesting stuff here. I use IO and just dose the alk and calk as needed. I do 8 gallon water changes each week and I don't notice a large change in the alkalinity rate. I guess that is why smaller more frequent water changes are sometimes recommended by some folks.

Regards,

Pat

 

[scott0615]

Potentially harmful elements???????????????? Are you refering to Borate in the Seachem salt?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Can you elaborate on how and in what quantities you enhance you IO salt mix with the Dowflake and the Magflake?


I add enough Dowflake to boost calcium by 70 ppm, and MAG Flake to boost magnesium by 150 ppm. I don't measure anything, but I add an amount sized to that boost in my 88 gallon reservoir using this calculator:

Reef chemicals calculator
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

 

[JerseyReef]

Randy - Nifty little calculator you posted :thumbsup:

 

[DrBDC]

Even if you don't like the alk to be at 11 in the IO, 1 day later and it's at 7-9 anyway. Plus if you are doing a 50% water change it would only bump it to 9.5 if you start at 8. Which is about 1/2 day of tank useage.

 

[scott0615]

So can anyone tell me the issues associated with elevated Borate? Any factual evidence of problems????

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I discuss borate in this article:

Boron in a Reef Tank
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/dec2002/chem.htm

Bear in mind that the discussion of boron levels in Seachem salt mentioned in that article refer to the original Seachem salt mix, which had even more than the current mix.

 

[scott0615]

Great article....still looking for factual evidence. Pros seem to outweight potential cons.