Boron, Copper and other dangerous levels in salt mixes.

[ap2honda]

I have been using Instant Ocean and have never had a problem with it but recently I have wanted to switch to a "better" choice. I have been doing a lot of research and I honestly got kind of worried about some of the trace elements and how they can be detrimental in reef tanks as the levels may elevate after time using certain salt mixes ex: seachem/boron. I read what Randy says about some salts containing too much Boron. Which Seal Salt mix will be the safest and closest to natural sea water levels of Magnesium, Calcium, Alkalinity, PH and trace elements? Most salt mix companies dont disclose all of their levels in trace elements. I have boiled it down in order to make a selection however... I am concerned about possible dangerous trace elements within these mixes for example; boron, copper etc.

Below are the test levels from an RC Thread - with the tests levels made in 2009 so Im not sure if the levels are still the same. I favor the first 3 selections of my list due to being the closest to NSW levels.

1. Tropic Marine Pro Reef Salt calc. 450 alk 8.5 mag 1380 ( I favor these levels the most just not sure if it has high levels of boron or any other dangerous things)

2. Tunze Reef excel lab marine salt cal 420 alk 9.5 mag 1350 ( second choice if trace elements are not extremely high ( example seachem with boron issue)

3. Instant Ocean with Randys recipe (I would assume this would be the way to go although I cannot find his recipe.... hopefully someone can chime in on this.

4. D-D H2Ocean Calc 450 Alk 10 Mag 1380 ( the alk seems a little too high is this dangerous?)

5. Reef Crystals Calc 490 Alk 13 Mag 1440 ( again! alk level scares me)

6. Reefers Best Calc 420 Alk 11 Mag 1200

My aquarium is a 140 gal. SPS/LPS mix tank and a few softies.

 

[bertoni]

We don't have very good information about trace contaminants, and they're likely to change from batch to batch, as the companies change suppliers and chemicals used. I think there's a reasonable number of good reports about all those products you listed, although Reefer's Best has gotten a fairly small number of comments. Instant Ocean is fine, IMO.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I do not think boron is much of a concern these days. As best I know, only Seachem salt had really high boron, and they've apparently lowered it in the current formulation.

As to copper, it is hard to know, but I am not concerned about the big name salts. Normal IO, for example, had adequately low copper when I tested it. Seachem Aquavitro guarantees it is quite low, although I've not seen any independent analysis of it.

 

[HighlandReefer]

Doing large water changes can be a concern regarding heavy metals in salt mixes. The larger the water change the more heavy metals you introduce in ionic (more toxic) form at one time. The ionic forms of heavy metals will be converted to the organic forms (much less toxic) perhaps in relatively short periods of time making the situation safer.

Doing very small daily water changes may be the safest method to help offset heavy metal concerns.

GAC will remove many organics with heavy metals attached, helping to reduce the organic heavy metal levels from accumulating to perhaps too high a levels.

 

[ap2honda]

Bertoni, It was actually your post I got for the salt mix levels. Which Salt mix are you using currently, How many years have you been using it and why?

Randy, are you still using your IO recipe? what is the recipe? If you swapped why did you swap salt mixes? how many years have you been using your current salt mix?

Higlandreef, I have a 140 gallon tank how many small water changes do you recommend? I was currently doing a 20-25% water change weekly ( mainly changing about 25 gallons worth a water, my total water volume is anywhere from a 140 gal tank to 160 with sump)

 

[ap2honda]

Highlandreef forgot to ask, what salt mix do you use? How many years and why?

 

[jubjub47]

If you're concerned about trace element levels, I would suggest looking into Sachems Aquavitro Salinity salt. Each bucket of salt has the lab analysis for the bucket you bought right on the bucket. I can't speak as to how accurate they are for trace elements, but the calcium, d'oh and magnesium all have matched up the few times I've checked on different buckets.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I use IO to which I add 75 ppm of calcium via Dowflake and 150 ppm of magnesium via Magflake or BRS magnesium chloride.

IO upped the calcium and magnesium a while ago, so that much may no longer be necessary.

 

[HighlandReefer]

I do weekly water changes of about 10% including siphoning. Many do about 30% total per month. I will be setting up my new system like Randy does using a dual head dosing pump to automate water changes so that about 1% is changed daily by dripping.

I use IO. I have tried RC and saw no difference myself. I go with the cheapest which is IO where I work a deal with my LFS in bulk for a pallet. I am still using the older IO and have not tried the new yet. :lol:

 

[bertoni]

I used IO for years. It seems fine.

 

[ap2honda]

Thanks for the help. I had been wanting to switch to a salt that would require less dosing when mixing. I figured it would be cheaper to buy more expensive salt with required levels over a salt that would still require to buy bottles of Mag, Alk, CAl. I'll Continue using Instant Ocean and just continue topping off what needs be.