<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11625379#post11625379 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by old salty
I've been using this method for years. Using a high quality salt is key; IO isn't going to cut it.
people should not infer from your post that IO is not a high quality salt- it is. IO
does need some tweaking to bring certain levels up to what is generally recommended in a reef aquarium.
I'd be interested in hearing what salt you use, old salty.
IME most commercial salt brands need a boost of calcium or alkalinity or magnesium.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11625201#post11625201 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 84chris
My new sps tank will be setup this way. It will be a 40 gallon breeder with a 30 gallon sump. A large skimmer, plenty of live rock, shrimp, and maybe a fish. With a low bio-load, and frequent water changes i dont see a problem. I dont have time or experience to deal with reactors and such. Any advice?
something is bugging me with this post.
Corals are part of the bio load and (more importantly) the part of the bio load that places demand on calcium and alkalinity.
The main problem I see with "your idea" is that Ca and alkalinity will drop between water changes. If you have a lot of rapidly growing stony corals you might run into problems.
Another thing- calcium reactors are much easier to deal with than water changes. You're comparing automation with manual labor.
With a small aquarium you might be fine with just water changes, but if you own a large reef aquarium with few fishes and lots of stony corals you'd be foolish to rely on just water changes {IMO}.
Have you priced out saltmix lately?
Other methods of Ca/alk supplementation can quickly pay for themselves.
read this:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm