Instant Ocean Salt parameters

[whitesquall]

Hey everyone,

I have been using Tropic Marine Pro Reef for some time now and have been happy with it, but lets face it its expensive...I was thinking of changing salt mix to Instant Ocean regular due to cost reasons...

Years ago I tried IO but found its ca,mg,alk to be inconsistent batch to batch back then.

I'm wondering how its parameters have been as of lately?

Can some of you post your most recent results for ca,mg,alk and if they have been the same from bucket to bucket?

If they are good, I may make the switch.

Thanks
-Alex

 

[Aquarist007]

Here you go

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1714505

 

[whitesquall]

Thanks for the link capn_hylinur...... I found that post in my search but also noticed those numbers are from 2009.

To most peoples knowledge who have used IO...have those numbers been consistant?

 

[Aquarist007]

Thanks for the link capn_hylinur...... I found that post in my search but also noticed those numbers are from 2009.

To most peoples knowledge who have used IO...have those numbers been consistant?

I use reef crystals and the stats have not changed. Usually when marketers make a change they will come out with "the new" or "improved" etc lol

 

[Av8bluewater]

I get about 11-12 alk , 420 calcium from red sea pro coral salt.
Hard to go wrong with RC. I go back and forth.
If you get Red sea sprinkle in sorta slowly with a powerhead moving the water to avoid cloudiness.

 

[whitesquall]

Anyone else have their most recent parameters for ca.mg.alk for Instant Ocean Salt mix???

Please list to help me make the decesion to possibly switch salts. Thanks.

 

[GainesvilleReef]

At 35 ppt I get 420 Ca, 1320 Mg and 10 alk. That's after aerating overnight after mixing. And, that's the average from several boxes. But it seems to be very consistent. I mix 25 gallons at a time with 3 cups of IO to 5 gallons of RODI.

 

[kewadiak]

At 35 ppt I get 420 Ca, 1320 Mg and 10 alk. That's after aerating overnight after mixing. And, that's the average from several boxes. But it seems to be very consistent. I mix 25 gallons at a time with 3 cups of IO to 5 gallons of RODI.

Is the Rc or just IO

 

[GainesvilleReef]

Just IO

 

[Av8bluewater]

That's pretty decent for IO.

 

[kewadiak]

Im also going to switch from tropic marine pro to instant oceans. When useing instant ocean do you or should you add any other supplements the water?

 

[bertoni]

Instant Ocean should be fine as is, from what I can tell.

 

[slief]

At 35 ppt I get 420 Ca, 1320 Mg and 10 alk. That's after aerating overnight after mixing. And, that's the average from several boxes. But it seems to be very consistent. I mix 25 gallons at a time with 3 cups of IO to 5 gallons of RODI.

That's about what I saw last time I tested my cheap IO salt mix. I've used the stuff for years and been very happy with it. I don't dose or supplement anything and my corals do great. While I don't keep SPS, my LPS and softcorals all thrive and grow like weeds. For my system, I've never found a good reason to use the reef stuff or more expensive salt.

 

[GainesvilleReef]

Im also going to switch from tropic marine pro to instant oceans. When useing instant ocean do you or should you add any other supplements the water?

I just dose kalk as needed with a saturated solution and a peristaltic pump. I maintain my alk at 8.0.