Instant Ocean salt SUCKS!

[waterfaller1]

I repeat...how can any salt maintain levels that are appropriate for the growth of corals In and of itself? Say you have 100 gal system, you have 30 corals, and various inverts which utilize the Ca & other elements every day. How can any salt get the numbers where they should be and maintain it? If the CA is 'nt changing on a daily basis then your corals are not utilizing it. Even if the salt batch mixes up at appropriate levels, when mixed into a system at only 10-20% of the volume...how is it going to alter the entire tank? Unless you changed 100% of the water with each water change, I don't get it...enlighten me.

 

[Cody Ray]

I was using Oceanic however I was having problems with the salinity swining hours after being mixed. 10 mins after being mixed I would get a reading of 1.025, 2 hrs later it was at 1.030. I also found that a calcium-based crust would build on the sides of my aquarium using Oceanic. Never again, IO from now on.

 

[waterfaller1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10067138#post10067138 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crrichey
I was using Oceanic however I was having problems with the salinity swining hours after being mixed. 10 mins after being mixed I would get a reading of 1.025, 2 hrs later it was at 1.030.

Is'nt this because water at a higher temp has a higher SG.? Did you airate and bring the newly mixed water to the same temp as the tank before adding it or?

 

[bad badger 1]

how long has the salt been mixed for before testing id recommend at least 24 hours to mix before testing if not 2days(24 hours cool mix and 24 hours heated)!!!

 

[Randall_James]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10067138#post10067138 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crrichey
I was using Oceanic however I was having problems with the salinity swining hours after being mixed. 10 mins after being mixed I would get a reading of 1.025, 2 hrs later it was at 1.030. I also found that a calcium-based crust would build on the sides of my aquarium using Oceanic. Never again, IO from now on.

The only thing that is going to cause that swing is undissolved salt. You do not have it properly mixed at the first test

This entire thread is rather silly as any of these salts will work fine in 99.9% of all tanks. IO is the #1 selling salt... I wonder why? if it was as this thread starter had stated, I doubt it would be so popular... I use IO or RC depending on which is on sale, I pay $33 a bucket delivered for RC

Seems WaterFaller is being conveniently ignored on his rather spot on comment
"Even if the salt batch mixes up at appropriate levels, when mixed into a system at only 10-20% of the volume...how is it going to alter the entire tank?"

 

[Billybeau1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10066966#post10066966 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by waterfaller1
I repeat...how can any salt maintain levels that are appropriate for the growth of corals In and of itself? Say you have 100 gal system, you have 30 corals, and various inverts which utilize the Ca & other elements every day. How can any salt get the numbers where they should be and maintain it? If the CA is 'nt changing on a daily basis then your corals are not utilizing it. Even if the salt batch mixes up at appropriate levels, when mixed into a system at only 10-20% of the volume...how is it going to alter the entire tank? Unless you changed 100% of the water with each water change, I don't get it...enlighten me.

It can't. However, the people that use Oceanic or Coralife drive their calcium level up so high, it hardly ever drops below the recommended level if they are doing regular water changes.

Consider yourself enlightened.

Randall, I don't find this thread silly at all. I've seen a lot worse. I think it is rather interesting to see what others think about the salt we use.

 

[HowardW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10066602#post10066602 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rhodesholar
John G Shedd Aquarium in Chicago has been using IO for years. I was there several months ago and asked. The new Georigia Aquarium uses IO and so does a few others that escape me at the moment. If IO was crap, why would these world renowned aquariums use the stuff?

I'm not saying anything negative about IO or any other salt, however The Shedd and other large public aquariums don't necessarily make decisions on what salt or other equipment to use based on what they feel is the absolute best product, but rather cost and consistent availability in large quantities.

 

[zaireguy]

I switched from io to rc and like it a little better my self.I like the extra calcium in my 300

 

[lakwriter]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10066602#post10066602 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rhodesholar
John G Shedd Aquarium in Chicago has been using IO for years. I was there several months ago and asked. The new Georigia Aquarium uses IO and so does a few others that escape me at the moment. If IO was crap, why would these world renowned aquariums use the stuff?

I agree...and also about different tanks needing different things. IO can be a base and then you add what YOU and YOUR tanks need. This allows for greater flexibility. Also, if the salt manufacturer were to add more of the trace elements, I'm sure they would be of a lesser quality (to keep costs down) than the supplements you choose as a picky consumer (I'm not being critical, I consider myself one). So...buying IO and adding your own supplements may seem like an extra step, but to me, it seems cheaper, allows more flexibility, and gives me more choice. In my opinion, there are not that many things in this hobby where one of the cheaper options is still a good option.

 

[waterfaller1]

Well at least noone has said throw away your test kits, stop dosing, just do water changes, and rely on your eyes to tell you if there is something amiss with your corals as someone else has just posted at another site. I still don't think water changes are going to maintain tank parameters as they should be. Driving CA up so high that it never drops? Sounds like extreme swings to me...that's real good for corals.....not.

 

[sirreal63]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10068838#post10068838 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lakwriter
I agree...and also about different tanks needing different things. IO can be a base and then you add what YOU and YOUR tanks need. This allows for greater flexibility.

This is precisely why I use IO. I want control over what is in my mix. Alk is used faster than calcium in most tanks, so why would I want a mix that is low in alk? Keeping a balance is hard when you are constantly adding alk to keep up with the high calcium in other brands. It takes a few minutes to get the calcium where you want it if you choose to. My calcium reactor handles the small differences easily and I rarely add anything to the IO.

Consistency and balance are key to keeping your tank healthy.

 

[Randall_James]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10068621#post10068621 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zaireguy
I switched from io to rc and like it a little better my self.I like the extra calcium in my 300

I switch back and forth, I just got 10 buckets of RC at $32 delivered

 

[Randall_James]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10068858#post10068858 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by waterfaller1
Well at least noone has said throw away your test kits, stop dosing, just do water changes, and rely on your eyes to tell you if there is something amiss with your corals as someone else has just posted at another site.

egads....

I have not purchased a test kit in over 2 years, own zero supplements and do nothing but water changes relying on my tank inhabitants "looks" if my tank needs more water change...

 

[CeeGee]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10069112#post10069112 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Randall_James
egads....

I have not purchased a test kit in over 2 years, own zero supplements and do nothing but water changes relying on my tank inhabitants "looks" if my tank needs more water change...

do you keep SPS?

 

[aquarius77]

Its no wonder you are buying so much damn salt Randall...

 

[vessxpress1]

Plain IO salt is 'mainly' intended for fish only tanks. An IO rep said it himself. Plain IO is fine for fish only but if you want to use it for reefs, it's best to add what's needed.

If you don't want to do that, than Reef Crystals is intended for reef tanks.

I've been using RC for over a year now and love it.

This gets hashed over, every other day here.

 

[cham]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10069281#post10069281 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vessxpress1
Plain IO salt is 'mainly' intended for fish only tanks. An IO rep said it himself. Plain IO is fine for fish only but if you want to use it for reefs, it's best to add what's needed.

If you don't want to do that, than Reef Crystals is intended for reef tanks.

I've been using RC for over a year now and love it.

This gets hashed over, every other day here.

No offence brother, but do you listen to car salesmen too?

 

[HowardW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10069281#post10069281 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by vessxpress1
Plain IO salt is 'mainly' intended for fish only tanks. An IO rep said it himself. Plain IO is fine for fish only but if you want to use it for reefs, it's best to add what's needed.

If you don't want to do that, than Reef Crystals is intended for reef tanks.

I've been using RC for over a year now and love it.

This gets hashed over, every other day here.

Although I don't use IO or RC that makes perfect sense, and that's what I always thought too. Fish only tanks are not overly sensitive to calcium levels.

 

[HowardW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10069112#post10069112 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Randall_James
egads....

I have not purchased a test kit in over 2 years, own zero supplements and do nothing but water changes relying on my tank inhabitants "looks" if my tank needs more water change...

While there are many ways of doing things, I think test kits are an excellent and essential way to keep tabs on your water parameters BEFORE something goes out of whack and then reacting. In many cases, by the time a fish or sensitive coral looks stressed, it's VERY stressed.

 

[Randall_James]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10069945#post10069945 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HowardW
While there are many ways of doing things, I think test kits are an excellent and essential way to keep tabs on your water parameters BEFORE something goes out of whack and then reacting. In many cases, by the time a fish or sensitive coral looks stressed, it's VERY stressed.

With 20% water changes every week, there really is nothing to "go out of whack" that is going to be caught by any test kit. New tanks, new tank owners should test but talking with guys that have had tanks for over 2 or 3 years, you might be surprised just how few do test their water. I would be happy to send you a sample and you can test what ever you want but I would be you find that the water is pretty much pristine. (taking into account the water is never more than about 4 or 5 weeks old)