Instant Ocean vs. Reef Crystals

[diverdick]

Some time ago, I read that people were using IO (Gary M.) and boosting the Alk, Ca & Mg, to bring it up to reef standards. Does anyone remember the dosing regimen to do so?

 

[Piazzon12]

For me it's different each time. Usually end up adding a handful of calcium and even more Mg (I keep it up at 1500)

 

[diverdick]

I have 600 gallons of IO (by mistake). I was hoping not to chew up test kits & time checking batches. Bummer.

Thanks for the input!

--Rich

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I would check each batch and adjust accordingly, Rich.

FWIW you probably won't want to boost alkalinity but you'll need to boost Mg and Ca a little bit.

 

[diverdick]

I would check each batch and adjust accordingly, Rich.

FWIW you probably won't want to boost alkalinity but you'll need to boost Mg and Ca a little bit.

Thanks Gary,

BTW, I owe you an updated picture of the Monti I got from you. Growing nicely!

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Here's a thread with interesting reading on the subject, stickied in the chemistry forum:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1287118

There's a chart with measured values for Ca, Mg, and alkalinity. IO and RC really aren't that different.

Also, Randy made this comment in that thread. It was in response to someone complaining that the alkalinity level in RC was higher than they wanted to maintain their tank at:

For most folks, I really do not think the alkalinity in the salt mix is very important. I know people agonize over it, but it doesn't really make sense to me for most situations. We add so much that the amount present in a water change will be quickly lost in the noise (IMO).

For example, I change 1% of the water daily.

Suppose that my tank runs at 2.5 meq/L (7 dKH) and I change it in with 4 meq/L (11 dKH).

That is adding the equivalent of 0.015 meq/L (0.04 dKH) per day.

In my normal top off of limewater, I'm adding about 0.8 meq/L (2.2 dKH) each day.

So I'm dosing about 50 times more with my dosing than the salt brings in.

I may be putting words in Randy's mouth, but my feeling about this is that in a fast growing reef, you're likely already supplementing Ca, alk, and Mg so much that the differences in salt mixes probably won't matter - at worst, it's a very small adjustment to your dosing regimen. I do usually use IO, and I do habitually measure each batch of newly mixed water for Ca and alk and adjust with home-made 2-part, but it's probably not as important as I think it is. The amount of alkalinity and Ca I'm likely to add to a system through dosing over a month, vs. the amount added by a water change, is probably at least an order of magnitude more.

 

[becon776]

interesting..... seems seachem takes it. but maybe I'm wrong.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

here's the thread, Rich:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=16612028#post16612028

results of the "new IO" :

my test results @ S.G. 1.026 using refracto and Salifert tests

alkalinity 12.8 dKH = 4.57 meq./L
calcium 430ppm
magnesium 1230ppm
pH 8.3

 

[moneytimetycoon]

Great Info! Thanks

 

[Namyar]

Re: Instant Ocean vs. Reef Crystals

600 gal is a lot do you want to unload any of it.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

if Rich is anything like me he probably goes through 200 gallons or so a month......

 

[diverdick]

Gary nailed it on the head. I change about that a month (~250 gallons).

Thanks for all the info too!

Peace,

--Rich

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Rich- hows the IO working out for you?

I'm getting fantastic results.

 

[diverdick]

Gary,

I have only been using it for a few weeks, I will wait on the victory lap.

As for growth, all good.

BTW, your tank looks great

 

[diverdick]

Diverdick - IO Update

Well, I took my eye off the proverbial ball this time. I have been using IO vs. RC for about 6 weeks now and at the moment, disappointed. My levels have been flat for a year now with my maint. routine and pd pumps set to deliver 2 part (~ 2 gallons/each part) + manual Mg. additions weekly.

I have never tested freshly mixed sea water. Shame on me. Once a mistake in salt order delivered 3 cases of IO instead of RC's, I decided to go with it. I read several threads regarding close, slightly lower levels reported. What the heli, why not. I change about 50 gallons/weekly. I tested the first two weeks with minor changes to Ca & Mg. input. I let life get in the way and procrastinated on my typical testing regimen with a 3 - 4 week gap. Meanwhile, I picked up Elos test kits to run side by side sampling to further my confidence. Tonight, to my she-grin, my Ca came in at 310. Good news, the fancy Elos kit matched the Salifert test. Bad news, IO salt caused a shift while my back was turned.

I do not blame IO for my oversight, just bummed that I missed it. As most of us know, that studder step, albeit repairable, was an avoidable bump in the trend. My system is a two part hog that just became more needy.

Short term for me has IO in it. I found myself at a store that sells the 200 gallon boxes for $35 bones. I went and bought three more boxes. So I have about four months worth of IO to trim out. I imagine with that kind of time, I will figure it out. I guess I am a fan of if its not broke, don't fix it.

Sorry for the long post all.

Peace and Prosperity

--Rich

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

thanks for the update. Sending you a PM.