Long time Reef crystals user has had enough!!

[r6justin]

is that stuff on the powerhead bad? i get that also with RC or IO salt and figured all salts do that. It does become a pain bc we need to clean the PH more but i don't think its harming anything.

 

[allsps40]

Sea World uses NSW, FWIW.

 

[Durango8]

After reading this thread and some of the problems with sludge and high alk with RC, I'm thinking of change to another salt brand. Anyone try TM Bio-Actif?

 

[cham]

You have to be kidding me? Just because RC was the low bidder to provide Sea World Orlando with salt, that makes you think it's good? Sea World is running a business not a ornimental reef. They'd get their salt from Acme Salt Supply if it worked and was cheap enough. And the Georgia Aquarium (MUCH bigger than Sea World) uses IO... does that make IO the best? In a word... NO.

Some of the best all SPS reef tanks I've ever seen are using IO. I was buying RC for years until these tanks blew me away.

WWC only uses IO and their 300 display will give you SPS color/growth envy.

 

[aleonn]

There have been alkalinity issues with TMP. I used TMP before with alk in the 5-7 range, which according to the company is by design. I now use RSCP with great parameters and results. I've also heard great things about D&D. Our sponsor Drs Foster & Smith Aquatics sells saltwater mixes with free shipping (over $49 order) and no heavy packaging charges

 

[Reef_Matrix29]

Not sure if it's been mentioned yet, but when I mix salt using RC, I make sure the water is close to 78 or current tank temp, aerated for a few hours and a strong enough pump for the size container I'm using. So 10 gallons might get a Maxi-jet 1200, but a Brute trash can will definitely get something like a Rio 1100 or mag 5 to really get things mixed up and not settling out on the bottom. As for the brown sludge, I'm assuming that between mixes you are thoroughly cleaning out your container to get any residue out that could case bacteria growth? I will sometimes soak in hot diluted vinegar water to help break it up and wipe dry until it's time for make up water again. If you store the make water in a water tight container absent of light, it should inhibit further growth of that sludge until you are ready to use it.

The main drawback in RC that I have noticed over the 5 years I've used it is sometimes the low Ca, like 380 ppm, but Alk is normally high, like 11.2, I will take those tradeoffs any day.

 

[cham]

I don't worry about slight variations (say 350ppm vs 420ppm) because in small 10g weekly chages the "swing" it will give my 150 total volume tank is almost nill. My dosers do a pretty good job of keeping things even

 

[mab349]

If you want to add a little minerals to your salt, red sea salt mixes cleanly. Otherwise red sea coral pro salt mixes quickly with very little residue. IMO Tropic Marin is the best, I just can't justify double the cost over RSCP.