I mix by weight, not volume, and add a little extra salt to be at 1.026 (their formula yields 1.025)... Mag = 1400, cal= ~500, alk=9.9... The mix is ready to go as soon as all portions are added
Looking for a new Salt mix.
- Thread starter degibson84
- Start date
I mix by weight, not volume, and add a little extra salt to be at 1.026 (their formula yields 1.025)... Mag = 1400, cal= ~500, alk=9.9... The mix is ready to go as soon as all portions are added
I'm on Red Sea Pro, few tricks to mixing any salt correctly. For me it's have the RO/DI ready, then have the pump running while mixing. I put in a cup at a time but sort of spread/sprinkle it out so it breaks that cup into a smaller amount. Then I'll let it mix for 4hrs on a timer till it shuts off.
But then again, I mix in batches of 100g so I'm set for a month or two at a time. My timer is set for 30 mins x4 a day.
I have a few buckets of RSP left, after that I'm switching to Reef Crystals since I have 4 200g boxes to use.
But then again, I mix in batches of 100g so I'm set for a month or two at a time. My timer is set for 30 mins x4 a day.
I have a few buckets of RSP left, after that I'm switching to Reef Crystals since I have 4 200g boxes to use.
Dapg8gt
New member
Take it how you want to take it. I'm not knocking it I'm telling the truth. I liked it I just can't use it. I spoke to a rep about it and The response was it's normal and it shouldn't be mixed for more than 4 hours due to the alk Precipitating out and should be used all at once vs having it for multiple water changes. Along with some chemistry things I had no idea what he was talking about =).
There is multiple responses about it on multiple forums about the alk issues. I can make a highly educated guess that your numbers are way lower than when you first mixed it a few days later unless you have a magic hookup on a advanced mix =). Have you checked the levels after storing it? I'm just being real on the issue stated. I actually have some still and I will use it if I need to mix some up in a hurry that is really the only negative about it and it's not just me who experienced it fwiw.
On a side note I'm also thinking of trying a new salt just because. I'm thinking of trying brightwell the reviews are awesome and it's semi affordable. I want to try the esv but after seeing the price I can't do it.
I use Red Sea Coral Pro currently and used Tropic Marine Pro Reef in the past, both salts are quite good I think. Never had problems with them. Except that some batches of Red Sea salts are a bit "dirty", I mean that I found some minor very small coral/sand particles on the bottom of my mixing box in one batch. But I think, that's the price for natural salt mix. Except that, both of these salts are easy and fast to mix and have mostly stable values.
Ted_C
Active member
+1 for ESV. It's one of the few salts where your only putting in everything your reef needs and nothing it doesn't. Red Sea and IO "Force" the dry all-in-one with other chemicals that they dont disclose. IO uses clay I think. Red Sea is usually high in nitrates and phosphates.
Sometimes price is just price and not an indicator of quality or consistency of product. Sometimes you get more; sometimes you just pay more. Arguing best salt is like arguing your favorite pizza topping. Lot's of folks do have trouble with highly priced types that have specialized mixiing instuctions or rely on higher saturation rates for alk an calcium ; others like them.
FWI, I've used Coralife for about 9 years;about 16 /17 buckets per year. It has been consistently good for me ;only one cloudy batch out of 150 or so buckets. Obviously , I don't like to change salt mix when a particular type is working.
FWI, I've used Coralife for about 9 years;about 16 /17 buckets per year. It has been consistently good for me ;only one cloudy batch out of 150 or so buckets. Obviously , I don't like to change salt mix when a particular type is working.
Fury165
New member
+1 great salt if used immediately, but had the same results with storing the salt water made with Aquavitro Salinity.
auburnreefer110
In Memoriam
How are you guys storing it? I store mine with a powerhead in it, and a heater. Never once had any issues
Can someone explain this using fresh made SW within a short period of time after its made.
In my mind, whats the differece in a storage tank and our display tanks? I must be missing something as if thats the case the SW in our tanks would need to be changed everyday if it has the same results as in a storage container with water movement and a heater.
Any help would be greatly aprreciated.
BTW i use red sea regular salt.
Thanks
In my mind, whats the differece in a storage tank and our display tanks? I must be missing something as if thats the case the SW in our tanks would need to be changed everyday if it has the same results as in a storage container with water movement and a heater.
Any help would be greatly aprreciated.
BTW i use red sea regular salt.
Thanks
degibson84
New member
Ted_C
Active member
All-in-one powder mixes aren't natural (neither is ESV for that matter). The difference is all-in-one powders (which people seem to like) need to do "something" to keep the material consistent and usable over longer time periods. In most cases this is adding materials like binders (clays) to support the higher alkalinity that people seem to think they need.
once these clays settle out of solution - there is nothing left to stop the higher concentration of elements (ca and carbonate alkalinity) to precipitate out of solution.
CedzAquAddictio
New member
+ 100000000000000000 On this one. I buy it by the barrel. A barrel is good for about 1,050 gallons. Costs about $300 or $400, but I have salt for the year. The important thing is to roll the barrel or bucket. Some additives may settle at the bottom, and you want even distribution of everything. Rolling the barrel mixes it all up very well...
I've only had foggy water once using Salinity, and that was my fault. I had the vent closed in the room where my mixing station is, and the water was not heated to the temperature of the house when it was mixed. But, I add the full load of salt to my mixing water when the mixing container is at the halfway mark with a powerhead on. I let the RODI continue to fill until it is full, then turn on my other mixing pump. I go to bed, then to work, and when I return home, it is mixed as well as it needs to be. The shortest mix I've done was 8 hours, but I generally do 24 hour mixes.
I checked parameters for the first 2 months of using Salinity, and it was so consistent and spot on, I don't really check the parameters anymore unless something has died in my tank, I do general maintenance and stir some stuff up, add a couple of fish, etc....
I have about 260-270 total gallons, so I do three 50g water changes per month. If I'm consistent with my water changes, my parameters show to be consistent as well...
GroktheCube
New member
I'll add my endorsement to ESV.
I fill a brute with 29g ro/di, fire up the heater and mixing pump and get started. I weigh the NaCl and dump it in, MgSO4 a few minutes later, part a after mag, part b a couple minutes later.
As soon as it gets to temp, it's ready to go. Always clear, always chemically consistent, and never leaves any residue. A quick rinse in the shower and it all goes back to storage.
I fill a brute with 29g ro/di, fire up the heater and mixing pump and get started. I weigh the NaCl and dump it in, MgSO4 a few minutes later, part a after mag, part b a couple minutes later.
As soon as it gets to temp, it's ready to go. Always clear, always chemically consistent, and never leaves any residue. A quick rinse in the shower and it all goes back to storage.
$300 or $400... I did find it advertised for $349...
This is more than I pay for ESV, and I don't have to "roll...out... the barrel"...
I usually mix 60g a week...
degibson84
New member
Looking at the synthetic salt mix sticky at the top of this forum I am wondering if the coralife calcium content is correct. 560 seems kind of high
I know Red Sea get a bit of criticism here but I used Reefers Best and was just barely happy and then after a rebuild used Red Sea Coral Pro...did very minimal mixing, no standing, just went for it and got terrific numbers right from the start. Personally I now use NSW for water changes but if I was at startup I would use RSPro again without hesitation I was so happy with it.
I've never seen a good explanation of what's happening. One possibility is that the precipitation occurs on mixing, but it takes a few days for the precipitate to settle. In the mean time, our test kits likely are including precipitated calcium and alkalinity. Alkalinity kits, for example, use an acid to lower the pH, which would redissolve the calcium carbonate.
The have changed th forumula since that test was done. Calcium runs around 450 now,IIRC. I haven't tested new i in a while though. Unfortunately, most manufacturer's change formulas from time to time. The sticky is somewaht outdated and it would take alot of work and expense to test all of them to make it more current. FWIW when it had 500plus calcium , I used it without any problem.
