CaliforniaDreamer
Premium Member
I just mixed up my first batch of Red Sea salt (thought I would try it based on Eric's testing). In any case I thought you all might be interested in my results. I mixed up a batch in a large Brute garbage can. 45 Gallons of RO/DI with a TDS of 1 PPM and 1 50 Gallon Bag of Red Sea salt mix.
Results
SG - 1.025 Measured with Refractometer
Temp 75.4 F Measured with digital thermometer
pH 8.65 Measured with Pin Point meter
Ca 370 Salifert test kit
Alk 8.6 (3.06 Meq) Salifert test kit
Mg 1320 Salifert test kit
PO4 Undetectable using DDeltec test kit
NO3 Undetectable using LaMotte Nitrate Test kit
All tests done after 24 hours with power head providing constant circulation. My only surprise was the high pH but I expect that it will settle down once carbon dioxide balance is achieved. I had actually expected that the SG would have been a bit lower but it tested right where I usually keep it. I will probably bring up the Ca to 430 by adding 7.5 teaspoons of Dow Flake and bring up the Alkalinity to 3.5 meq. by adding just a little over 1 teaspoon of baking soda. The baking soda will probably bring down the pH some too. I was happy that the PO4 and NO3 levels were undetectable (I always get the same results with IO). In any case it will be interesting to see if the next bag of Red Sea results in the same readings. I usually use IO and the Ca, Alk, and Mg readings are often very different between batches. BTW Exotic has the Red Sea 200 gallon bucket for just about $40 which makes it just as cheap as IO. Also I use Randy's Reef Calculator to determine how much Dow Flake and Baking soda to add.
-- EDIT --
I guess I should have also said that newly mixed salt water is still in the brute container. I'll post again when I actually start using it for a water change. Based on John's results at Your Reef and others I will probably only do about 5% changes at a time untill I know how my corals react.
Results
SG - 1.025 Measured with Refractometer
Temp 75.4 F Measured with digital thermometer
pH 8.65 Measured with Pin Point meter
Ca 370 Salifert test kit
Alk 8.6 (3.06 Meq) Salifert test kit
Mg 1320 Salifert test kit
PO4 Undetectable using DDeltec test kit
NO3 Undetectable using LaMotte Nitrate Test kit
All tests done after 24 hours with power head providing constant circulation. My only surprise was the high pH but I expect that it will settle down once carbon dioxide balance is achieved. I had actually expected that the SG would have been a bit lower but it tested right where I usually keep it. I will probably bring up the Ca to 430 by adding 7.5 teaspoons of Dow Flake and bring up the Alkalinity to 3.5 meq. by adding just a little over 1 teaspoon of baking soda. The baking soda will probably bring down the pH some too. I was happy that the PO4 and NO3 levels were undetectable (I always get the same results with IO). In any case it will be interesting to see if the next bag of Red Sea results in the same readings. I usually use IO and the Ca, Alk, and Mg readings are often very different between batches. BTW Exotic has the Red Sea 200 gallon bucket for just about $40 which makes it just as cheap as IO. Also I use Randy's Reef Calculator to determine how much Dow Flake and Baking soda to add.
-- EDIT --
I guess I should have also said that newly mixed salt water is still in the brute container. I'll post again when I actually start using it for a water change. Based on John's results at Your Reef and others I will probably only do about 5% changes at a time untill I know how my corals react.
Last edited:
Was the Ca expected to be around 370? I find that kinda iteresting since its on the lower end compared to some and the pH was pretty high. Made me wonder if something affected the Ca and it bound chemically and inturn drove the pH up and became undetectable as a bicarbonate? I may be using the wrong term but I hope you get what Im trying to say.
