Need reassurance on IO for SPS

Tuffloud1

Tuffloud1

New member
I do automatic water changes where my saltwater is stored for weeks at a time. I just ordered a 200 gallon box of regular Instsnt Ocean because it comes highly recommended by many people including Randy Holmes Farley.

I'm switching from Neomarine.

My goal is to match NSW levels so I'll probably have to lower alkalinity in each batch I mix up.

My concern is the quality of this product (cheap). Are there metals in this salt? Reef Crystals has "Trace Elements" added. Do I need the trace elements for SPS? Is the potassium level low?

I saw this article and it freaked me out -

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-03/rs/feature/

Just looking for some reassurance because I am reluctant to change it and the price seems too good to be true.

Tell me it's going to be okay:uhoh2:
 
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IO is the best salt that I have ever used. 1 50G bag in a 44G brute to the top has produced consistent results for almost 20 years. I add a bit of calcium and even sometimes a few MLs of muratic, but the salt mixes up the same every time.

I like Tropic Marin too, but it really needs mixed and mixed in the bucket and it is really expensive.

I would coin the salt as inexpensive, not cheap. I doubt that you can do better than IO.
 
Tuffloud1 said:
I do automatic water changes where my saltwater is stored for weeks at a time. I just ordered a 200 gallon box of regular Instsnt Ocean because it comes highly recommended by many people including Randy Holmes Farley.

I'm switching from Neomarine.

My goal is to match NSW levels so I'll probably have to lower alkalinity in each batch I mix up.

My concern is the quality of this product (cheap). Are there metals in this salt? Reef Crystals has "Trace Elements" added. Do I need the trace elements for SPS? Is the potassium level low?

I saw this article and it freaked me out -

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-03/rs/feature/

Just looking for some reassurance because I am reluctant to change it and the price seems too good to be true.

Tell me it's going to be okay:uhoh2:
Click to expand...
That article from 2003 has been questioned and followed up on

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/3/aafeature


http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2004/2/aafeature3


http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/7/chemistry

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/rhf/feature/

For chemistry advise in seawater i would choose a better source
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/search?Subject:list=Randy Holmes-Farley

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/author/rhf.php


IO is perfectly fine for any reef tank as is most any salt as long as you know the general parameters and understand your tank's requirements beyond that.

I'm collecting data and getting triton results here
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2554264&page=2
 
I have heard nothing bad about io besides how much sludge accumulates in the mixing bucket. For auto wc, that may be an issue for you.

I second the suggestion of coralife. Its a great salt that has very close to nsw parameters.
 
Tuffloud1 said:
Since there are no "trace elements" or vitamins added to regular IO, do I need to supplement them?
Click to expand...
There's lots of trace elements in IO. It doesn't have organics like vitamins, chelators, or aminos, probiotics, etc.

Only things i would measure would be the standard alk, ca, and mg. Then maybe K as well. A triton test 1 or 2 times a year may be good to check the rest. Many of the trace elements will come in the salt mix, foods you feed, or impurities in any supplements you add like mg or ca.
 
crystal seas marinemix, bioassay, one of the top performers cited in the aforementioned articles. two 150 gallon boxes for 39.00 each with free shipping at Pentair.
 
dendrite said:
crystal seas marinemix, bioassay, one of the top performers cited in the aforementioned articles. two 150 gallon boxes for 39.00 each with free shipping at Pentair.
Click to expand...

This is an excellent salt that I used for years, but I now use plain instant ocean. My SPS seem happy and all I do is dose Seachem Reef Fusion 24/7 on a medical dosing pump.
 
SkullV said:
This is an excellent salt that I used for years, but I now use plain instant ocean. My SPS seem happy and all I do is dose Seachem Reef Fusion 24/7 on a medical dosing pump.
Click to expand...

Is there any advantage to Reef Fusion besides not having to premix anything? I currently use BRS 2 part.
 
scrapz said:
I have heard nothing bad about io besides how much sludge accumulates in the mixing bucket. For auto wc, that may be an issue for you.

I second the suggestion of coralife. Its a great salt that has very close to nsw parameters.
Click to expand...

Actually, I have another thread going asking what salt is the best choice for AWC and everyone recommended IO because the lack of organics. Storing saltwater that has organics for extended periods is not good evidently.
 
Tuffloud1 said:
Is there any advantage to Reef Fusion besides not having to premix anything? I currently use BRS 2 part.
Click to expand...

Yes, part one contains magnesium and trace elements. It is also significantly stronger than BRS 2 part. I believe around 5x as concentrated.
 
SkullV said:
Yes, part one contains magnesium and trace elements. It is also significantly stronger than BRS 2 part. I believe around 5x as concentrated.
Click to expand...

Sounds better, how does the value compare? I might make the switch. I'm having to dose way more calcium than alk to keep my levels from drifting.

Wouldn't your Magnesium level possibly keep going up if it's included in the mix?
 
Tuffloud1 said:
Sounds better, how does the value compare? I might make the switch. I'm having to dose way more calcium than alk to keep my levels from drifting.

Wouldn't your Magnesium level possibly keep going up if it's included in the mix?
Click to expand...

Can't speak to value as I've never purchased the BRS product. As far as magnesium, while I don't test for it, I have been using reef fusion for years and have never had an issue. In theory, the amount of magnesium in the mix is supposed to be proportional to cal/alk in the amount used by coral for skeletal growth.
 
Just out of curiosity, does Instant Ocean make any other tried and true products worth using other than their salt?
 
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