New salt???

[sonoma2nv]

I was wondering if any one uses crystal sea salt mix.I just got a 5gal bucket of it the lfs said it would bring my calcium to 400-450ppm.I was using Instant ocean,but calcium was 320-360ppm.And i really dont want to dose calcium since im so new to sw keeping.

 

[Paintbug]

i have never used the salt but, if you dont have alot of stony corals in the tank your calc levels are fine. your going to end up dosing calc anyway you might as well get used to it .

 

[sonoma2nv]

Well i heard that you need good calcium for coraline to grow.Is this true?

 

[Paintbug]

you need more than calc for coralline to grow. your alkilanity and magnesium will need to be in check as well. you will get coralline growing at your current levels, but it will really take off you start dosing a good 2 part like B-ionic. or you can make your own like i do with Randys Recipe.

 

[sonoma2nv]

Yeah i see now .i need to get a few more test kits i have po4,ca,no3,hn3,ph,kh,gh,no2,fe1,fe2,i have a alk test but is the color one .Not the count the drops,So what else sould i get?Strontium,Iodide,magnesium,and a good alk test?

 

[Paintbug]

i would get a Sailfert kits. you will need magnesium, and alk. Iodine, Strontium dosent need to be dosed. but if you do dose test for it. all i test for myself is PH, Calc, Mag, Alk, NO3 one a regular basis. i will check PO4 if i have an algae outbreak. heres a like one all the trace elements in salt water and what each one does.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

 

[cato]

Try using Oceanic. You'll won't have to dose anything for along time. It's high in everything. I use it and no probs yet...knock on wood.http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=769116