Oceanic Salt

[michealprater]

When I setup my new aquarium I decided to go with Oceanic salt. Yesterday thanks to Kraash I was able to run a full battery of tests. The results were very surprising.

Calcium over 500.... (Salifert only goes to 500)
Magnesium 1340
Alkalinity 10.4

The alk could be a little bit higher, but I was really impressed with the calcium and magnesium. Anyone else using Oceanic? What are your thoughts.

A few freinds and I were debating how it would turn out if you mixed Oceanic and Reef Crystals since Reef Crystals does really good on Alkalinity.

 

[HOC]

I mix those two brands and don't get nearly those results. Can't remember what the levels were now, but next time I'll write them down.

 

[michealprater]

Would be curious of the calcium. I know several salt studies show it in the upper 400s.

All tests were done on Salifert kits.

 

[HOC]

I know I was closer to 400 testing with Elos on Calcium

 

[michealprater]

Mixed, or straight Oceanic?

 

[HOC]

Mixed

 

[michealprater]

That makes sense, Reef Crystals is fairly low in calcium so it would off set Oceanic high calcium. How does the alk and mag test?

 

[michealprater]

I wonder about 3 parts oceanic, 1 part reef crystals.

 

[HOC]

Well, I mixed 150 gal RC to 200 gal Oceanic. I'll have to wait until the next water change to get exact numbers. Give me a few days and I'll post all the info.

 

[michealprater]

Cool.

Anyone else have experience with Oceanic or any other salt for that matter.

 

[maxxII]

I've used Instant Ocean as long as I've been in the hobby, zero issues. yes its low in Ca and Alk, but I dont have any issues with that when I do water changes.

I've had friends who started out with Oceanic salt, and developed nasty algae issues. Oceanic has high phosphates in their salt mix. They may have since changed their formula, but I steer clear of it because of that particular reason.

I would also strongly suggest you not combine salt mixes. I've lost count over the years of the folks who have done so and had disasterous results. The chemistry of two or more salt mixes combined does not do pretty things to a reef tank. I dont know the specifics of why, just that the results are often fatal to invertebrate tank inhabitants.

My suggestion is to pick one salt mix you know you will be able to get easily, whenever you need it, and stick with it exclusively.

Nick

 

[michealprater]

Well based off the various studies that are available out thier, I will stick with Oceanic. As far as phosphates, I will definately monitor it. My tank is high in phosphates right now, but that is because I used some rock from neglected tanks. I plan on running gfo.

 

[StupidsReef]

I used Oceanic off an on. It's ok, but I'm going to stick with IO. Until I bought this last bucket of Oceanic I'v never had any issue's with my tank, Now that I've been using this 200 bucket my ALK has been higher than Salifert test kit goes. And yes so has the Calcium. I even tried to mix it with Corallife to bring the Alk down but it still test way off the charts.

I'm not saying its a bad salt, but for me I'm going back to IO.

Here's a good thread to read about salt's. A member has tested almost every brand out there and given the results.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1554311

 

[Letmegrow]

With your alk being at 10.4 it doesn't need to be any higher.
The corals wont be able to calcify fast enough to make a difference. 9-11 is just the sweet spot Not much difference at the top or bottom of the range.

 

[michealprater]

That is a thread on your alkalinity, but I did comment.


Here is a few good salt studies.

http://reefsaltanalysis.googlepages.com/AWT_Salt_Analysis_0208.pdf

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/eb/index.php

http://www.northcoastmarines.com/salt_comparison.htm

http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/seasaltmixes/l/aa090503b.htm

www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_4/V4I3/Salt/salt.htm

 

[michealprater]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14191832#post14191832 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Letmegrow
With your alk being at 10.4 it doesn't need to be any higher.
The corals wont be able to calcify fast enough to make a difference. 9-11 is just the sweet spot Not much difference at the top or bottom of the range.

Thanks man! Thats good to know. I just hope I can get the salt to stay fairly consistant. From what I am hearing that is the main issue.

 

[Letmegrow]

I personally stay away from Oceanic Salt.
The dozen or so times I have used that salt there was always problems.

I use a IO and Coralife mix and still suppliment.
Honestly I buy what is on sale at the time, it all needs adjusting.

I never get my calcium above 480, it's easier to maintain 9alk and 420 cal.

When my alk drops to 7 I dose slowly until it hits 11 and then falls to the sweet spot of 9.

When my calcium falls to 380 I dose up to 450 then it sits at 420.

I can't argue with the growth I get.

 

[Im Lon 2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14191551#post14191551 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by StupidsReef
my ALK has been higher than Salifert test kit goes. And yes so has the Calcium. [/url]

How bad is this going to be on the corals over time? Right now everthing is looking good.. But what about later?

 

[Letmegrow]

High alk could cause them to burn....
REALLY high alk will kill inverts.

High calcium will retard growth.
I am not sure what REALLY high calcium will do because I have never tried that.

 

[michealprater]

At some point doesnt it just become a solid and leave the water anyway?