preferred salt for sps keepers.
- Thread starter messy1messmer
- Start date
reefkoi
Premium Member
It's interesting reading this, does salt really make or break a tank? Rich say's it really doesn't matter, as long as you don't use TM because it has twice the copper as IO does. I suspect he's right, and stability is why most stick with a certain brand (thats my main reason) Price is also a big consideration.
I think you develope a routine and buffer here and there and the tank accepts that routine and stabilizes and therefore less rtn and more p.e. over time no matter which brand.
Did I just agree with Rich?.....................hmmm
j/k
I think you develope a routine and buffer here and there and the tank accepts that routine and stabilizes and therefore less rtn and more p.e. over time no matter which brand.
Did I just agree with Rich?.....................hmmm
j/k
LobsterOfJustice
Recovering Detritophobe
My question still stands, I think about two people have answered it. I know almost everyone uses IO, but how does everyone get the calcium up to acceptable levels?
Personally, I use a 50% IO, 50% Oceanic mix.
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
Or because it's not popular or the latest salt study says it's terrible. When each salt study doesn't agree with the last, it should raise questions.
I very much agree with your post ... from testing/buffering levels to maintaining long-term consistency - know what you're adding with your salt, and only change if you can isolate the salt as being negative.
Which is interesting, as I've seen a couple amazing tanks locally that use TM.
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MiddletonMark
Premium Member
I just know my method, I'm sure not saying it's what you should do ... but it's kept my tank going for a few years now.
I generally mix about 25-30g in my SW bin every change. After mixing the first batch of a bucket, I'll test Ca. Then I'll use DowFlake [in solution] to move Ca to where I want it. Re-test until it's right ... then mark down the amount of my Ca solution it took to get it there.
Next water change ... mix salt, then add Ca amount as I did with the first batch off that bucket. Normally the second/third batches I'll test to see that I got it right the first time. Normally I do
Slightly imprecise/imperfect ... but whether Ca is 400 or 450 - it's in my acceptable range.
I don't see why you couldn't follow the same procedure for all elements you want to test/suppliment ... and sure don't see any reason not to use DowFlake/BakingSoda/MagFlake to do it.
JMO ... and I'm sure someone might have a much better system - I'm all ears to that.
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drives300
Premium Member
You will find awesome tanks by all the major salt MFRS. I have even seen awesome tanks by Oceanic. I believe Randy Holmes farly published a surve on tanks of the month and a majority use IO. I personally use reef crystals. None of the synthetic salts are perfect, they all have their vices in some way or another.
My only advice is to accurately mix the salt and maintain that salinity preferably to 35 ppt(same as natural seawater)
My only advice is to accurately mix the salt and maintain that salinity preferably to 35 ppt(same as natural seawater)
RichConley
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9723612#post9723612 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefkoi
It's interesting reading this, does salt really make or break a tank? Rich say's it really doesn't matter, as long as you don't use TM because it has twice the copper as IO does. I suspect he's right, and stability is why most stick with a certain brand (thats my main reason) Price is also a big consideration.
I think you develope a routine and buffer here and there and the tank accepts that routine and stabilizes and therefore less rtn and more p.e. over time no matter which brand.
Did I just agree with Rich?.....................hmmm
I didnt say you can't use TM. Plenty of people do, and have great tanks.
I was simply saying that I dont think people should pay twice as much money for a bucket of salt that has double the levels of something that is extremely toxic. IO, and TM are almost exactly the same as far as those tests go. Same with RC, and TMPro. I've used all 4 of those, and honestly haven't seen any differences once theyre supplemented up to 420(Ca)/10(alk). Adjusting Alk and Ca are just so ridiculously cheap, that I dont see any reason to spend the extra cash.
RichConley
New member
right, it may not even be a concern.
But, I can control IO's low Ca. I can't control TM's copper.
I'm sure there are some really crappy salts out there. The problem is, IO is both so very good, and so very cheap, that its not even worth trying any of the cheap salts at this point. I get IO in 200g boxes for $28.99. Unless some other salt manufacturer can get down in the $10 range, its not worth trying something else thats cheap.
As far as TM, its a good salt. I just don't think its any better than IO (and that study agrees with me), and it costs twice as much.
Honestly, if there were a list of things I felt were important in a reef, I think what salt you chose would be about the 150th thing. (Flow would be #1). I feel that every extra $25 I spend if I buy a bucket of TM, is $25 that would be better utilized going to other things in my reef.
But, I can control IO's low Ca. I can't control TM's copper.
I'm sure there are some really crappy salts out there. The problem is, IO is both so very good, and so very cheap, that its not even worth trying any of the cheap salts at this point. I get IO in 200g boxes for $28.99. Unless some other salt manufacturer can get down in the $10 range, its not worth trying something else thats cheap.
As far as TM, its a good salt. I just don't think its any better than IO (and that study agrees with me), and it costs twice as much.
Honestly, if there were a list of things I felt were important in a reef, I think what salt you chose would be about the 150th thing. (Flow would be #1). I feel that every extra $25 I spend if I buy a bucket of TM, is $25 that would be better utilized going to other things in my reef.
REEF-DADDY
New member
I went through the whole thing in the thread linked below. I am using TM pro right now but I may just go back to IO:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=939631&highlight=salt+mix
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=939631&highlight=salt+mix
Serioussnaps
New member
See this thread, answers all questions. I have tested many salts and participated in this thread. I prefer mixing different salts. Any salt you get is either deficient or supersaturated in one or more paramaters. You have to adjust anything you get.
I mix TM pro reef and IO 65/35 respectively.
If you want to get into rankings(speaking strictly for keeping acroporids) then here are mine. I havent tried Red Sea pro but I am considering testing a batch.
1) tm pro
2)HW marinemix
The only two i would use solo and not mixed. Oceanic and IO can be mixed with others, but not solo IMO. I agree with the simple statement IO is CRAP..high alk, little low mAg, very low CA....doesnt make for good "sps salt."
With both of these you will get a low alk and have to dose to raise iit. Only reason i mix IO with tm pro is because i dont want to waste the ton of IO i have.
Serioussnaps
New member
Hw can give those params, but it IS very inconsitent in many cases. Some batches you get that some you dont. I ordered 2 different batches months apart from two different suppliers and didnt get anything like that. I will give IO one thing, it tests the dang same every time.
See the thread reefdaddy linked to, but off tops I recall that ALK was VERYYYYYY LOW
one it was 5.8 and one it was 6.4. This is TOO low, but ALK is very easy to adjust so it is a minor drawback as long as you test it and adjust.
Also, I got 1100 mag on one, but 1230 on another. Ca i got similar readings, they were both in a good range. (these arent exact, but what i recall...exact is in RD's thread)
Serioussnaps
New member
Last bit of my rant on this topic. Waxxie has it right on here. Great salt with a little ALK adjustment. It tests very consistently.
My last note....you will never get a perfect salt. Test every batch you get.
RichConley
New member
Snaps, why do you have an issue with needing to adjust Ca on IO, but have no problem adjusting Alk with TM?
They both take the same amount of time.
They both take the same amount of time.
