Reef Salt Choice Question

[singold]

Ok....I'm a bit confused and admittingly frustrated. The patient, please assist in my situation. I admit, sometimes I can be too analytical & rational. Anyway, here's my situation, I have a 75 gallon reef aquarium. I am only going to keep softies & LPS corals in my aqauarium. Probably 50/50 half softies, half LPS corals, no SPS corals. I have a Fluval 305 filtration, Whisper 60 for added water movement & filtration, and a Remora Skimmer with Maxi 1200 & 2 Koralia powerheads. I have 2 young children so am limited on time to test chemicals daily, yet want to achieve healthy reef tank at least to best of time allowance given. I love this hobby, but am becoming frustrated.

I have been reading about it non-stop because I want to have a successful healthy tank. Anyway, where I am frustrated it on the chemistry portion, which I see as the foundation of successful tank, like the foundation of a house, so to speak. Recently, I viewed a chart showing the different levels of trace elements in salt. Now, here is where I get confused. I use Instant Ocean, a person posted a graph showing every salt and its details on elements, such as Calcium, Magnesium, levels etc. All were different. Now, I understand the supplementation part of it, but it appears that Instant Ocean is one, if not the most popular salt out there to use, & I understand that one may need to supplement Calcium & Magnesium, etc. But why is IO it so popular then, if it is low on Calcium, Magnesium, etc additives levels? I was in in forum question earlier that said yes it is a good salt but may need to supplement calcium , magnesium, etc. I ask myself why use this then? From a logical mind-set, Coralife & Reef Crystals, as example, is cheaper in cost and a has higher level of the 2- calcium & mag., so why not use those. From a logical position I would assume it would be more expensive for the above mentioned since additives are there and less supplementation necessary but this not case.

What is confusing is every salt is different in additives and levels. This is what confuses me, so I thought I'd speak from heart to get advise. I know if I switch from IO to another salt I should do slowly. Again, I have a 75 gal. reef, 50% softies, 50% LPS, what is best salt to use to avoid less supplemention of critical element necessity such as Calcium, Magnesium, etc given corals I am trying to support? Thanks for your patience & insight in advance. ---Sean

 

[Bonneville08]

Hi Sean,
The fluval is not a good choice for corals, as it does not address Nitrate and Phosphate buildup, please research Berlin, Jaubert, and Ecosystem filtration mehtods for corals.
Instant Ocean has been around for a long time, and has a good reputation among most aquarists. No matter which salt you use, you will need to test for Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Phosphate, pH, Calcium, alkalinity, Magnesium, etc. once you have corals. The corals will use up major, minor and trace elements and you will have to supplement eventually with any salt mix (or do huge water changes, which are more expensive and time consuming). Count on 30 minutes every week or two for testing, and keep a log of parameters.
I use Red Sea because someone suggested it to me personally, and I trust him, I get good results from it. What you do with your tank is a matter of who you trust whether its a book, video, website, or somebody like me.

 

[Tswifty]

As far as the salt goes. It's really just preference, or availability in most cases.

I personally use reef crystals, and boost up my cal. Sure there were some other mixes that match my params a little better, but I've been using reef crystals all along, and I know by now how much Ca I need to add... so it really doesn't take any extra time to add it.

So my mixing basically consists of adding 15g of RO water in a container... 3 or 4 cups of salt (not the 1cup measure, but the cup I use in the bucket)... then 6 caps of DT's Ca... spot check SG after about 10 minutes... then let it mix with a powerhead overnight.

That chart just showed the parameters you should expect, however the specific params may differ a little according to batch.

 

[Tswifty]

Honestly, ever since I added the ATO unit, and started using kalk in my top off water, the time spent on my tank has really decreased.

I really don't do much outside of the daily feedings, and wipe down the glass with a mag float once or twice a week.

 

[singold]

Thanks for advise Bonneville & Tswifty, I guess i'm looking for a perfect science, which is impossible because this hobby is so dynamic. Yet, I hope to eventually get a good balance where I know to add what & when as you both mentioned in your replies. Thanks for input, your advise does assist in this effort.
---Sean