Salt Mix - Sorry if asked before..

Mare100

Mare100

New member
Hi All...

I'm sorry for asking this again if it's been asked a million times before. I've tried searching old posts....but I can never, never, never, never, ever get a search to work..:(

Anyway....I'm wondering if you guys can make some recommendations on what you all think is the best salt mixture to use when making up your water.

We are presently using Instant Ocean at the recommendation of the LFS. So far it's been good (as far as we know!). Anything anybody likes better?

M
 
If I remember correctly, about 50% of us here that participate in polls claim to use IO.

Come on, break down and get a premium membership, you know you want to access the search function........:)
 
Yeahhhhhh..........I should just go for it and get the Premium Membership. Can't be any worse than the damage I inflicted on hubby's credit card on our last visit to the LFS! (He He He)!!

If I get the Premium Membership....do I get to put a cute little picture under my name in the threads finally?

OK....will stick with the IO. But why is it...in this hobby...no matter what you do, how much you spend....you always second guess yourself? LOL.

M
 
Probably more info than you're looking for, but if you want to sound like you're really smart, Take a look at this article:

http://saltaquarium.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://web.archive.org/web/20010303215133/www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm/1999/mar/features/1/default.asp

The short answer is, IO is a perfectly good salt, and it's probably the most popular brand in the hobby. I use Reef Crystals, which is made by the same company. It's just a little closer to reef conditions. Of course, it's debatable whether or not it's worth the extra cost.
 
If your LFS is a place that you trust getting your information it is good to listen to their recommendations, especially if they have specific reasons for it. Never feel bad for double checking here for the opinions of those who have "been there, done that".

I personally am going on the recommendation of my LFS and using Oceanic's Natural Sea Salt. They used to recommend Instant Ocean and Reef Crystals, but now only IO for fish only systems (and reluctantly at that). We have REALLY BAD water in this city and they have seen issues with both of those products with the city water here, even when run through RO/DI units. That is their reason for the Oceanic. The owner of the store used IO himself for a long time until moving here and then had issues with it. I have spent hours in there (literally) chatting with him about reef systems and I trust what he says. They have had wonderful systems since switching to Oceanic.
 
I don't know amosgirl. RO/DI should remove anything that could possibly cause issues with a salt mix. I don't buy the Oceanic thing personally not matter how strongly he believes in it, he has a bit of a conflict of interest. Look at the tanks of the month for the past couple of years and Oceanic doesn't show up much if at all.
 
Actually it is possible that amosgirl's LFS is correct. If I remember correctly some area's in colorado have naturally occuring high flouride. Works great for strong teeth but could be one of the few things not taken out with RO/DI. Though many municipalites add Flouride to their water it is a very small ammount and this naturally occuring ammount is quite a bit higher than that.
 
I think we should be good with the IO. We have well water, which we run through RO unit. Like I said....so far...no problems. I guess that falls under the category of "if it ain't broke...don't fix it".....LOL!

Thanks for all the input!

M
 
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Really, it's worth it. The access to the search feature alone is worth the membership. I rarely ever get them, it's only during really busy times I get denied (and only occasionally), like sometimes on Saturday nights and in December/January when everyone is eager to share their new toys.:lol:
Membership is a lot cheaper than a visit to the LFS, and you don't have to acclimate it, you only have to feed it when you want to, and it generally only makes a mess when you give bad advice. :)
 
Actually it is possible that amosgirl's LFS is correct. If I remember correctly some area's in colorado have naturally occuring high flouride. Works great for strong teeth but could be one of the few things not taken out with RO/DI. Though many municipalites add Flouride to their water it is a very small ammount and this naturally occuring ammount is quite a bit higher than that.
Click to expand...

Just curious how the different salts would matter. Does RC and IO have lots of flouride?

Lisa
 
We do have very high flouride levels as well as just VERY hard water compared to most in the area. It is just really screwy. 20 miles in any direction away from here and the water is pretty soft and easy to get along with. I don't remember all of the specifics on what exact levels of what where the problem. I guess I just kind of got lost after they said "its the greeley water". That kind of explained everything for me. I was too busy thinking about getting my new tank set up (surely you can understand that:))
 
sunfish11,

More than likely the RC or IO does not have any flouride added to it but it could be that Oceanic's Natural Sea Salt has a buffer in it that helps to nutralize the Flouride or adjust the extreme hardness, I do not know if this is true but it is a possible explanation to the reason why the RC and IO have issues in that area.
 
I use Sera Salt. Was using Oceanic first, had to clean the glass of brown diatoms almost daily. Switched to Sera, tank never looked better. The place i was getting Sera from closed, so I went back to Oceanic. Diatoms back as bad as before. the Sera LFS opened again, tank is clear.

Just my experience.
 
I am wondering what the alk is straight out of the RO unit there. A buffer that nutralizes flouride doesn't sound right to me but perhaps Oceanic has a very low alk...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9769176#post9769176 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by amosgirl

I personally am going on the recommendation of my LFS and using Oceanic's Natural Sea Salt. They used to recommend Instant Ocean and Reef Crystals, but now only IO for fish only systems (and reluctantly at that). We have REALLY BAD water in this city and they have seen issues with both of those products with the city water here, even when run through RO/DI units. That is their reason for the Oceanic. The owner of the store used IO himself for a long time until moving here and then had issues with it. I have spent hours in there (literally) chatting with him about reef systems and I trust what he says. They have had wonderful systems since switching to Oceanic.
Click to expand...

That's bulls**t, he just make a higher profit on it.

RO/DI remove 99.99% of tds, you have no alk left, nothing. Only trace amount of silicate/phosphate/etc.

If you use true RO/DI, the salt mix result is the same between me and you, io/rc/oceanic... If you use a untreated city water with alk of 10 already, you gonna have problem with IO/RC as their alk is between 8-12 dkh.

the only issue with IO is low calcium, with Coralife it's low alk.

If IO was cheap where I leave, I would use it, or reef crystal.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9771228#post9771228 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Icefire
That's bulls**t, he just make a higher profit on it.

RO/DI remove 99.99% of tds, you have no alk left, nothing. Only trace amount of silicate/phosphate/etc.

If you use true RO/DI, the salt mix result is the same between me and you, io/rc/oceanic... If you use a untreated city water with alk of 10 already, you gonna have problem with IO/RC as their alk is between 8-12 dkh.

the only issue with IO is low calcium, with Coralife it's low alk.

If IO was cheap where I leave, I would use it, or reef crystal.
Click to expand...

Correct ;)

Oceanic= super high calcium and magnesium, very low Alk
IO= low calcium, average alk
Reef Crystals= Very well balanced

Remember that even with the same brands you'll end up with different levels since not all batches are made the same. I would stick with IO and raise Alk accordingly prior to a water change, remember to prepare your water at least 24 hrs in advance and you'll be fine.

This is one of those debates like the whole DSB vs BB subject, use what you have available just be aware of the shortcomings and adjust accordingly. ;) Good luck
 
That's bulls**t, he just make a higher profit on it.
Click to expand...

That was my intitial impression. Never trust your LFS too much. They love that! Remember they are trying to make money. When they see you coming they see $$$$$.

I thought RO/DI took alk out too (as long as TDS is 0 or close to it), but I wasn't quite sure. I have always operated with the understanding that unless you need to change your filters, the water was COMPLETELY stripped. I never tested the alk of water straight out of the RO/DI . I use RC and I tested the alk before in newly mixed water it was 12 DKH
 
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