salt mix

[kmax74]

what brand of salt do you use and what additives do you have to add i curently use tropic marin pro reef and it is a pain to get i am thinking of switching to oceanic is thier really that big of a diffrence

 

[arts007]

I currently use oceanic, but Ive been thinking of switching to this salt, seems to be well balanced... just have to mix the solution with it

When I tested my oceanic again this is the results that I got...Calcium always seems to be high and the Mg is lower than I would like it to be. I think the majority of people here use reef crystals

Temp - 78
SG - 35PPT
pH - 8.1
dKH - 9.6
Nitrate - 0.5 mg/l
Calcium - 520 ppm
Magnesium - 1260 mg/l
Strontium - 2 mg/l
Phosphate - 0
Iodide - 0.1

All tests were with Salifert , pH done with probe and salinity with refractometer.

 

[Billybeau1]

kmax, there is no perfect salt mix as far as I know. Everyones tanks have different requirements for the big three. Cal, Alk and Mag.

You should try different brands until you find one that suits your tank with the minimum amount of additives.

You are always going to have to make adjustments. It's just a matter of what adjustments you want to make.

Oceanic is extremely high in calcium and mag. Actually higher than arts posted. He must be mixing below 35 ppt (1.0265) Arts, how do you measure s.g ?

I have tested many salt mixes and if you tell me what kind of tank you have and how heavily it is stocked, I can recommend a salt to try.

 

[gistsc]

I like Oceanic. I seem to have a well balanced system with weekly water changes.

 

[Billybeau1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10115735#post10115735 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gistsc
I like Oceanic. I seem to have a well balanced system with weekly water changes.

Well then you should change your info at the bottom because if you have no fish or corals and you use Oceanic, your calcium is in the high 500's and your mag is close to 1600 ppm. Unless, of course, you are mixing much lower that 35ppt.

 

[arts007]

Billybeau1..

As I stated I measured with a properly calibrated refractometer (calibrated with 35ppt solution).. Ive tested 3 different oceanic batches from 3 different sources with 2 different test kits, and all tests were averaging around 1260 on the Mg and 520 on the Ca

-Joe

 

[jasonak]

I read a article about all the diffrent salts and it had analized the diffrent brands had there chemical makeups etc and listed which was best (wish i could find it) Instant ocean didnt do so well which i thought was wierd cus they been around so long. I cant rember if it was link on here or a magazine,but it basically said that even the good brands are not consistenty the same.So i get whats on sale

 

[Billybeau1]

jason, that salt study was from 1999. A little outdated.

Joe, that is interesting because when I tested a fresh batch of Oceanic at 1.0265 I came up with 580 ppm calcium, 8.5 alk and 1650 ppm mag, all with Salifert kits, ro/di at 0 tds and measured by a properly calibrated refractometer, calibrated with 53ms Pinpoint calibration fluid (which, by the way, agrees with my lab grade floating hydrometer. )

Don't know why the difference then.

 

[kmax74]

my tank is mostly lps and starting to put zoos towards the bottom i have around 170 lbs of live rock tank is 48 x24x 30 high

 

[Saltwater_Dog]

Instant Ocean

 

[Roy G. Biv]

I buy whatever is on sale at the time or who has the best free t-shirt or fake plant in the bucket. I never paid much attention to it, I always add my additives when needed.

 

[InLimbo87]

I/O Reef Crystals here. Never added anything before doing water changes, but dosed tank daily with two-part ocean's blend to maintain calc/alk.

 

[frederickk]

I tried coralife the last time and I can see a difference in a month. I guess I will keep on buying that brand.

 

[coraladdict]

I change salt mix every time I start a new bucket.

 

[Billybeau1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10123401#post10123401 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by frederickk
I tried coralife the last time and I can see a difference in a month. I guess I will keep on buying that brand.

Fred, Coralife doesn't get much press here, but I think it's a decent salt mix for certain tanks.

 

[kmax74]

I SWITCHED TO OCEANIC AND TO BE HONEST IT MIXES ALOT BETTER THAN TROPIC MARIN PRO

 

[aquarius77]

Tropic marin pro reef is overpriced, cloudy junk IMO. I use reef crystals.

 

[drummereef]

I use Instant Ocean. I bolster the calcium with approx 70ppm calcium chloride at water changes.

 

[specialkb]

OK i currently use, IO but was thinking about switching to IO reef crystals is there a big advantage to it? I'm going to be adding alot of corals soon, and was just wondering if it would be a good idea or just continue to use IO and add additives?

 

[Billybeau1]

Personally, I would give RC a shot if your going to have corals. You will still have to supplement, just not as much if you do regular water changes.