Salt Preference + Bonus Question for the Advanced
- Thread starter Tenshoa
- Start date
ChadRaay86
New member
LOL, and because it's the best salt :lmao:
There is no data I've seen to support such a claim, which I have seen reported in the past, perhaps from this same manufacturer. I'm not aware of this being true now (although it may have been true decades ago) and I wouldn't believe it for a second if the manufacturer did not specifically claim it. It would be much more expensive than calcium chloride, and there is no reason to think it desirable (I think it would be undesirable).
Why would a manufacturer do this expensive thing and not actually brag about it (even if they were misguided about the benefit)?
In at least one instance it was claimed about Instant Ocean, and I have been told by the folks who make it that they do not use chelated calcium. No reason to doubt that, IMO.
FWIW, I would suggest the possibility that the person making the claim is confusing (intentionally or unintentionally) the use of metal chelators to remove things like heavy metals, which some mixes may have, with using chelated calcium. The former uses way too little to actually chelate the calcium present.
FWIW, here's an old thread indicating that someone from Tropic Marin was spreading the "idea" that most other mixes used chelated calcium:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1329650
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1329650
ArmyGreens
New member
Interesting link above. Ive been using IO since 1990 or something like that, IO has reformulated a few times since then. Though I am using tropic marin's bio-actif for my current in process 125g build, I agree with most that the mix you use is personal preference.
With that said no study (unless one is out there I've not found yet) on the build up minor elements over time through water changes due to the lack of use of those elements.
With that said no study (unless one is out there I've not found yet) on the build up minor elements over time through water changes due to the lack of use of those elements.
With that said no study (unless one is out there I've not found yet) on the build up minor elements over time through water changes due to the lack of use of those elements.
How would water changes cause something to "build up"?
How would water changes cause something to "build up"?
zoomonster
New member
My first bag of salt around 1990 was instant ocean and despite trying just about everything I always end up back at IO. There's others like RC and tropic-marin I like but the way I see it the tank levels are going to get adjusted anyway through testing, a calcium reactor and/or additives like magnesium etc. Whatever "extra" levels you may find in some of the salts are going to be depleted anyway and need to be refreshed so why pay more for boutique salt. A plus is in a pinch you can find IO at just about any local pet store. I'm at the start of a new build now and have 400g worth of IO sitting here screaming "give me water" lol
DiscusHeckel
Acropora Gardener
I use D&D H2Ocean Pro+ as it is readily available locally.
ArmyGreens
New member
I'm thinking that if some minor elements are not consumed or skimmed out and are continually added through water changes that their overall ppm would climb instead of decrease.
Edit: as if to reach saturation in the water.
I'm thinking that if some minor elements are not consumed or skimmed out and are continually added through water changes that their overall ppm would climb instead of decrease.
What you say is true for top off water, but not for a water change where you remove an equal volume to what you add.
For example, if in a 100 gallon tank, you remove 10 gallons of used tank water with 4 ppb of element X and replace it with new salt water containing 3 ppb of element X, every water change has removed some of X, despite the fact that it is present in the new salt water. The first change drops the concentration of 4 to 3.9 ppm. Many such changes drives the value to 3 ppb.
One the other hand, if in a 100 gallon tank, you remove 10 gallons of used tank water with 3 ppb of element X and replace it with new salt water containing 4 ppb of element X, every water change has added some of X. The first change increases the concentration of 3 to 3.1 ppm. Many such water changes drives the value to 4 ppb, but NEVER higher.
What you say is true for top off water, but not for a water change where you remove an equal volume to what you add.
For example, if in a 100 gallon tank, you remove 10 gallons of used tank water with 4 ppb of element X and replace it with new salt water containing 3 ppb of element X, every water change has removed some of X, despite the fact that it is present in the new salt water. The first change drops the concentration of 4 to 3.9 ppm. Many such changes drives the value to 3 ppb.
One the other hand, if in a 100 gallon tank, you remove 10 gallons of used tank water with 3 ppb of element X and replace it with new salt water containing 4 ppb of element X, every water change has added some of X. The first change increases the concentration of 3 to 3.1 ppm. Many such water changes drives the value to 4 ppb, but NEVER higher.
Ralph ATL
Formerly mysterybox
I've been using Seachem Salinity for years, about 1 year after it was introduced. I do large weekly (sometimes bi-weekly) water changes in the 35% to 40% range due the heavily fed livestock (feeding 3-14 times a day depending how new wrasses). I also have some typical sensitive corals that would perish under such feeding (SPS, LPS).
I never have to add anything, and as long as I match salinity and temp, PH & Alk is spot on.
It makes my chore easier for me....
I never have to add anything, and as long as I match salinity and temp, PH & Alk is spot on.
It makes my chore easier for me....
Kungpaoshizzi
In Memoriam
Fluval Sea Salt here... I've used IO and RC(hate that brown crap) and FSS is the first so far to provide spot on numbers where I want them, at 1.023.
the green goby
New member
I use 3 parts Instant ocean and one part Oceanic because IO is so low in calcium.
nmbeg
New member
Tenshoa
New member
Interesting point.
What I am finding confusing though is that about the time I started this thread, I decided to try RC. Previously I had used Tropic Marin and Salinity. I was partial to the levels of TM. However, since I have started using RC, my calcium barely drops if at all. In fact, I haven't had to dose calcium in weeks as it is staying above 500 whereas with the other 2 brands, I was having to add calcium 2-3 times per week (I use kalk as well). This is in a tank that is packed full of sps.
Any idea what gives?
RC starts with extra calcium relative to NSW, and likely higher than Aquavitro Salinity (not sure on Tropic marin these days).
The term build up implies a concentration higher than the starting salt mix, but with a mix that has high calcium, the water changes will certainly help keep calcium higher than if you were using a lower calcium mix.
The term build up implies a concentration higher than the starting salt mix, but with a mix that has high calcium, the water changes will certainly help keep calcium higher than if you were using a lower calcium mix.
