Salt study results from MACNA conference

For me it isn't so important, how the score of a salt is in one or two tests.

For me it's more important, that a salt offers the same quality from batch to batch over a long a time.

And especially in this point, the Aquamedic Reef Salt is the winner for me, especially for SPS-tanks.

I use Aquamedic Reef Salt for long time.

It's very good soluble. You could use it 5-10 minutes after mixing and the corals looks great after the water change.

High Ca and Mg-levels from batch to batch. No high concentrations of dangerous metal-ions. No Po4 or NO3 and no EDTA'S, but this should be normal today for a salt, wich is recommended for reef tanks.

Sometimes I use the new Red Sea Salt (Coral Pro), it's also a very good salt and has extra high Ca and Mg-levels, but isn't so great soluble like the Aquamedic Reef Salt. So you need a little bit of time before using it. But I like it too.

Tropic Marin Classic has too less Ca and Mg for me and is more recommanded for fish tank and soft coral tanks. But it's o.k.

With Reef Crystals I had bad experiences. Contains too much trace elements.



Sudad
 
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For those wondering about Oceanic - at the conference we were shown pictures of the tanks and the general progress of how each did was shown/described...but not until the end was the key flashed up on the screen as to which salt was A, B, C etc. and it was only up for a few brief moments. Some people copied the list - others carefully listened to what was said. Most people didn't get the whole list and had to compare with others after it was over (like "I've got A, B & C what were D, E & F)

E.Borneman definitely has a flare for the dramatic - :D And I have to admit that I & probably others found it pretty exciting [even though we knew the results had not yet been analyzed yet!!!!]

My point is, it was fast and hard to take in all the info - I guess no one is going to post the pictures from the lecture, but maybe they could comment on Tank H (Oceanic)

FWIW, Here is a direct link to the tank photos thru month 5 I thought there were pictures posted thru the end of the study - but I guess not - sorry
 
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I've seen other salt studies that looked at the trace elements of what was in the salts. Some salts kinda skewed the results by having 20x what was in natural sea water but then showed as having "the most" trace elements. TMPro was tied for first because it gave a greater variety of trace elements, even though it didn't give "the most" trace elements. Don't remember what the other was --- I use TMPro so that stuck in my mind.

I dose Calcium and Mag already. I'd rather have that be a bit low and not have to worry about getting some of the lesser trace elements.
 
I've used IO for years. I do add both Mag, and Calcium when mixing it to raise both to the proper levels. (I would think most of us do this as well). Wonder where it would rank after raising these......
 
I have used IO for the past 6 months. I switched to seachem reef salt and going to see how that does. Ive hear some good things.
 
I pick up some Red Sea salt at Downunder saltwater in Garner NC to give a try ,will test the salt water after a day of mixing and post how it turn out.
 
Hmm, I'm glad the FDA doesn't test medications in this manner.

Using a sample size of 1 means it is next to impossible to obtain statistically different results.

I understand there are financial limitations and that according to the MARSH site "... there are ten replicates. Ten batches of salt, one each month. So there is replication for the treatments" ... instead of multiple tanks for each study group.

The idea that a single tank (or person) can be used multiple times to increase the power of the study is simply incorrect. Any source of error (i.e. a rogue/diseased ramet, contamination of a tank, different bacteria levels between tanks, etc., etc.) can potentially be there throughout all 10 months....

For future studies (maybe funding could come from the salt manufacturers) statistically power could be greatly increased by testing 10 instant ocean tanks versus 10 natural sea water tanks, etc.

Another idea is to do a cross-controlled study. Take the best performing salt mix and switch it with the worst... etc. If the worst tank suddenly improves dramatically, its much more likely to be due to the salt, and vice versa.

Kudos for attempting to scientifically study different salt mixes, but this is essentially a case report with n=1 and will have to be taken with a grain of salt.
 
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Isn't the advertised 2.2-2.5 alk level on Red Sea Salts awfully low for an aquarium????
What am I missing here?
 
Very good point DrBegalke, I was thinking that a lil while go myself. If indeed there was an anomaly with a given tank, without a control or total sterilzation why wouldnt it stay for the continual testing, potentially contaminating the results? But, on the other hand,
n=1 > n=0 ;)

But what really has me kinda flabbergasted,is people saying dont jump ship and ditch the IO for your reeftanks; the test hasnt concluded and said that yet.. Very true, but there own company representative has... I'll take his word for it ;)


-Justin
 
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