sps tanks salt choice

[REEF SMAC]

And the answer is!: (90x8) + (10x14) / 100 = 8.6

Thank you...


So everyone is worried that their Alk might change as much as .6 ?
By somehow getting some salt mix that is radically different than their tank's parameter.

Is a .6 change in Alk really an issue?


I guess most of you guys must doing huge % water changes.

ESV here. Nothing I have ever tried comes close in terms of consistency and water clarity as it is mixing. The other thing that is/was really huge for me is the fact that ESV mixes so quickly. I recently had a situation where I required a 100 gallon WC asap (very large anemone of many years decided to blend himself in an MP40. In a perfect world I would have had standby water but I only had about 10 gallons of RODI since I have a small apartment. I went to home depot, bought 100 gallons of DI water in 5 gallon jugs, brought them up to my apartment, measured out 5 gallons of ESV into each bottle and rolled them on the floor for about 30 seconds and did a 100% change as fast as two people without a large WC system in place could do it. I know I wouldn't have felt comfortable with many other salt brands in the same situation.
I'm not sure about the prices in other places but in NYC (where ESV is located) it is not much more than other salts.

This would be the reason to have salt around that is exactly the same parameters as your tank.
I guess this is the senario everyone is worried about right here.

 

[greg1786]

I have been using rc since i started keeping sps. I recently nought a box of IO because i got an outrageous deal on it. Wont do it again simply because now i find im dosing more to keep cal alk and mag at normal levels. So the money i saved is going to adding supplements more. Will be going back to rc when the box of IO is gone

 

[Ralph ATL]

Aquavitro’s Salinity salt

yeah, it has caveats, but they all do! batch it 100% from batch to batch, and I change 30% t 40% water weekly! Caveats is precip in tub & cloudiness for 30 minutes or so...

 

[Mike S]

i have been using ESV since i started my tank, and it definintley mixes well and quickly, but im getting tired of all the measuring and testing to get a batch right. I use the measuring spoons and cups they give, but I have heard that the best way to go for simplicity is to use a scale to measure each component, but im considering switching brands anyway. I was thnking about the Red Sea Coral Pro, but am going to keep researching...
I live in NY, long island, and at pets warehouse in mineola, its about $75 for a 200g mix. If i could buy ESV direct at a bulk discount (i live about 15 minutes from their shop), id fill my 4runner up with boxes of the 25g mix, but they wont sell direct to end users at a discount, they quoted me higher than retail...?

I started EVS a few months ago and a scale definitely makes it easy to get consistent results especially if you mix up the same amount each time. I have a couple different size mixing cups that I picked up from Lowes. I use a dedicated one for each part and made a mark on each one with a sharpie to show the approximate level that I need. I also wrote the weight that I need on the cups. I fill the container to the mark and keep an eye on the weight to get an exact measurement. It makes measuring out each part very easy.

 

[jscarlata]

I started EVS a few months ago and a scale definitely makes it easy to get consistent results especially if you mix up the same amount each time. I have a couple different size mixing cups that I picked up from Lowes. I use a dedicated one for each part and made a mark on each one with a sharpie to show the approximate level that I need. I also wrote the weight that I need on the cups. I fill the container to the mark and keep an eye on the weight to get an exact measurement. It makes measuring out each part very easy.

Good ideas, thanks. still though, to have one thing to scoop and measure sounds nice after doing the 4 part ESV mix for a few years now. im going to see what i can find locally and compare prices this weekend as im just about done with a 200g box. I will say though, that if you need it in a hurry, it mixes clear very quickly, even at colder temps.

 

[rogergolf66]

That r the 4 parts u r measuring out?

 

[williewilliams]

Aquavitro Salinity.

 

[indyjaco]

For those who use IO, what does it normally mix out to at 1.026? I'm using Kent now and thinking of changing.

 

[brad65ford]

For those who use IO, what does it normally mix out to at 1.026? I'm using Kent now and thinking of changing.

Good question, i do know my RC at 35 and 78 degrees is 11.5 alk which I hate.

 

[ashish]

i've been using instand ocean for 17 years - i switched to red sea at one point (it's just salt right?) wrong. Noticed a big difference in how fish corals responded to water changes. You know how everything tends to become energized after a water change? Did not experience that with other mixes. Yesterday I went to petco to buy salt and noticed 200gallon box of reefcrystal on sale for $44 - I did a water change today and feel it's just as good if not better than instant ocean. Same company so it's really probably the same

 

[brad65ford]

for people that run low nutrient system the higher alk of RC isn't good imo

 

[whitesquall]

As these salt mixes change their top tree parameters CA,ALK,MG which seems like every year, can some of you post the recent readings of your salt mix.

I been using RedSea Pro, I like it but have noticed when I leave it mixing for extended periods...it leaves a heavy residue in my mixing container (I know its designed to be used within 24hrs, but I like to keep 50gallons mixing always just incase I need it)

3/9/13 RedSea Pro tested out at: CA-450 ALK-9 MG-1250

 

[danil]

I use to buy any salt which is on-sale. I did try high/low end and they are about the same for me. I let my salt set in the Brut for week(s) so they all get changed a little. Usually Alk gets down... some left residues on the bottom and walls but... they are all work. Unless something is really bad with current batch you should be fine with any brand. Currently I use Aquavitro Salinity. Wife doesn't like it a lot due to it's smell hence I love it. I've already ordered more of this smelly stuff!

 

[SinisterReefer]

Does any one like kent reef salt? I like that it dissolves pretty quick but not sure if its a good salt for sps

 

[brad65ford]

Damned,,, bought a bucket of IO today hoping to have lower alk and cal readings compared to RC. My findings are 12 alk and 430 Cal and 1350 Mag. Way does the alk have to be so damn high

 

[rogergolf66]

Agreed going to esv next

 

[JPMagyar]

Damned,,, bought a bucket of IO today hoping to have lower alk and cal readings compared to RC. My findings are 12 alk and 430 Cal and 1350 Mag. Way does the alk have to be so damn high

That's funny 'cuz I haven't used IO in years, but those are similar results to what I had back then. Mg and alk were always high, and the problem was the high alk would cause calcium carbonate precipitate in my basement mixing tub due to the high CO2.



Not sure that it made any difference to the reef, but it was an annoyance since I felt compelled to clean out the mixing tub after every water change.

 

[brad65ford]

They could call it IO with high Alk.

 

[Red_Blenny]

So far, I've used Reef Crystals, Red Sea Regular, Red Sea Coral Pro, and I just recently got my hands on D&D H2Ocean. Overall, I buy salt that's cheap and won't break the bank. Before I change salt, I add more of the current salt and less of the newer one and gradually increase the ratio of new salt: old salt

My result with D&D, I found alk to be 10.5-11alk, 450 Ca mixed.

 

[brad65ford]

Somewhere there is a chart referencing alk to cal ratio's which are ideal, don't think they were in dhk though. I would be nice to see them again also its a great reference for us that have higher alk to see where our cal should be targeted.