water softener salt for Reef tank

[Reefugee]

My wife told me that I need to keep the cost of this hobby under control. I have been trying to find cheaper alternatives to some of the "reef product" - such as using DowFlake instead of commercial bought calcium additives and MagFlake instead of ESV Ionic Magnesium additive.

Today I am going to do a 20% water change. But instead of using Reef Crystal, I decided to try using salts from my water softener. At $4.00 for a 40lb bag, it a lot cheaper than Reef Crystal. I have mixed a batch of water to 1.026, added DowFlake until my calcium was at 400, and MagFlake until my Mg is at 1300. The water has been mixing for about 2 days now.

Morton Salt Pellets are supposed to be 99.5% pure salt. From some of the koi forum I have read, people have used these salt in their koi pond. http://www.epinions.com/content_140694097540

My question: Does it matter what brand of water softerner salt I use? I don't think it really matters.

Thanks
Minh

 

[Avalanche Wolf]

Dont reef cyrstals also add Trace minerals including Calcium also that wouldnt be added in a softener mix ?

 

[Reefugee]

That's why I am adding DowFlake and MagFlake to the mix.

 

[funman1]

Don't forget your Iodine, Strontium,
that would be really bad for inverts

hahahaha

I'm going to try this right now!!!
I have all the additives I need

 

[Reefugee]

Maybe I should just use tap water (treated for chlorine). THat should contain some trace element of iodine, stronium and others. But it's too late now, I have already mixed a batch and have started the water change.

 

[funman1]

Be sure to post pics too, of before and after tank shots

 

[MrMikeB]

Minh,

Interesting idea... I would be very curious as to your long term effects.

 

[Elite]

Why don't you set up a small tank and put some damsel in there to test it out? Isn't that kinda risky to test it on your display tank??

 

[Bdimas]

I hope this a April Fools Joke.

 

[rafael13]

 

[MrMikeB]

I have heard about folks in Germany doing something like this to have more granular control over the salt makeup. For specific settings you can really fine tune your parameters and save a ton of money in the process. If you really think about what is in the salt mix it should become apparent the endless possibilities if you have the right ingredients.

Pave some trails Minh!

 

[Pico1]

Wouldn't it be easier/safer to switch to instant ocean with added CA and MG?

 

[Pico1]

Wouldn't it be easier/safer to switch to instant ocean with added CA and MG?

 

[Reefugee]

It is... April Fools...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9622573#post9622573 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bdimas
I hope this a April Fools Joke.

 

[sumyungviet]

hahaha you silly guy

 

[MrMikeB]

hehehe

 

[Bdimas]

LMAO! Good one.

 

[MrMikeB]

But you gave it up too soon Bdimas! Probably a good thing though, would hate to have seen some folks go out there and start doing water changes with water softener salt.

 

[Bdimas]

I know i thought of that after i hit enter. I think some people were taking minh serious though. There was some good ones in the forsale forum too. I almost bit on those.

 

[MandM]

You had me going Minh! That was almost as good as Steve drinking the electrified water.