What salt is everybody using lately.. for close to NSW SPS / ULNS tanks? I give up..
- Thread starter MammothReefer
- Start date
acroholicreefer
New member
My favorite brand is Oceanic. When I have it, I use it.
Recently I have switched to IO since I got a good deal on the 200g boxes. IMO, I would be more worried about the alk level in the display and 2 part dose until the levels are at the desired range. I hardly check the levels of fresh salt mixes but maybe I am missing out on something.
Recently I have switched to IO since I got a good deal on the 200g boxes. IMO, I would be more worried about the alk level in the display and 2 part dose until the levels are at the desired range. I hardly check the levels of fresh salt mixes but maybe I am missing out on something.
Acronic
The Fifth Master
I guess it depends which one you trust to be acurate?
MammothReefer
Active member
I don't know, I've wondered this myself. I don't know who's method of testing DKH is correct? Salifert, or Elos. Hanna matches salifert, and I don't know what Red Sea kits, or API do (been a while since I tried those).
Hookup
New member
acroholicreefer
New member
Not trying to get too far off topic but if you are being that picky with dKH, you should measure the carbonate alkalinity and borate alkalinity. This is why I use a Seachem test kit to verify and elaborate on my hanna meter reading. Not to mention that their testing equipment and supplies are top notch.
If alkalinity is not measured via titration, the results are likely not going to be accurate.
If alkalinity is not measured via titration, the results are likely not going to be accurate.
meshwheel
New member
The new or "newer" Saliferts come with a extra bottle of reagent/reference to test for accuracy. Mine always is +- .2 ???? Thats pretty dam good in my book.
With ULNS systems you need to keep the kh around 7-8 max. Natural seawater levels! Once I adjusted mine down to 7.5 my colors really intensified in my Acros.
A few of them did not like it, but my GARF Purple Bonsai is finally growing like gangbusters! It grew very slow for almost 2 years and I almost lost it. Could not figure it out. Now it's coming back..................
With ULNS systems you need to keep the kh around 7-8 max. Natural seawater levels! Once I adjusted mine down to 7.5 my colors really intensified in my Acros.
A few of them did not like it, but my GARF Purple Bonsai is finally growing like gangbusters! It grew very slow for almost 2 years and I almost lost it. Could not figure it out. Now it's coming back..................
MammothReefer
Active member
I found a rather recent thread with a few people having issues w/RSCP. They alluded to a thread on another forum (but didn't link to it) Where it said a lot more people were having issues (dated in Oct). Is anybody else familiar with this? I gotta wonder if something more is going on here then just overly high alk in this salt?
allsps40
New member
Last bucket I tested was 10 alk 420 ca and 1300 mag but it mixed up brown. IO changed the mixture for both IO and RC when the new bucket design came out about a year ago now.
chrishayes
New member
Thats bang on what im seeing with my IO and salifert kits. I have no brown or white residue at all. Clear as a sunny day even a week after mixing. I do get a bit of diatom when I go this long with it in my brute but thats understandable since its not 100% closed plus I use a non sterilized hydrometer and hose in it which lets bacteria in easily.
I just cant think of a reason NOT to use IO. Cheap, reliable, good parameters and you can get it anywhere even the grocery stores some places. I feel its best suited to those who dose to keep levels up as it wont bump them for you which is a good thing to use sps keepers. Reef salts are for those that want to use their waterchanges to buffer their cal/alk imo.
MammothReefer
Active member
What are you mixing it to? I had no residue either in my recent batch. I'm going to mix another tonight.
MammothReefer
Active member
Huh, what kits are you testing with?
blakers82
Member
For what it's worth, i've used IO RC for years and I've yet to have a brown batch in my mixing Brute. I sure will get diatoms if I leave it mixing for a week, but a day or two is fine. What SG were those IO numbers calculated at, allsps40? Salifert/Hanna, right? LOL. Just trying to keep track.
Btw, I hope you guys are having a good day!
Btw, I hope you guys are having a good day!
lolgranny
The DQ King
IO / Oceanic... 50/50 mix
Alk: 9-10 dkh
Cal: 450 ppm
Mag: 1250 ppm
IO is always higher on Alk and Oceanic is higher in Ca / Mg
Ive never had a issue with RC either other then Alk being 10, still used it for a year with no problems to my sps. Some batches mix up with a tint of brown but everything levels out fine and the system is happy as can be.
Alk: 9-10 dkh
Cal: 450 ppm
Mag: 1250 ppm
IO is always higher on Alk and Oceanic is higher in Ca / Mg
Ive never had a issue with RC either other then Alk being 10, still used it for a year with no problems to my sps. Some batches mix up with a tint of brown but everything levels out fine and the system is happy as can be.
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