Why isn't there a better salt mix?

[Aquaduck]

From what I have read on the net and various threads on RC, there is much to be desired from the current commercial salt mixes. Some are missing key elements, some have excess contaminants, which the manufacturers ironically call "trace elements".There are blatent false adversitising claims from nearly all the major contenders. Not to mention the bad batches of salt mixes that have harmed some people's tanks.

My question is why can't these companies manufacture a proper synthetic sea salt mix? One that closely emulates natural sea water, that has all the major trace elements in the correct amounts without contaminants.

 

[RichConley]

Aquaduck, in a lot of cases its almost impossible to do. IE have perfect Alk and Ca. When you try to package it, or resaturate it, it just precipitates out. Thats why most have high Ca/low alk, or vice versa.


As to the contaminates as trace elements: People buy it, thats why. Tropic Marin counts copper as a trace element, and for some reason, people believe them.

 

[Aquaduck]

What about creating a two or three part mix? One you combine together at the time of mixing? Oh yeah.... you can do this on your own by adding buffer and Ca supplements. What a PITA though.

 

[drummereef]

Myself and a lot of people suppliment their salt mix with Calcium. Randy in the Chemistry Forum does too.

 

[barjam]

As to the contaminates as trace elements: People buy it, thats why. Tropic Marin counts copper as a trace element, and for some reason, people believe them.

Copper is essential to life. If you could magically remove all traces of copper from your tank everything would die. Now, is it required in a salt mix? I have no idea.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I agree. It always seems like some "messing around" is needed. I personally mix IO and Oceanic, because IO has low Ca high alk and Oceanic has high Ca and low alk. In my experience i get numbers right where i want them by doing a 50-50 mix of these two brands. It seems like if I can do it, the comapnies could.

I like the idea of a two part mix. The salt bucket could have a divider in it and the directions are add x cups per gallon of part a, then a day later add x cups per gallon part b.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

Copper is essential to life. If you could magically remove all traces of copper from your tank everything would die.

I've never heard of that before...wheres the proof? I'm just curious as to why copper would be "esential to life" and yet people still say that copper is bad and you should never use ich treatments in the tank cuz they have copper in them which would kill half the stuff...so i would just like to see something that says copper is good for the tank. I am in no way saying you're wrong...i've just never heard that and i would like to see something thats says copper is needed.

If it is....then why do people make a big deal about getting rid of it?

But the salt is all the same...just different additives that the companies put into it. So in theory (and if you're not too lazy to do it...) couldnt you just get pure seasalt, and then put all the additives in it that you personally want in there? That way you'd get your "perfect" salt for what you need. Now i agree that it would be a pain in the butt to have to do that, but wouldnt that work?

 

[oldsaltman]

One of the problems is most salt is not really a problem at all. Everyone keeps their tank at different levels of everything. What one thinks is just right another thinks is too low or too high. That is one reason why there are so many different brands of salt. I like Reef Crystals but know others who don't. A lot of the salt issue is not really salt issues.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

One of the problems is most salt is not really a problem at all. Everyone keeps their tank at different levels of everything.

exactly Thats exactly why i said this:

So in theory (and if you're not too lazy to do it...) couldnt you just get pure seasalt, and then put all the additives in it that you personally want in there?

 

[SuperNerd]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8247212#post8247212 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sir_dudeguy
I've never heard of that before...wheres the proof? I'm just curious as to why copper would be "esential to life"...

Electron transport chain.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8247385#post8247385 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SuperNerd
Electron transport chain.

Right, but TM has it at like twice what everyone else does....

 

[SuperNerd]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8247410#post8247410 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
Right, but TM has it at like twice what everyone else does....

sir_dudeguy asked for proof of its importance to life and that's what I gave.

 

[SuperNerd]

RichConley:
I personally switched from TM Pro to Seachem Reef. Does that have just as much Cu in it as Tropic Marin and other reef salts?

 

[DrBegalke]

Even ocean water (i.e. Catlina water) gets bad press in various threads on here...

 

[Cosmo^Kramer]

There is 0.5-6 nM 380 ng/L of copper in seawater

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-11/rhf/index.php

 

[RichConley]

for crap in salts billed as "trace elements"

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/11/aafeature1

 

[Aquaduck]

Part II of the salt study: PART II

Don't you just love marketing?

 

[sir_dudeguy]

Even ocean water (i.e. Catlina water) gets bad press in various threads on here...

i've never used catilina, nor natrual seawater for that matter, but imo its too expensive when you can just mix your own...so thats prolly the reason why not too many people like it.

superned...could you explain that electron transport chain thing? no clue what that is lol.

 

[kryppy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8251512#post8251512 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sir_dudeguy
i've never used catilina, nor natrual seawater for that matter, but imo its too expensive when you can just mix your own...so thats prolly the reason why not too many people like it.

superned...could you explain that electron transport chain thing? no clue what that is lol.

In San Diego there is the Scripps Birch Aquarium (www.aquarium.ucsd.edu) they have a spicket where you can get your own water from the ocean for free.
I wish we has a spicket here in South Florida. It is a PITA to gather, but you really can't beat the price.
I've never had any issues using it.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

ya i've been to the scripts aquarium before. That place is awsome. (they had tons of club tipped anemones too btw lol)

But i agree...free is the best price