SG 1.025

Using ELOS and Salifert for Ca, ELOS for Mg, Salifert for Alk.

There are thousands upon thousands of home reefs that use IO including my own despite it being a bit low on Ca and sometimes Mg. I may try another salt one day, but IO is usually the cheapest and the most plentiful.

IO for 6 years. I get incredible growth.

I supplement my salt with some magnesium and calcium, costs about $4 per pail.

If you are getting the numbers you posted above from IO you must have a special batch.

While I do think IO is one of thebetter salts it is horably low in Mg like any other salt as Mg is an expensive additive. If you start a tank with it after a week check the MG and adjust it up to about 1350 to 1400ppm. This will also cause your Ca to raise if it is being supressed by low Mg.

I wouldn't worry about raising a 390 Ca level as that is about as perfect as you can get.

Steve

I do the same as Ben. Between the IO and the mag. & calcium, its still cheaper than most. My tank magnesium stays @ 1350 ppm and no precipitate in the mixing bucket.

As long as I can purchased those additives for a decent price and the salt for similar, thats what I will stick with.

I'll test my IO next time I test my tank (hmm...I never do that anymore lol). But now I am interested since everyone seems to have such different readings than me. When I was testing my tank regularly the Mg was staying ~1380 ppm just with waterchanges. I like to keep my Calcium over 400 ppm so I do bump it up a bit. I aim for ~420 ppm. Alkalinity is always bouncing around between 7-12 dkh. I haven't been able to get it overly steady.