Originally Posted by The Grizz (Post 596908)

...
I was told about a brand of salt that comes in a 5 gal bucket like IO Reef Crystals but makes 240 gals of saltwater @ 1.026 but can't remember the brand. I think it might have been _______ salinity.
..

Originally Posted by MitchM (Post 596947)

Hey Greg,
you are probably thinking about Aquavitro Salinity. It has a lower moisture content than other salts. Makes 225 gallons out of it's 5 gallon pail. But it's heavy - 65 lbs/pail.
That's what I'm using. Red Coral carries it.

Originally Posted by tooocolde (Post 596957)

Recently purchased mag chloride (Dead Sea Works) and calcium chloride (94-97%) from Univar. Service was excellent and worked out to just over $1/lb including shipping to Kamloops.

Originally Posted by Delphinus (Post 596931)

Sorry for the slow reply.

I use IO if for not other reason that it's been the most consistent salt for params in the 13 years I've been buying salt and it's cheap and I really have no cause for complaint with it overall. The #'s are on the low side for Ca and Mg but I know where they mix to, and they're not really THAT low. I add about 30ml CaCl (2 tablespoons) to my 24g water change water and about 240ml (16 tablespoons) of Mag mix (5:3 ratio so really 10 tablespoons Mg Cl and 6 tablespoons Mg sulfate).

Now this is going back a few years so I don't remember the details but I used a premium salt that was supposed to have high Mg, but didn't. When I finally figured out it was the salt pulling Mg down I tested a batch and it was like 700ppm. I had use cup after cup after cup for like 10 days straight to raise it 100ppm per day to get back to 1300ish. I forget how many cups it was in 100gallons of tank volume to raise it 100 but it was a LOT. I was sure I was making my saltwater tank into pure brine but it didn't. (It did raise the SG though, watch out for that. I'm still not clear on the concept if 1.025 with added Mg 1.027 should be compensated for down to 1.023 and added Mg to 1.025 or leave it at 1.027).

When adding Mg I just use whatever amount of RO it takes to dissolve whatever I'm adding. Around half gallon maybe? Something like that.

I think the salt you're thinking of is "Seachem Salinity". Heard good things about it.

Is there a Univar in Red Deer? If there is that might be a good place to get your bulk chems..

Originally Posted by lastlight (Post 596933)

What I've done so far is add my brs magnesium solution to my 10g ro/di and then add enough salt mix to hit 1.026.

Originally Posted by The Grizz (Post 596977)

Ya I think thats the one, thanks

Originally Posted by Delphinus (Post 597133)

In my defense, "Aquavitro" is still "Seachem" just their premium brand. :p

Anyhow I like the online batch# param lookup they offer, that's a great idea.

Originally Posted by globaldesigns (Post 597135)

As I stated, I use Seachem and can say I have no issues with that brand for Mg, Str, Ca, ALK... But if anyone can recommend an even cheaper source of dry crystals?