Salt Levels
 

I was just testing my tank water and my levels are low. Now they have never been what they are supposed to be but these are lower then before. I am using instant ocean and just wanted to know if people think I should get another bucket of salt. I have about a third left in the current bucket. (Salifert Tests)

cal 290
mg 990
Kh 7

If thats what its testing at freshly made, I wouldnt be using that salt thats for sure. But I don't use instant ocean to start with.

That was tank water. I just tested a fresh batch of water with the following results:

Cal 300
Kh 8.9
Mg 990

How old are your test kits ? I am not sure that io levels are out of pail but 990 seems lower than what they would aim for.

How big is your tank, what's in it for corals. I take it your not supplementing your levels.

Test kits are brand new. Tank is 54g. Not supplementing levels. As for corals I have zoas/palys, hammer, torch, and frogspawn.

How often are you doing water changes? I would do something different either supplement levels or change salt brands. I personally never cared for instant ocean in my reefs but more my opinion lots use it with great success. But you will want to aim for 7-12 kh 390-430 ca and 1300 mg if you can keep your levels around there you'll save/ prevent future problems. Raise them up slowly to not shock anything.

I do 5g water changes once a week. I think I will toss the rest of this salt and buy H2Ocean then. I don't want to have to supplement my levels. Off to J&L tomorrow I guess.

So are you using Instant Ocean or Instant Ocean Reef Crystals?

Regular IO levels are lower then IORC, I have only used IORC in my reef tanks and the last batch levels where pretty decent, Cal 400, Mag 1380 and Alk 8.

Just using regular instant ocean salt.

Just my opinion for what its worth, being that you have a small tank it might work out cheaper to use IORC and supplement the small amounts of Cal & Mag required.

In talking to IO directly, they state the Ca should test out between 350 and 420. I've rarely had it 420, but once in a while over 400. Usually 370ish.

Thanks for the help everyone.

I am going to give H2Ocean a try, if it meets its listed levels it should be all I will need. I am not sure who sells reef crystals in Vancouver.

I will be sure to check fresh made water levels before I add it this time.

Just a little update. I changed salt to h2ocean and my levels are slowly getting to normal. Just tested a fresh batch of water results as follow:

410 cal
10.2 kh
1230 mg

Have you mixed up your salt, smaller particles and supplements will fall to the bottom. Just a thought!!

so simple to supplement your salt mix if need

I would suggest that if you don't want to mess around with dosing yet that you switch to a more reef-suitable salt. H2Ocean is affordable, yet very good right out of the bucket. It's a tad low in magnesium, but it's passable. If you want to stick with the Instant Ocean you can buy a tub of calcium and magnesium and add those to the freshly mixed saltwater before adding it to your tank. I used to do this, and if I recall correctly, I used to add 80 mL dry calcium carbonate and 180 mL dry magnesium chloride to 15 gallons of freshly mixed saltwater to get the numbers to come out correct.

EDIT: I didn't read the second page before posting. Good to hear the H2Ocean is working out for you! :D