salt question

[tang daddy]

Originally Posted by amoreira

I use Kent. I like it because it has an elevated alk and calcium level (12 dkH and 500 mg/L or thereabouts). Every time I do a 10 % water change it boosts the alk and Ca levels. I read also it has good levels of trace elements. I do believe it eliminates the need for trace element supplements.

As for cloudiness, that may be from Calcium precipitating out into the thank because of increased pH or low Mg levels. I'd test for Magnesium and if it's below 1000 mg/L, I'd tend to boost it with some supplement. My tank is around 1500 mg/L. The pH stays around 8.15 (morning) to 8.3 in the evening. I try to keep the alk around 10 dkH (3.6 meq/L) and the Ca level around 430 mg/L. Note I also use a Calcium reactor (Schuran Jetstream 1). Without the Ca reactor, I had to dose every second day with Sodium Bicarbonate and Calcium Chloride to keep the Ca/alk levels stable. It was a constant battle and I was losing it. If you want to stabilize your water chemistry get a Ca reactor.

CR already have one and have switched back to IO think I will stick with it aswell as I don't have the extra $$ to buy the good salt!