I'm changing salt

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Skimmer King

Why not just use IO and then Dose what you need, if you are dosing now , CAL RX then its not going to be a problem. and very easy to get. I have been using IO since 2002 and never had any problems with it. just my thought thou.

The only sucky thing about IO is the high alkalinity. Better suited to FOWLRs imo. Who wants an alkalinity spike in their SPS tank on every watechange? That's the main reason I switched away from IO. H2Ocean is easy to find, it's kinda like one step up from IO I figure.

[Skimmerking]

Originally Posted by Myka

The only sucky thing about IO is the high alkalinity. Better suited to FOWLRs imo. Who wants an alkalinity spike in their SPS tank on every watechange? That's the main reason I switched away from IO. H2Ocean is easy to find, it's kinda like one step up from IO I figure.

Oh ya I didnt think tha 9 DKH was high ,but may be for SPS then that you should have between 7-8 /

Snappy was it hard to order a pallet ?

[fishytime]

You'll have to let us know how you like the salt Greg.....did some diggin and heard some rumors about this salt....

[burrows14]

Originally Posted by fishytime

You'll have to let us know how you like the salt Greg.....did some diggin and heard some rumors about this salt....

Can you share? Good or bad? I'd like to know cause I have 4 buckets of the stuff lol pm me if you would not like to share with everyone

[daniella3d]

I too tried a lot of different salt, and did not have a good experience with zoanthids and H2O because my zoanthids stopped growing and many shriveled as well. I returned to IO but using Reef crystal and my zoanthids grew large and healthy again and now are starting to reproduce. 25$ less for a bucket, so it's a no brainer. I still had to dose with H2O anyway, so that did not change at all. I am very happy with Reef Crystal and the way my zoanthids are growing and gaining in size again.

I have never seen that Nature salt sold here in Montreal.

[spawn]

I use reef crystals and on my last water change finally tested it. When testing the alk I stopped wasting my test fluid at 15 drops. Elos kit & the water was still baby blue. so I'm done with that. I just ordered a box of Reefers Best last night, it cost more to get it because of shipping but I'm hoping it will test better.

[spawn]

Also, I wonder if a batch tests good for Ca & Mg, but is high on alk, is there a way to bring down the alk? thanks

[MitchM]

The thing about evaporated salt water mixes is that it's not just a straight forward "evaporate the sea water then add R/O water to get the same sea water back."

As sea water evaporates the ions form insoluble compounds, like calcium carbonate and gypsum. It won't just rehydrate back into Red Sea (or where ever) seawater. The company will have to add something else to minimize the residue that would be left over in your mixing container.

I'm not saying that it's bad, just something that you need to be aware of. It's not quite as pure or simple as advertised.

[daniella3d]

I guess it's a matter of each tank because despite the Reef Crystal having high alkalinity I still have to add a full 100ml of sodium carbonate each day to my tank just in order to keep it at 7 KH, never mind raising it. The thing about salt mix is you have to pounder what is essential for your aquarium and the cost of the salt mix and how much you will need to dose. If reef crystal raise your alkalinity too much then you should definitly go with a salt that has lower alkalinity. I am also wondering what salinity you use and how you mesure it because I never really got that high alkalinity with Reef Crystal and I use 1.025 with a refractometer. Are you mesuring your salinity with a hydrometer or a refractometer?

Originally Posted by spawn

I use reef crystals and on my last water change finally tested it. When testing the alk I stopped wasting my test fluid at 15 drops. Elos kit & the water was still baby blue. so I'm done with that. I just ordered a box of Reefers Best last night, it cost more to get it because of shipping but I'm hoping it will test better.

[mattdean]

I just bought 4 pails of Royal Nature Salt. Oakville Reef Gallery had it on sale for $45 a pail! There are a few local guys using it and they love it. I've been using H2Ocean and have had no problems, however, I have had several small Zoa colonies shrivel up on me, and i LOVE my zoas! I wonder if it's the same problem Dniella3d had.

Hoping this new salt is good. I don't like changing and would hope I can stick with this for a long time.