Seachem Reef Salt

Bryan · #1 05-23-2010, 01:25 AM

When using SC it's best to keep you alk at 10% higher than you normally would. The product uses 4x the borate of NSW, their old formulation was 20X!!

Doug · #2 05-23-2010, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan

When using SC it's best to keep you alk at 10% higher than you normally would. The product uses 4x the borate of NSW, their old formulation was 20X!!

Ah. I remember something about that. Guess I had better read up. What does the higher alk. do for the increased borate levels.

Chaloupa · #3 05-23-2010, 02:28 AM

I've used Seachem exclusively since I first started years ago...and LOVE IT! I use it on the store tanks too, and I gotta say it's great!

George · #4 05-23-2010, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug

Ah. I remember something about that. Guess I had better read up. What does the higher alk. do for the increased borate levels.

Borate can interfere with alk reading ( alk reading is higher than its actual value). So keeping alk reading 10% higher than you normally would is a good idea for seachem salt.

PoonTang · #5 05-23-2010, 03:14 AM

I am currently getting rid of all the seachem salt in my tank with lots of extra water changes of IO. I think the seachem is the reason for all my poor PE problems.

Rogue951 · #6 05-23-2010, 04:23 AM

I've started on sea chem just for a change about a month ago. I was warned of the high calcium and to not dose kalk or calcium additives (or cut in half) until I did more water changes to offset the old water.
so far that's holding true. no adverse affects yet.

Bryan · #7 05-23-2010, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug

Ah. I remember something about that. Guess I had better read up. What does the higher alk. do for the increased borate levels.

The borate gives a alk test a false high reading, was quite a problem with the old salt mix at 20x borate. With the new formula of 4x borate and your alk tests at 3.0 meq/l, then it is likely only 2.8 meq/l, the borate is giving a slightly higher reading, so you would want to compensate and shoot for a alk test kit of around 3.2 meq/l. All explained on RC.

Doug · #8 05-23-2010, 02:26 PM

Wow. What a variety of different results.

Good to hear you're using it Sarah. Thanks for the alk. borate relationship info guys. I will read on it today. Rogue, I suspect thats the reason for my friends tank looking better. I,m not adding anymore additions to the salt mix with the Seachem and only drip kalk now plus a bit of reef builder for alk. now & then.
With my tank now mainly soft/lps corals, may cut the kalk dosing down until I see how the salt & water changes do. Even without a lot of sps corals, some of my rock is pretty old and layered in coralline, which still consumes a fair bit of calcium.

PoonTang, why do you think the Reef Salt is causing poor extension?

PoonTang · #9 05-23-2010, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug

Wow. What a variety of different results.

Good to hear you're using it Sarah. Thanks for the alk. borate relationship info guys. I will read on it today. Rogue, I suspect thats the reason for my friends tank looking better. I,m not adding anymore additions to the salt mix with the Seachem and only drip kalk now plus a bit of reef builder for alk. now & then.
With my tank now mainly soft/lps corals, may cut the kalk dosing down until I see how the salt & water changes do. Even without a lot of sps corals, some of my rock is pretty old and layered in coralline, which still consumes a fair bit of calcium.

PoonTang, why do you think the Reef Salt is causing poor extension?

The PE problem seemed to coincide with a switch to Seachem salt when my local supplyer ran out of IO. Not 100% positive this is the problem but it is the avenue I am currently working on. Also Christy told me that she had to switch to Seachem once and ran into the same problem. 1/2 way through the pail it became "driveway salt" and she switched back to IO.

christyf5 · #10 05-23-2010, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PoonTang

The PE problem seemed to coincide with a switch to Seachem salt when my local supplyer ran out of IO. Not 100% positive this is the problem but it is the avenue I am currently working on. Also Christy told me that she had to switch to Seachem once and ran into the same problem. 1/2 way through the pail it became "driveway salt" and she switched back to IO.

Although I didn't know they had reduced the borate levels, not sure whether that was a factor but the pail I purchased was a number of years ago. I just don't trust it enough to try it again.