LF: Cheap Instant Ocean Salt

[mikellini]

Originally Posted by Vancity

I pour the dry salt in first then add either one or two 5 gallon jugs of RODI. Koralia powerhead and heater for at least 12 hours and up to 5 days before I'll throw it out
Could be calcium, I'll muraitic acid bath it tonight

ALWAYS add salt to water, not the other way around. Adding water to salt means that it becomes highly concentrated almost instantly while pouring the water in, which causes precipitation of elements.

[GoFish]

Weird, not sure how 12 hours plus of mixing and heating wouldn't remedy that.
But will do from now on, thanks!

[mikellini]

Originally Posted by Vancity

Weird, not sure how 12 hours plus of mixing and heating wouldn't remedy that.
But will do from now on, thanks!

I don't understand how 12 hours of mixing and heating would do anything; unless the pH drops significantly, anything that has precipitated is probably staying that way (and ending up on the sides of your mixing container)

[GoFish]

Originally Posted by mikellini

I don't understand how 12 hours of mixing and heating would do anything; unless the pH drops significantly, anything that has precipitated is probably staying that way (and ending up on the sides of your mixing container)

Acid bath tonight, rinse tomorrow problem solved. Instant ocean has never done this to me.

[mikellini]

Probably because of the low calcium, less likely to precipitate.

[--lmao--]

whats your guys take on instant ocean reef crystals compared to the regular instant ocean. is it alot better? i use regular IO and i manually dose. would reef crystals reduce my doseing?

[TimT]

Originally Posted by mikellini

Probably because of the low calcium, less likely to precipitate.

I would concur but adding the water to the salt is going to cause residues to form, especially if the parameters are near the upper ends of their ranges and you use cold water to mix.


What I find interesting is that two different people posted test results from testing their buckets of IO. I assume Rich and Greg most likely bought at JL or KE?

Originally Posted by Bblinks

CA 380 Alk 11-12 and Mag 1200

How long ago did you get these #'s Rich and did you roll ?

Originally Posted by gregzz4

FWIW, my current bucket of IO is giving me 12.10, 470 and 1305, but only after a lot of rolling

[TimT]

Originally Posted by --lmao--

whats your guys take on instant ocean reef crystals compared to the regular instant ocean. is it alot better? i use regular IO and i manually dose. would reef crystals reduce my doseing?

If I remember correctly RC just has elevated levels of Ca and Alk. If you switch to RC your going to have to figure out a new dosing regime and your Alk and Ca will fluctuate. To my way of thinking it is better to keep doing what your doing as stability is best for reef aquariums.

Something else to consider is what Gregzz4 got from his last test.

Originally Posted by gregzz4

FWIW, my current bucket of IO is giving me 12.10, 470 and 1305, but only after a lot of rolling

I don't think switching is needed because his #'s are what I think I remember RC used to be.

Ideally you should be testing your parameters and then using an online calculator to figure out how much to add to get the proper levels.

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by TimT

I assume Rich and Greg most likely bought at JL or KE ?

Yup Tim, I've been buying mine @ KE's
You missed it 'cause I edited ...

I'm all for supporting my LFS and do so regularly, so I have no problems buying it cheaper elsewhere

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Have to agree with those posting that you always should add salt to water & not the other way around. At least that's been my experience.