Aquaforest probiotic method

[Myka]

Originally Posted by dcw1sfu

I went with the reef salt rather then the probiotic as I don't think the Probiotic salt would be good to keep pre-mixed in a brute can. And I've read of issues when performing larger volume water changes. I'll just add my own probiotics directly to the tank which I'm sure is the same products they add to their salt.

I do very large water changes 3-4 times per year around 50-75%. I asked on RC in the Aquaforest forum about doing this with the Probiotic Reef Salt, and if I should use the Reef Salt instead, and they just insisted that they do not recommend large water changes. Also, yeah you can't keep any type of probiotic salt mixing in a tub. I'm looking forward to eliminating a pre-mix tub.

Aquaforest also recommends use of such products like 15mm Siporax, which when used in a reactor with slow flow, you will create an anaerobic zone for your tank (like a controlled DSB). Some people use SeaChem Matrix, but lab tests by RC member "reefvet" concluded that Siporax was much more efficient. It's the same idea as MarinePure and Matrix, but apparently this Siporax stuff is easier to keep clean and more efficient at denitrification, and also provide a medium for PO4/NO3 reducing bacteria. I'm going to put mine into a PhosBan reactor.

For anyone looking, I was not able to find Siporax available anywhere in Canada. I found the cheapest (with shipping) overseas supply was eBay seller wttomy1 from Austria. I ordered 2L, and it was €6.90 per 1L Siporax, and about €20.00 for shipping. It worked out to CAD$52.41 on my CC in mid-October.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Sera-08472-Si...R9yZBPEIUA76rQ

This is supposedly the most efficient way to use them (all lined up in a reactor).


Some people just dump them into a container in the sump.


A closeup.

[Proteus]

I did this same thing with hydroton, grew lots of fauna inside

[dcw1sfu]

Received my bucket of Aquaforest reef salt today. Should be receiving the rest of the products in the next week or two as well as Siporax.

Did a small 5 gallon water change to test parameters and overall I was impressed. It mixed clean and clear in a matter of minutes and all parameters were very close to the ones on the quality control sheet. Overall seems like a high quality salt and perfect for carbon dosing. Obviously to early to tell if it will have positive effects on my tank.

Parameters at 1.026 salinity all tested with Salifert

Calcium 415
Magnesium 1320
Alk 7.4dkh
Potassium 400

A picture of the quality control test results is posted below.

[xenon]

I recently purchased a bucket of their reef salt. I wanted to see where cal/alk/mag would be after mixing it.

We currently use Tropic Marin Pro Reef in-store because its low in alkalinity. All other salt brands we offer are high in alk and my SPS don't like it.

What readings are you guys getting for the big 3 after mixing it up?

Also, I run 3L of Siporax in a Vertex zeo reactor. Its only been a little over a month since I put it online so it might take a while to seed bacteria to get real results.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by xenon

What readings are you guys getting for the big 3 after mixing it up?

Everyone has been reporting as dcw1sfu posted above - really close to the quality control sheets.

[xenon]

Originally Posted by Myka

Everyone has been reporting as dcw1sfu posted above - really close to the quality control sheets.

Excellent.

If so, this will be the salt we use in-store from now on.

[spedly]

I picked up my order of their reef salt from the post office last night. I'm looking forward to giving it a try. My tank doesn't have high requirements yet but I did like the value. Instant Ocean is more expensive at the LFS than this stuff was shipped through Amazon.

[Reefer Rob]

Originally Posted by dcw1sfu

Received my bucket of Aquaforest reef salt today. Should be receiving the rest of the products in the next week or two as well as Siporax.

Did a small 5 gallon water change to test parameters and overall I was impressed. It mixed clean and clear in a matter of minutes and all parameters were very close to the ones on the quality control sheet. Overall seems like a high quality salt and perfect for carbon dosing. Obviously to early to tell if it will have positive effects on my tank.

Parameters at 1.026 salinity all tested with Salifert

Calcium 415
Magnesium 1320
Alk 7.4dkh
Potassium 400

Did you blend the salt before mixing? I have the same batch number and I'm getting the following readings at 35ppt:

Ca 420
Mg 1410 (new kit)
kH 6.7 (tested against the standard solution)
K 360

I may have purchased an old (but not expired) potassium test kit and it seems it could be reading low. This could be a problem since I've been dosing K to try to bring the level up to 400.

I've always thought that stratification was a myth, but perhaps not. I'm going to blend the salt before my next water change and see what happens.

[Reefer Rob]

Looking around I see that Salifert has discontinued the potassium test kit, presumably there was/is issues. All the other brands are a royal PITA. I think I'm done with potassium testing and dosing.

[dcw1sfu]

Originally Posted by Reefer Rob

Did you blend the salt before mixing? I have the same batch number and I'm getting the following readings at 35ppt:

Ca 420
Mg 1410 (new kit)
kH 6.7 (tested against the standard solution)
K 360

I may have purchased an old (but not expired) potassium test kit and it seems it could be reading low. This could be a problem since I've been dosing K to try to bring the level up to 400.

I've always thought that stratification was a myth, but perhaps not. I'm going to blend the salt before my next water change and see what happens.

I did mix the salt really well between two buckets prior to making the water i tested as I transfered it to an old instant ocean pale. I then make up the 5 gallons and tested the water after 20 mins mixing.

Who knows.