Aquaforest reef salt (non-probiotic)

[Reef Supplies]

Originally Posted by Myka

Pat, where did you get your salt? Amazon or a Canadian retailer? What is the batch number and date of manufacture of your salt? You'll find this info on the "Quality Certificate" in the pail.

+1

[smitas5]

Originally Posted by Myka

FWIW, I haven't cracked a pail from the salt that came from the Canadian Distributor, I just finished my last pail from Amazon, so these would be different batches. I have a pail of Probiotic for my own tank from the Canadian Distributor that I'll be using as soon as I do a waterchange. I am also doing a new tank install on Friday and I'll be using a pail of Reef Salt also from the Canadian Distributor for that. I'll let you know how that goes!

Pat, where did you get your salt? Amazon or a Canadian retailer? What is the batch number and date of manufacture of your salt? You'll find this info on the "Quality Certificate" in the pail.

So wait,
Since when is it important where the salt id from and what batch it is? Shouldn't it be consistent? or very close to it?
I'm also thinking of switching, but feedback is very different. How do you know?

[Myka]

Originally Posted by smitas5

So wait,
Since when is it important where the salt id from and what batch it is? Shouldn't it be consistent? or very close to it?
I'm also thinking of switching, but feedback is very different. How do you know?

Salt mixes are always made in batches, and if there is a problem, it is usually limited to a batch. I was just pointing out the fact that I'm probably not using the same batch that Pat is.

Some people are having issues with Aquaforest, and from what I've seen these issues all have (at least) one or two things in common: the tanks are not being dosed "big three" regularly, and they are coming off a high alkalinity salt mix. These two commonalities are significant because if someone is using a high alkalinity salt mix, and NOT dosing the tank, they are relying on water changes using the high alkalinity salt mix to maintain alkalinity. If these people switch to a salt mix that has 3-4 dKH lower alkalinity, and they continue to NOT dose their tank, the alkalinity will fall in the tank. Low alkalinity + LPS = bad (in general).

Aquaforest is NOT a good brand of salt mix to use if you are not dosing your tank IMO. AF is not designed to "bump alkalinity up" during water changes. IMO, a person should pick a salt mix that is compatible with the husbandry techniques s/he is employing. I would not use AF salt mixes on a tank that is not getting daily doses of alkalinity (either manually or via doser), UNLESS you add alkalinity to the newly mixed saltwater to increase alkalinity to 10-11 dKH as in mixes like Instant Ocean and H2Ocean. Aquaforest salt mixes are good for people who DO dose their tanks, and want to keep natural seawater parameters.

[shiftline]

I'm curious to follow along as I was thinking of swapping from reef crystals


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[Myka]

Originally Posted by shiftline

I'm curious to follow along as I was thinking of swapping from reef crystals.

Do you use a doser? Do you rely on water changes to maintain alkalinity?

[smitas5]

I do dose and thats why the salt did draw my attention. Anybody using AF long enough to see how different batches differ? is it neglectable?