A new year.... A new salt?

[Juka087]

Hey Guys

I have a nuvo 10, and within it I house zoanthids,candy canes,mushrooms,palythoa, and a hammer. I currently use instant ocean salt as I can just go to any local petco, and buy it cheaply. However I am kinda worried about possible issues with consistency using instant ocean. I also want to be as hands off with the tank as possible. I am thinking of switching to tropic marin pro salt. The only problem is that the tropic marin pro salt has a ALK of 7.0 usually. Instant ocean for me mixes up at 9-10. Being that I have run the tank on instant ocean for a good 4 months now. Would it really be a good idea to switch? That is a large swing in alk. I only change out 10-15% of the water weekly. However I really want a salt that is all inclusive, and has exact consistency. Any thoughts on this from you guys would be amazing. Thank you so much .

Merry Christmas

Also why does tropic marin mix to 7 ALk? That seems really low. What is the purpose of such things?

 

[Phyber]

General consensus is that using a salt that males up to a lower dkh is better because it's easier to dose up alk in some new water vs remove a higher dkh from newer water.

That said, I use reef crystals and accept the higher dkh/Cal.

 

[X-37B]

Esv- b Ionic. Its a 4 part. I use it and used it on my 25 nano for 1.5 years. 3 gal water change every week.
You can mix it up in about 10 minutes and use right away as long as temp is correct. Alk is 9.5 at makeup. I still use it on my 120 and 45 frag system but do not do water changes anymore.

 

[Juka087]

General consensus is that using a salt that males up to a lower dkh is better because it's easier to dose up alk in some new water vs remove a higher dkh from newer water.

That said, I use reef crystals and accept the higher dkh/Cal.

Hmmm... dont really want to dose until I have to >.<

 

[Phyber]

Hmmm... dont really want to dose until I have to >.<

Either dose or do continuous water changes. Levels will start dropping faster than you think.

 

[Juka087]

Either dose or do continuous water changes. Levels will start dropping faster than you think.

So far they are not. Once I get enough coral they will.

 

[Phyber]

So far they are not. Once I get enough coral they will.

Right. They won't drop by themselves unless you have some super Coraline. Once I added my clam it was too much for twice a month water changes.

 

[SDK]

I keep my alk at about 8.5 and use Tropic Marin Pro Reef as well. I picked up a bottle of Red Sea Alkalinity and dose 3ml into my change water while it’s mixing to match tank parameters.

You just need to do the calculation once if you change the same amount of water every time, and then it becomes a 30 second operation. With a Nuvo 10, a $14 bottle will probably last you close to two years...

 

[Juka087]

I keep my alk at about 8.5 and use Tropic Marin Pro Reef as well. I picked up a bottle of Red Sea Alkalinity and dose 3ml into my change water while it’s mixing to match tank parameters.

You just need to do the calculation once if you change the same amount of water every time, and then it becomes a 30 second operation. With a Nuvo 10, a $14 bottle will probably last you close to two years...

I have thought about using tropic marin classic as it mixes to 9-10

 

[nereefpat]

Also why does tropic marin mix to 7 ALk? That seems really low. What is the purpose of such things?

That is closer to natural seawater parameters.