Aquavitro salinity new mix readings

dewboy1127 · Jan 31, 2016

I just mixed up 15 gal of aquavitro salinity have been using it for couple years but decided it was time to test a fresh batch again(only done maybe one other time always trusted numbers on bucket)..so without further a due
Alk-8.3-salifert
Cal-435-salifert
Mag-1310-salifert
Phos-.07-hanna checker

So i been using this salt couple yrs like said havent tested it much to see about inconsistency but i am looking for mynold log book to see what readings were yr or so ago when i tested it ...but i do know this is on low side for alk as far as what is stated on the side of the bucket 3.3 meq/l or 9.3 dkh ....also a higher phos level than id like to be adding to my tank.... mag is actually higher and cal is spot on ...my main concern obviously being the alk and inconsistent with a name salt such as this wondering if its really worth the extra money ....and before anything is said I am adamant on rolling /shaking my salt mix bucket up everytime before i use it......anyone else run this salt for a while have any opinions on it

dewboy1127 · Jan 31, 2016

It also never mixes up clear always has a haze and ive tried several ways of mixing it

dewboy1127 · Jan 31, 2016

Bump..replies?

nervousmonkey · Jan 31, 2016

I use it as well and it never mixes clear for me either. I always get some weird stuff floating on top that I remove with a clean cloth. I always use two koralia powerheads to mix it, one in the bottom and one half out of the water to get fresh air aerated in the mix. I just got the same numbers you did (close anyway) with a red sea test kit. My alk was closer to 9 though (8.8), so that's a little different. What I've read about aquavitro is that some of the trace elements get shaken to the bottom of the bucket in transit, don't know it that's true, but read a story where one person was using the last of the aquavitro salt and got high levels of trace elements. Now I mix the salt in two buckets after I open a new one. PITA but I haven't had any issues and my corals love the salt. Switched from Reef Crystals, and I like the aquavitro a lot better.

dewboy1127 · Jan 31, 2016

f.loyd.taylor said:
I use it as well and it never mixes clear for me either. I always get some weird stuff floating on top that I remove with a clean cloth. I always use two koralia powerheads to mix it, one in the bottom and one half out of the water to get fresh air aerated in the mix. I just got the same numbers you did (close anyway) with a red sea test kit. My alk was closer to 9 though (8.8), so that's a little different. What I've read about aquavitro is that some of the trace elements get shaken to the bottom of the bucket in transit, don't know it that's true, but read a story where one person was using the last of the aquavitro salt and got high levels of trace elements. Now I mix the salt in two buckets after I open a new one. PITA but I haven't had any issues and my corals love the salt. Switched from Reef Crystals, and I like the aquavitro a lot better.

Good hear not only one...i mix my buckets everytime before i use to hopefully prevent any settling of elements. ..with low alk and high phos though really make me think whats been whole time and if its worth it i was contemplating switching to a cheaper salt such as io but since you said your happier with aquavitro i may just stick with it and try another bucket or possibly switch to something comparable like TM

nervousmonkey · Jan 31, 2016

I'd stay with Salinity. It's good and my corals love it, as do a lot of people in my area, (ATL). It's weird, but it does mix at 35 ppt, where the other salts don't. I did a comparison of cost for Salinity, and actually, although you pay more for a bucket, it works out to be cheaper frankly. If Salinity costs $100 per bucket and say, Red Sea Coral Pro costs $90, it makes more sense to buy Salinity because it mixes at the salinity we all want, and the other don't mix at that salinity. Plus, I like knowing that the ranges that Salinity uses are listed on the side, and they are pretty accurate actually. at least what I've found in testing. I don't get as high a level of phosphate as you do though, but that may be an aberration in testing on either of our parts. I'm glad you tested for it though. I had not thought of testing PO4 in the new SW mix... Now I'm going to start, and if my PO4 gets too high, I can always reduce it with a PO4 remover before I add it to my system..

dewboy1127 · Jan 31, 2016

f.lloyd.taylor said:
I'd stay with Salinity. It's good and my corals love it, as do a lot of people in my area, (ATL). It's weird, but it does mix at 35 ppt, where the other salts don't. I did a comparison of cost for Salinity, and actually, although you pay more for a bucket, it works out to be cheaper frankly. If Salinity costs $100 per bucket and say, Red Sea Coral Pro costs $90, it makes more sense to buy Salinity because it mixes at the salinity we all want, and the other don't mix at that salinity. Plus, I like knowing that the ranges that Salinity uses are listed on the side, and they are pretty accurate actually. at least what I've found in testing. I don't get as high a level of phosphate as you do though, but that may be an aberration in testing on either of our parts. I'm glad you tested for it though. I had not thought of testing PO4 in the new SW mix... Now I'm going to start, and if my PO4 gets too high, I can always reduce it with a PO4 remover before I add it to my system..

Good points... I pay on average $75 a bucket for salintiy...never thought bout maybe adding a phos remover ahead of time ...i actually reading a different forum on here and they were having issues with salt mix and reminded me to test mine again

nervousmonkey · Jan 31, 2016

man, I am glad you tested. I did get a small amount of PO4, even though Salinity says there isn't any. Hmm. I think that all salt mixes have their issues, so I try to keep mine the same for stability's sake. Some of the other mixes, reef crystals in particular, have a higher alk than what I like to run, so that's why I switched. I run biopellets, which keeps the nitrates and PO4 levels down, so I don't keep my alk too high so the SPS don't grow without something to help them build...

dewboy1127 · Jan 31, 2016

f.lloyd.taylor said:
man, I am glad you tested. I did get a small amount of PO4, even though Salinity says there isn't any. Hmm. I think that all salt mixes have their issues, so I try to keep mine the same for stability's sake. Some of the other mixes, reef crystals in particular, have a higher alk than what I like to run, so that's why I switched. I run biopellets, which keeps the nitrates and PO4 levels down, so I don't keep my alk too high so the SPS don't grow without something to help them build...

Yes after year or two im just coming to figuring all this stuff out and trying to dial in my tank ...will be getting a dosing pump to help with stability very soon

dewboy1127 · Jan 31, 2016

Guessing me and you are the inly users of this salt on this forum lol

ermartin · Jan 31, 2016

I used salinity for years and was never unhappy with it. Last year I went back to Reef crystals because sourcing Salinity LOCAL became next to impossible and couldn't find it online with free shipping. I actually didnt notice a big difference... actually I didn't notice any difference. I do autodose and have it all dialed in so Im guessing im hitting all the levels that salinity would have given me out of the bucket. That said I just did my first water change this weekend with Aquaforest but if i don't see any real difference i will go back to reef crystals... Or salinity if i can ever get it at a resonable price I.E free shipping

nervousmonkey · Jan 31, 2016

dewboy1127 said:
Guessing me and you are the inly users of this salt on this forum lol

Yeah, no kidding!! Seems like there would be a lot more respondents...

dewboy1127 · Jan 31, 2016

ermartin said:
I used salinity for years and was never unhappy with it. Last year I went back to Reef crystals because sourcing Salinity LOCAL became next to impossible and couldn't find it online with free shipping. I actually didnt notice a big difference... actually I didn't notice any difference. I do autodose and have it all dialed in so Im guessing im hitting all the levels that salinity would have given me out of the bucket. That said I just did my first water change this weekend with Aquaforest but if i don't see any real difference i will go back to reef crystals... Or salinity if i can ever get it at a resonable price I.E free shipping

Aquaforest been seeing alot about this salt lately definitely report on hera somewhere how you like it

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 1, 2016

I didn't respond because I've never used this product, but I will say that any concern about 0.07 ppm phosphate (even if real, it probably is not or at least is not from the salt mix) is likely unwarranted.

There is, IMO, no need to be using a phosphate binder on it before use.

Let's look at it this way. Suppose you do the equivalent of 1% daily water changes (whether once a month or every day or whatever). In that way, you are boosting the phosphate by 0.0007 ppm each day with the new salt water.

OTOH, you are likely adding between 0.02 and 0.3 ppm of phosphate each day with foods, or 30 to 400+ times as much.

So it hardly seems worth worrying about the tiny bit of extra phosphate that might come in the salt water or top off water.

I discuss this exact scenario, showing actual food data, here:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/3/chemistry

nervousmonkey · Feb 1, 2016

Great point Randy. I'm always glad when chemistry comes into play. Makes more sense of the puzzle we all try to put together!

pdiehm · Feb 18, 2016

I use Salinity in my 29g biocube. Was using RSCP, but things were just too high for my liking (Alk, MG, CA). Local store had a sale, and picked up a 120g bucket of salinity and been doing weekly 10g changes. I heat water up to 70F, toss in my koralia 1600 (or something of that ilk), and it takes 686.6g of salt per 5g. I dump that in, wait 30 minutes. dump in the next batch of 686.6g and let it mix for 3 hours. Test the water, and using the Milwaukee digital refractometer, wait about a minute and get my reading. If I'm not quite at 35ppt, I'll add some more salt, if I'm over, I'll add some water.

Mine mixes clear, and the first batch I did, was cloudy, but cleared up with 10-15 minutes after being added to the tank.

I am using IORC on my 120 in the basement, and am leaning toward also using Salinity for that tank, doing 12-15g changes per week.