Changing salts and doing a large waterchange

[Salty_Box_Reef]

So my tank started my 120gallon on and have been running with reef crystals now for a year. First six months on two part, last six months on a CalRx. I was keeping my alk pretty high cause thats what RC mixes up at and a few weeks ago I decided to make a couple changes to see if I could get better colors from my sps's. One of them being to lower my alk. My colors are better with my alk around 8.2-8.4(not saying thats the reason) and I would like to keep it there. The last few weeks I have mixed up my water, did my water change and then turned my CalRx down to let the alk drop a little.

My corals don't seem to care for that and so I figured I would change to a salt with lower alk. I'll be going to the aquaforest probiotic salt which should be between 7.8 and 8.2 at 1.026 and Ill just bump the alk with some brs stuff I have on hand.

What I was thinking of doing is a few really large water changes over the course of like two weeks. Maybe a initial of about 60 gallons and then two 30 gallon water changes a week as kind of a complete tank "reset". My thinking is that right now my corals are unhappy. Could be from alk swings, could be old filters in my R/O unit, I'm not sure. Either way the rodi is getting replaced and I am changing salts so it couldn't be any worse than transferring corals from one tank to the next. Right?

 

[Tautog]

FWIW, guys I know with great looking tanks, sell a lot of corals, have incredible growth, and don't supplement anything, just feed the fish, they all use Reef Crystals. I asked about other salts, and the best guys said " don't waste your money, keep it simple". Their DTs are amazing, one has all Acros and 4-5 angel fish, including a Queen.

 

[Salty_Box_Reef]

I don't doubt that at all. I just want a salt that mixes at a lower alkalinity so I don't need to add acid or anything to bring it down to match my water.

 

[Kershaw]

I can't speak for all salts but every now and then I get the urge to change salts and I always go back to reef crystals. Just add more coral to lower your CH. I started my current tank on RC then a year in switched to salinity ( which used to be the "best" for a while anyway. ) coral didn't seem to like it now I Am back on RC my tank looks great. Using RC when I do a 30gal water change on my 125 my CH is at about 7 with out dosing I keep mine on the high end of 8 with a doser.
I have tried RC, Red Sea pro, Kent, microbe lift, and salinity. Red Sea would be my next choice I really stoped using that over it seemed to give me same results at a higher price. Either way when I switch salts I just do normal water changes with the new salt. Don't want to make major changes to fast

 

[GoVols]

I'll be going to the aquaforest probiotic salt

Please, Do not switch over to this salt mix quickly.

It has a built in carbon source and bacteria in the mix. If you switch over to the Pro Bio too fast you will be dealing with bacteria blooms and cyano right out the gate.

I used to use TM Bio Actif and it has a carbon source in it as well. One day I decided to do a 50% water change with it over two days. It was a huge mistake and took about 3 months to fully recover from that bad decision.

Please, Stay with AF's guide lines when using this salt mix.

I have a system down for my reef that keeps my phos. and nitrates in check with out carbon dosing anymore and my reef is way more stable / happier and I don't have to worry about cyano break outs anymore.

Regards, GoVols