Contemplating changing salt mix

[saltyhog]

My tank is 18 months old today. DT is mixed reef-SPS dominant. I've been using Reef Crystals since day one but I'm considering changing because of it's high alkalinity. I'm trying to keep mine around 8.5. The problem is everytime I do a water change (usually 25 gallon every 2-3 weeks) I get a big spike in my alkalinity. Sometimes as much as 1.5 dKH if I leave my 2 part dosers on.

I haven't had any problems recently but did lose a couple of SPS during one of these spikes a few months ago. Not sure that was the reason but it was the only variant in my parameters. Should I switch to a lower alkalinity mix that more closely approximates my every day alkalinity (IO) or is it a non factor and best to keep what I'm doing. My Reef crystals mixes at a dKh of almost 11 for me.

155 gallon, 36 gallon sump. Dosing 105 cc of 2 part in hourly doses via dosing pumps, dosing 60 cc of vinegar (dose still escalating). Moderate to high bioload. Current parameters.....temp 80.0, salinity 35 ppt, pH 8.3, Alk 8.6, NO3 10, PO4 0.01, Ca 450, Mg 1380.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

IO isn't much lower in alkalinity than Reef Crystals. Only a few mixes are.

A 20% change with 11 dKH water in a tank with 8.5 dKH will only boost it to 9.0 dKH.

That said, you can switch to a different mix, or add some muriatic acid to the Reef Crystals to lower the alkalinity before you use it. I can advise on using the acid if you want to go that route.

 

[NanaReefer]

How very strange!! I too use Reef Crystals, but have the exact opposite issue. I have to dose ALK daily to keep mine at 8.4.

 

[bfam4t6]

I used Reef Crystals for several years before switching to Red Sea Coral Pro. I apologize up front for not being able to provide any exact test results, as I'm not big into testing my water. I check my TDS meter, refractometer, and not much else. So, I really rely on my salt mix to give me everything I need, and do so consistently. Having made the switch to RSCP, I can say that I have nothing but good things to say about it. My SPS grow great with it, it mixes very easily and quickly, and as long as I time my salt purchases to coincide with sale prices, it doesn't cost me any more than Reef Crystals.

You're not the first person whom I've heard about having problems with the chemistry of RC. Members of my local forum have mentioned it being inconsistent not only based on different parts of the bucket, i.e. top and bottom parts of the mix, but also slight variations in entire batches. Again, I don't do any chemistry tests myself, so I'm just passing along anecdotes. Nonetheless, I believe the stories, and I'd recommend switching to RSCP.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How very strange!! I too use Reef Crystals, but have the exact opposite issue. I have to dose ALK daily to keep mine at 8.4.

FWIW, the OP is dosing quite a lot every day, he is just worried about the extra on water change days.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I used Reef Crystals for several years before switching to Red Sea Coral Pro. I apologize up front for not being able to provide any exact test results, as I'm not big into testing my water. I check my TDS meter, refractometer, and not much else. So, I really rely on my salt mix to give me everything I need, and do so consistently. Having made the switch to RSCP, I can say that I have nothing but good things to say about it. My SPS grow great with it, it mixes very easily and quickly, and as long as I time my salt purchases to coincide with sale prices, it doesn't cost me any more than Reef Crystals.

You're not the first person whom I've heard about having problems with the chemistry of RC. Members of my local forum have mentioned it being inconsistent not only based on different parts of the bucket, i.e. top and bottom parts of the mix, but also slight variations in entire batches. Again, I don't do any chemistry tests myself, so I'm just passing along anecdotes. Nonetheless, I believe the stories, and I'd recommend switching to RSCP.

FWIW, if you want lower alkalinity, RSCP is not the mix to choose.

The company claims it provides more than 12 dKH at 35 ppt.

 

[bfam4t6]

FWIW, if you want lower alkalinity, RSCP is not the mix to choose.

The company claims it provides more than 12 dKH at 35 ppt.

Very true. I guess I recommend it more for its consistency.

Now that I reread the OP's post, I realize how irrelevant my recommendation was. Sorry, I'm buzzing a little bit on coffee and half brain dead from listening to too many online college lectures!:rofl:

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

No problem.

Happy Reefing.

 

[Zacco]

I've switched and i am currently using "Salinity" by SeaChem. Aquavitro line. I've used alot of salt mixes in my day, but i am finding this brand to my liking. Each bucket of salt mix is batch specific and they print out the analysis on each bucket. They also send their salt out to a 3rd party Lab for testing. See analysis below. As you can see SeaChem tested this batch at 3.5 meq/L which is about 9.8/9.9 dKH. Im finding this to be true when I test my alk on this batch. (using Salifert test kit @ 1.026 salinity)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

As a side note, I don't know what Seachem(Aquavitro) is thinking with the values they post on those buckets for the trace elements, but it definitely is not even close to correct for some of them in NSW.

Iron, for example, is more than a hundred times lower than they quote, and in surface seawater is even lower still.

Perhaps they neglected to point out the units should be ppb (ug/L) for that, not ppm (mg/L).