Is switching salt safe?

[Lysh87]

Hi, is it safe to switch salt brands?

if so, how do I do that properly?

 

[haleyf1024]

How sensitive are your fish and corals? Switching is safe, mast people mix the new and old salt for a couple water changes or drop to more frequent 5-10% changes with the new salt. I switched from RC to fritz because of cyano and hair algae and did 3 30% wcs within a week and was completely fine since it was a softie tank

 

[Lysh87]

How sensitive are your fish and corals? Switching is safe, mast people mix the new and old salt for a couple water changes or drop to more frequent 5-10% changes with the new salt. I switched from RC to fritz because of cyano and hair algae and did 3 30% wcs within a week and was completely fine since it was a softie tank

Well I have had no luck at all with anything in my tank. Corals are all dead so no worries there lol. I have a blue fin damsel and yellow and black striped damsel. Yellow one has some white stuff growing on him so I have use pimafix and melafix for a week and seems to be doing okay. And I have 2 hermits left. All my snails died too.

I have been fighting an ammonia spike for about a month and can’t beat it. I would say they are pretty hardy for still surviving so far.

 

[haleyf1024]

Well I have had no luck at all with anything in my tank. Corals are all dead so no worries there lol. I have a blue fin damsel and yellow and black striped damsel. Yellow one has some white stuff growing on him so I have use pimafix and melafix for a week and seems to be doing okay. And I have 2 hermits left. All my snails died too.

I have been fighting an ammonia spike for about a month and can’t beat it. I would say they are pretty hardy for still surviving so far.

Are you using 0 tds RODI? What is the ammonia level

 

[Lysh87]

Are you using 0 tds RODI? What is the ammonia level

I have been using reverse osmosis water and my ammonia is off the scale. So dark green that it looks black. I use API testing kit and API ammolock.

It’s my fault I thought my tank was cycled but apparently not. On top of that I guess I added too much at once. I’ve lost 2 fish, 4 snails and 2 corals already.

Im trying my hardest to take good care of them but failing non-stop. Now I’m out of salt and can’t get my brand from the store. The only one they have is different

 

[arichmond1003]

How old is the tank?

 

[haleyf1024]

I have been using reverse osmosis water and my ammonia is off the scale. So dark green that it looks black. I use API testing kit and API ammolock.

It’s my fault I thought my tank was cycled but apparently not. On top of that I guess I added too much at once. I’ve lost 2 fish, 4 snails and 2 corals already.

Im trying my hardest to take good care of them but failing non-stop. Now I’m out of salt and can’t get my brand from the store. The only one they have is different

LFS are considered essential and are allowed to be open, I would rehome your fish and inverts until this is fixed. Once the fish are out, stop dosing ammonia remover, do a 50% wc, add a tablespoon or two of Coca Cola (yes seriously), and a bottle of bacteria (biospira is good) and ride it out. If you don’t rehome fish and inverts and try to keep fixing it with livestock you will be fighting a downhill battle forever. Better to do it now than get fed up with it and have to completely restart or get rid of the tank!

 

[jordan10]

i think salt is salt kinda. i switch between RPM fritz blue and regular IORC. andhavent noticed a difference and IO is real cheap

 

[Ultra Aquatics]

The biggest worry when switching salt is parameter differences. For an example in my SPS tank I keep my alk at 6.5-7 and use TM Pro which mixes up at about 6.5. Now if all of a sudden I decided to switch to IO RC, which has an alk of like 13dkh (last I heard at least) this could be an issue, especially if I was doing a large-ish water change.

 

[Lysh87]

LFS are considered essential and are allowed to be open, I would rehome your fish and inverts until this is fixed. Once the fish are out, stop dosing ammonia remover, do a 50% wc, add a tablespoon or two of Coca Cola (yes seriously), and a bottle of bacteria (biospira is good) and ride it out. If you don’t rehome fish and inverts and try to keep fixing it with livestock you will be fighting a downhill battle forever. Better to do it now than get fed up with it and have to completely restart or get rid of the tank!

The only one near me is closed for saltwater ones anyway

 

[haleyf1024]

The only one near me is closed for saltwater ones anyway

I’d resort to putting them in a 5 gallon bucket with heater and air stone then, can move them to a new bucket every 2-3 days until this is settled. You won’t be able to fix the tank problems with them in there though imo. Where are you located? Here in the DMV we have quite a few if you are willing to travel 1-2 hours!

 

[mike550]

@Lysh87 As you make water changes your tank water will transition to the new salt. So you should be fine

Your ammonia is a different issue. If you can share more about your tank and other parameters maybe folks on here can try to help you

 

[Lysh87]

I’m in Niagara. I could try the buckets

 

[Lysh87]

@Lysh87 As you make water changes your tank water will transition to the new salt. So you should be fine

Your ammonia is a different issue. If you can share more about your tank and other parameters maybe folks on here can try to help you

Thanks. Everyone seems to say different things. It’s even harder right now with COVID. It’s only a 10 gallon tank. I have 2 fish and 2 hermit crabs. Lots of algae and ammonia is the only problem I have found. I use the API saltwater test kit. I also have media floss, chemi-pure, a skimmer and media rocks.

 

[haleyf1024]

Thanks. Everyone seems to say different things. It’s even harder right now with COVID. It’s only a 10 gallon tank. I have 2 fish and 2 hermit crabs. Lots of algae and ammonia is the only problem I have found. I use the API saltwater test kit. I also have media floss, chemi-pure, a skimmer and media rocks.

Damsels in a 10 gallon may be the issue, especially if there were other fish in there as well. I never sell damsels for under a 30, except springeri (still need a 20 gal though). 10 gallon tanks are only fit for nano fish such as clown gobies, tangoroas, tailspot blennies, and other nano gobies/blennies. Fish like damsels, clowns, and cardinals are too big and dirty for a 10 gal

 

[Lysh87]

Damsels in a 10 gallon may be the issue, especially if there were other fish in there as well. I never sell damsels for under a 30, except springeri (still need a 20 gal though). 10 gallon tanks are only fit for nano fish such as clown gobies, tangoroas, tailspot blennies, and other nano gobies/blennies. Fish like damsels, clowns, and cardinals are too big and dirty for a 10 gal

Okay thanks