liveaquaria professional reef salt

[Dkeller_nc]

This doesn't directly answer your questions about LA's salt mix, but if you're interested in a lot of the options, Bulk Reef Supply just did two videos on the subject - one is on the actual cost per gallon when mixed to 1.026 (the stated gallons on the boxes/buckets aren't to be trusted, apparently), and another one on alkalinity/calcium stability when the mixed artificial seawater is held for 3 weeks. Pretty interesting stuff if you're a chemistry geek.

 

[SeaDweller]

Well, to be honest I'm worried about it too. I've been using IO for the last 7 years with no issues, but now I'm thinking about switching.
I make 100 gallons of water at a time, and have an auto water chance system that changes out 4 GPD, so I'm hoping to avoid inconsistency issues. Also with the AWC, changes in Alk shouldn't be of concern, but I am seeking others advice before I make the change.

Well I am using regular old IO too, just have to bring that alk down with some Seachem acid buffer. BUT IO is tried and true.. fritz/LA is still new. You know what they say... if it ain’t broke...

I do prefer TMPR and regular Red Sea though.

 

[SeaDweller]

Well, to be honest I'm worried about it too. I've been using IO for the last 7 years with no issues, but now I'm thinking about switching.
I make 100 gallons of water at a time, and have an auto water chance system that changes out 4 GPD, so I'm hoping to avoid inconsistency issues. Also with the AWC, changes in Alk shouldn't be of concern, but I am seeking others advice before I make the change.

Well LA is having 20% off sale now so...

 

[Mjl714]

LA, one bag in a 200 gallon box, i think they need to fix that.

 

[Coronus]

Havent had an issue and I have used about 4 boxes so far. Just bought 2 more.

 

[turfster26]

FWIW....and this is strictly anecdotal. I've no testing of the actual salt mix in my mixing station, just test 1-2 per month display tank water. Been meaning to test the actual mix and will do so thsi coming weekend for giggles.

I've switched to LA salt last spring mainly due to increasing cost of IO and I wanted to make a switch anyway. Like others have mentioned, you can get some GREAT deals on LA salts with their aggressive coupons if you time them right. I buy (4) 200-gl box at a time.

Ok, now onto the meat and potatoes. Been in the hobby for well over 14-yrs. Started with traditional IO, switched to Seachem and LOVED it, then went to Seachem's Aquavitro and LOVED that even more (too pricey and very hard to find). Then took a 4-year break when my tank crashed and kept it fish only.

FINALLY did a makeover on my system last March and been using LA salt ever since. I am an ole school SPS guy and feel like this salt has performed very well for me. Very stable parameters and my tank has been doing very well for well over 6-months now since I re-stocked it with all new SPS frags, etc.

So to that end, I've seen no negative effects within the actual tank, find it mixes VERY clean with no residue, love where the Alk stays at 8-8.5 and if you're patient you get get GREAT deals on their salt.

But like others have mentioned, I am VERY nervious and will proceed with caution now that Drs F & S have been bought out by Petco. NOT a good thing IMHO. I have (5) boxes left which should last until mid-summer and may change salts to TMPR at the point. Only time will tell once the Petco cooperate peeps meddle with the Drs F & B products, etc.

 

[TMB]

@turfster26 I'm assuming that since you mentioned a mixing station that you mix larger batches. I have a 100 gallon salt mixing tank that I maintain between 50% and 100% full. So what I do is wait until I can mix up 50 gallons, so I can use a whole bag all at once. I have always done this to avoid inconsistency issues, or salts settling in the bag.

My question is this: how do you mix yours from the LA box with all 200 gallons worth in one bag?
Do you just scoop it out and not worry about it? or are you somehow mixing up the bag between batches?
I'm interested in hearing what others are doing to make sure the salt is well mixed. Thanks in advance.

 

[turfster26]

@turfster26 I'm assuming that since you mentioned a mixing station that you mix larger batches. I have a 100 gallon salt mixing tank that I maintain between 50% and 100% full. So what I do is wait until I can mix up 50 gallons, so I can use a whole bag all at once. I have always done this to avoid inconsistency issues, or salts settling in the bag.

My question is this: how do you mix yours from the LA box with all 200 gallons worth in one bag?
Do you just scoop it out and not worry about it? or are you somehow mixing up the bag between batches?
I'm interested in hearing what others are doing to make sure the salt is well mixed. Thanks in advance.

@TMB.....I have to be brutally honest. I simply just scoop it out of the bag. I use my salt (boxes) pretty quickly, so I honestly don't think much is settling BUT I could be totally off base.

I mix 45-50 gls at a time and typically do weekly or bi-weekly WC's. Never go past 2-weeks between changes. I am a HUGE believer in water changes and feel it has much more benefits than disadvantages. Especially after BRS demonstrated how inexpensive it is to perform them.

***Again, this may be a MOOT point b/c I am seriously considering switching salts after the Petco buyout. I've seem cooperations %$%#butt%% so many times when they buy companies like Drs. F & S. I simply can't confidently trust them going forward. I have (5) 200-gls boxes left and will most likely make the switch mid-summer.

FWIW

 

[jkcoon]

I took advantage of the Black Friday deal - something like $25/bucket and love it, so far. It mixes super fast - no residue; which is why I left Reef crystals.

 

[DarkSky]

FWIW....and this is strictly anecdotal. I've no testing of the actual salt mix in my mixing station, just test 1-2 per month display tank water. Been meaning to test the actual mix and will do so thsi coming weekend for giggles.

I've switched to LA salt last spring mainly due to increasing cost of IO and I wanted to make a switch anyway. Like others have mentioned, you can get some GREAT deals on LA salts with their aggressive coupons if you time them right. I buy (4) 200-gl box at a time.

Ok, now onto the meat and potatoes. Been in the hobby for well over 14-yrs. Started with traditional IO, switched to Seachem and LOVED it, then went to Seachem's Aquavitro and LOVED that even more (too pricey and very hard to find). Then took a 4-year break when my tank crashed and kept it fish only.

FINALLY did a makeover on my system last March and been using LA salt ever since. I am an ole school SPS guy and feel like this salt has performed very well for me. Very stable parameters and my tank has been doing very well for well over 6-months now since I re-stocked it with all new SPS frags, etc.

So to that end, I've seen no negative effects within the actual tank, find it mixes VERY clean with no residue, love where the Alk stays at 8-8.5 and if you're patient you get get GREAT deals on their salt.

But like others have mentioned, I am VERY nervious and will proceed with caution now that Drs F & S have been bought out by Petco. NOT a good thing IMHO. I have (5) boxes left which should last until mid-summer and may change salts to TMPR at the point. Only time will tell once the Petco cooperate peeps meddle with the Drs F & B products, etc.

DFS/Live Aquaria has been owned by Petco for many years now, this wasn't a recent development.

 

[ReefWithCare]

I use LA salt. It mixes at 9.7 Alk for me. Pretty sure it’s Fritz rebrand but with superior customer service over Fritz’s cruddy service. I wouldn’t use it for acros but it’s fine for traditional mixed reefs.

Don’t care if LA is owned by Petco. I love Petco’s hours and the one near me sells acros, calms, cheap live rock, and designer clowns. I QT everything and anything that survives 2 weeks at Petco is pretty much immortal.

 

[DarkSky]

I use LA salt. It mixes at 9.7 Alk for me. Pretty sure it’s Fritz rebrand but with superior customer service over Fritz’s cruddy service. I wouldn’t use it for acros but it’s fine for traditional mixed reefs.

You wouldn't recommend it for acros? I started using it specifically for acros.

 

[ReefWithCare]

You wouldn't recommend it for acros? I started using it specifically for acros.

Ya the reason why is Fritz has historic QC issues so one bad batch can wipe your acros. If you test your batches it shouldn’t be a problem though. LA would probably refund you if you got a bad batch. The reason why I buy from them is their service is incredible.

 

[topjimmy]

I am on my second box.
Price is great, mixes way cleaner than IO.
Just made [email protected]
Alk 9.5
Calc 450
Mag 1350

 

[turfster26]

DFS/Live Aquaria has been owned by Petco for many years now, this wasn't a recent development.

Thank you for this info.....I hope it's true b/c I really enjoy LA salt and it's very affordable when you get their deep discount coupons.

 

[turfster26]

I am on my second box.
Price is great, mixes way cleaner than IO.
Just made [email protected]
Alk 9.5
Calc 450
Mag 1350

I will mix 45-gls this weekend and will post my results.

I may start mixing the big 200-gl box of salt in 5-gls buckets to ensure no settling, just to be safe in the future.

 

[homer1475]

Thank you for this info.....I hope it's true b/c I really enjoy LA salt and it's very affordable when you get their deep discount coupons.

Yeah it's been a while since they bought them. there is a thread on RC that goes back to 2014 when they first purchased DFS.

Shutting down DFS is a new development though.

 

[BryanD]

I've been using LiveAquaria Professional Reef Salt for over a year now, no issues. Did the Instant Ocean switch because of brown residue left in mixing buckets. This stuff is clear as a bell within 20 minutes or so.

 

[Deezill]

Well I am using regular old IO too, just have to bring that alk down with some Seachem acid buffer. BUT IO is tried and true.. fritz/LA is still new. You know what they say... if it ain’t broke...

I do prefer TMPR and regular Red Sea though.

I too am an IO guy. I use the purple box. I don't plan on changing it it works no crud and I am happy. I like to have my ALK around 9.5-10.0. I see a lot of people change their salt when they have issues but most time the salt is not the underlining issue. Thats my 1 cent.

 

[SeaDweller]

I too am an IO guy. I use the purple box. I don't plan on changing it it works no crud and I am happy. I like to have my ALK around 9.5-10.0. I see a lot of people change their salt when they have issues but most time the salt is not the underlining issue. Thats my 1 cent.

I switch back and forth, but recently bought 6 buckets of TMPR, and I’ll probably stick to this. There are ones I avoid outright though, namely RSCP.