Mortons or Natural & Synthetic

[Agamerce]

New to Saltwater and reefs, I have sourced a plethora of information on how to's, recommendations, some scientific and some not, and sought out the experts in saltwater management and maintenance also known as Chemists, Researchers, and Marine Biologists. My research has specific and varying degrees of resolutions and myriad of facts regarding the usage of sea salts. Some purport one idea while others support some other idea and a third seek to debunk all of the above. For example, many people use synthetic while others use natural sea salts. Then, I hear about the use of Mortons sea salt from local hardware stores. This thread is another sourcing of that answer in my quest to find that answer even if that is for myself only. (okay and my pocketbook )

I am not here to debate myth, folklore, wives-tales, and the variances of experiences by hobbyists that shy away from one thing and gravitate to another because they know it works. I am here for information from people that can back up their claims with evidence, research, or proof that proves what the response means, implies, and concludes. Yes, I am interested in your knowledge, research, and methods of discovery. Supporting a claim because Seaworld, Sealife, or my lfs is not material support. (I'm sure they throw a lot of money at it though)

This is just a start, and only covers the debate to Natural vs Synthetic, to the list of sources I have researched myself.

<<http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2004/9/aafeature>>
<<http://web.archive.org/web/20010303.../fish2/aqfm/1999/mar/features/1/default.asp>>
<<http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_3/cav3i3/Salt_Impressions/Salt_Impressions.htm>>

My question is simple, can I use Mortons salt in Saltwater and reef aquariums. If so, how? What must I do? Why is it okay?

Disclaimer: I understand this stands to be a very vague start. This by no means is conclusive. I understand that it depends on parameters set by factors that affect the delicate balance including local environment I operate in, the types and species I wish to tank, the parameters of the ocean(s) I wish to replicate, the zones I replicate, water depth parameters, locality to external factors of those environments, etc. etc. etc.

Can it be done? How? why is that okay?

 

[Sabellafella]

Pretty sure the only salts it contains is potassium iodide and calcium sulfate plus impuritys(assuming unbelievable amounts of heavy metals). Witch would be the reason not to use morton salt. Nomatter how vague you think this question is, noone ever seemed to give an answer other then making fun of someone(no not r2r). Im sure morton makes other salts and elements/minerals you could possibly use, but not to do a waterchange or start a tank with. I deffinitly would not recommending trying to.

 

[Sabellafella]

Welcome to the forum btw

 

[Tahoe61]

Welcome

FYI, are you sure those are the links you wanted to post? Page does not exist and archive unavailable is what I get when I click on the links.

 

[Cory]

No you cannot use mortons salt for seawater.

Seawter contains exact concentrations of various elements, all of which create an environment which fish and corals survive.

If one element is low or missing completely, most animals will suffer or die. For example, calcium is needed for coral growth, without calcium corals cant grow and will die. With too much the same also happens.

 

[nervousmonkey]

adding to what all the smart guys here who have already answered, great advice. As for Morton's, I don't believe that it takes personal experience with it to know it doesn't work, and could potentially be bad for your setup. It is important to look at the main ingredients, although you also have to take into account what they are chemically bonded to (Just bonded ionically, so no great chemical force required to help them dissolve in water).
In this case, potassium iodide and calcium sulfate. Iodine and sulfur (in the form of sulfate) are two of the most abundant ions in seawater found in the ocean, yet it would overdose a tank with sulfate if you used Morton's. Sulfate makes up 7.7% of a natural reefs' ions. This would potentially cause a problem, as your tank will use up the calcium to build skeleton and you'll be left with higher and higher levels of sulfate. Iodine, same thing. So far we have only talked about the major components of sea water, but the trace elements that comprise almost 5% (OK, technically 4%) of NSW are just as important. You need magnesium to help corals with skeletal growth (~5% of coral skeleton is made up of magnesium). Strontium is another like calcium and magnesium; you don't need a lot of it, but it is required as a part of the skeletal structure of coral. Then we start getting into all of the other trace elements, and that's just not important at this point.
Hope this helps you out man. BTW, here's an excellent article from Dr. Randy @Randy Holmes-Farley re: reef aquarium water parameters: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/
That article should help out a lot. Good luck!

 

[Agamerce]

Thanks Tahoe61, Second try at links.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2004/9/aafeature
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_3/cav3i3/Salt_Impressions/Salt_Impressions.htm
http://web.archive.org/web/20010303...om/fish2/aqfm/1999/mar/features/1/default.asp

Sabellafella: That's for the invite! I have heard some boil the salt to clean it. I don't know if that's the process or not...

Corey: easily debunked statement. Saltwater is not a specific concentration and even contains impurities from industries at shallower levels of water which many corals thrive. I'm not saying it's okay or good for corals, but take the Caribbean for example. Islanders are synonymous with inefficient, older vehicles that are known to pollute water with lead and zinc. If you can read the studies from the links now, the natural and man-made salts are hardly exact concentrations that mimic natural saltwater. In a reef aquarium, I am buying Calcium supplements for the tank and regulating it anyway. Yes, I may have to buy major, minor, and SOME trace elements.

ALL & f.lloyd.taylor: Great stuff! I personally know of one 300g fish and reef tank that uses it. He has been Using Mortons for years and not lost.

 

[nervousmonkey]

Sort of sounds like you are going to go with Morton's anyway.
Saltwater technically is a very specific concentration, or a combination of salts that make up that concentration, that we measure in ppt or ppm, also use specific gravity. What you are saying is that since the ocean has differing points of concentration, the conclusion of that *must* mean that we can't measure how much of one salt is a percentage by unit weight. Well, we can actually get specific concentrations, and also just because man-made salts do not always contain what is normal in seawater, does not make a brand of salt mix more or less equivalent to the sea, as there are rate limiters even in the ocean, that manufacturers would increase in our tanks, or decrease.

That's amazing that your friend only uses Mortons and hasn't had any issues. What kind of corals does he keep? Do they sell Mortons in 50 pound bags? We also all know someone who has a giant set up that has not changed water in 2 years, just kept up with the ions that are needed for coral health and growth. Does that then equate to a statement like this: "Since Person X has not changed water, that must mean that I, in turn, do not need to change my water either"?? Not really, but up to individual preference.

**edited** Finally, last statement; I don't believe that there are many people that can back up claims with evidence, research, or proof of a claim that, e.g., "IO is a better manufacturer of salts than Red Sea is." First, and I believe that this is really important to understand, is that everyone here does not have a B.S. degree, or an advanced degree.

 

[Agamerce]

good points there f.lloyd.taylor! Researching a topic and looking for specific information is no disrespect.

I'm no expert either. Luckily, we have the internet to learn from those that have done professional research. This kind of hobby play can also transcend to real life that could one day protect the 2nd largest white coral rock 100 miles off the coast from my neighborhood.

 

[nervousmonkey]

Cool, glad you have a level head. I reread my post and realized how badly it could have been taken, so, thank you. Today, sorta weird day today... Hmm, anyway, where are you referring to? I assume(d) that you live in the Philippines? 100 miles offshore. OK, is it a reef or rock?
Feels like I'm playing charades... Is it big? What species of fish are native to the reef?

 

[Agamerce]

Two unique systems thrive in the upper regions of the west atlantic. One is an outter shelf reef about 75 miles out. The other is Lophelia Coral Bank. Since the Lophelia Bank thrives at 2,500 feet it is generally white and very slow growing. Also, Lophelia is currently being destroyed commercially. At those depths many, many invertibrates, some diverse fish including red lionfish

 

[Agamerce]

As an update, my research shows this is a great summary of epson salt debate.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/rhf/

Thanks all for sharing and help with this question