My Aqua Craft salt has arrived

[Rikerbear]

My salt arrived today from Aqua Craft. I was so happy to have won one of the prizes in that fun contest. They were also generous enough to have added in refractometer calibration fluid and an issue of Coral magazine. Very cool!! I can so be bribed LOL
I will be doing my water change tomorrow with the new salt. I plan to take test readings of the new water, the tank prior to the WC, and than the tank a few hours after the WC.
I do weekly water changes so should be able to evaluate any changes pretty quickly...either good ones or bad ones.
Thanks again Aqua Craft and R2R for a fun and involved contest :smile:

 

[Rikerbear]

So here is the first log entry:

Nano Innovative marine 16 gal
Starting parameters prior to WC with the new Aqua Craft salt
Temp: 78.5
Salinity: 1.023
PH: 8.1
Ammonia: 0.1
Nitrite; 0.01
Nitrate 1
Calcium: 400
Alkalinity: 10
Mag: 1100

Aqua Craft Salt Mix: 3 hours mixing and temp adjustment
Temp 78
Salinity: 1.023
PH: 8.3
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
Calcium: 400
Alkalinity: 12
Magnesium: 1500

I did a 3 gal water change and will retest the tank tomorrow.

First impression:
I like how easy it was to mix. Water cleared and salt fully dissolved in a matter of minutes. It took only 1 1/4 cup of salt to get 3 gal at 1.023
I am pleased so far :tongue:

 

[SmokeyCFH]

Glad to hear! I've been using this salt for a while and I love it! I will never go back

 

[Rikerbear]

Glad to hear! I've been using this salt for a while and I love it! I will never go back

Do you find you have to dose with anything to keep your levels up or are the WCs enough?
Mine is a small nano so am hoping this salt will have all the right levels and trace elements I need by just doing my weekly WC.
I am a tad concerned about the calcium reading, but not overly so as I will not be keeping SPS, but will have a few LPS and other calcium users

 

[SmokeyCFH]

Honestly, it all depends on what you have, my tank is OVERLOADED and I find my tank sucking up calcium like no other, so I end up putting about 10ml of calcium in a day, which seems ridiculous.


Sent Via the R2R Forum APP

 

[Rikerbear]

Honestly, it all depends on what you have, my tank is OVERLOADED and I find my tank sucking up calcium like no other, so I end up putting about 10ml of calcium in a day, which seems ridiculous.

I suppose that's true. I have only softies and zoas st this point and doubt I will ever do the SPS thing

 

[Rikerbear]

24 hours after WC:
Aqua Craft Salt Mix: 3 hours mixing and temp adjustment
Temp 78
Salinity: 1.023
PH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0.25
Calcium: 400
Alkalinity: 10
Magnesium: 1300

 

[Rikerbear]

Second week WC:
Prior to WC:
Temp 78.4
Salinity: 1.023
PH: 8.1
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0.25
Calcium: 380
Alkalinity: 10
Magnesium: 1100

Salt Mix after 1 hour mixing:
Temp 78
Salinity: 1.023
PH: 8.3
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0.25
Calcium: 440
Alkalinity: 12
Magnesium: 1500

Tank 24 hrs after WC:
Temp 78
Salinity: 1.023
PH: 8.2
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0.25
Calcium: 420
Alkalinity: 12
Magnesium: 1400

Water change (WC) was 3 gal on a 16 gal nano

 

[Rikerbear]

Not sure anyone is actually reading this thread, but was asked to do this after winning some of the salt mix.
I will continue this thread for another two weeks, at that time I will make my decision about this salt and whether or not it is doing anything good for my reef critters.
So far it seems as good but no better than my IO Reef Crystals....and after pricing it at the LFS it is pricier than IORC too

 

[3Twinklets]

I tried my salt mix today, finally. I also loved how easy and quickly it mixed. My test results were the same. I also am a wait and see reefer.

 

[Rikerbear]

I tried my salt mix today, finally. I also loved how easy and quickly it mixed. My test results were the same. I also am a wait and see reefer.

Are you also starting an evaluation thread?

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

We're reading!

 

[Rikerbear]

We're reading!

Okay cool :smile:

 

[3Twinklets]

I can only comment on the 25 gallons that I mixed, and my total tank volume is 165 gallons, so no, no thread. I apologize if I intruded on yours.

Are you also starting an evaluation thread?

 

[Rikerbear]

I can only comment on the 25 gallons that I mixed, and my total tank volume is 165 gallons, so no, no thread. I apologize if I intruded on yours.

Oh no, you didn't intrude on this thread at all....that was not at all what I was implying. I am SO sorry if it came across that way :squigglemouth:
I was simply asking so I could watch your results along with mine.

 

[skinz78]

Looks like some good results! I too use the Aqua Craft Bio Sea and absolutely love it. My corals are open fuller and have more vibrant colors....

 

[Rikerbear]

Well so far the best thing I can say about the new salt is that it mixes super fast and is ready to use in minutes not hours like some of the others I have used in the past. Not sure I have noticed any other benefits just yet, but it's only been a couple weeks, so will give it a few more before i decide anything.
For me and the nano this 25 gal bag will last 7 WCs (3 gal weekly), so I should have a pretty good ideas by than.....5 weeks to go :tongue:

 

[Aqua Craft]

Rikerbear & others with 1500 ppm. of Mg. Are you using a Salifert Mg test kit? -- Other brands of test kits will provide test results around 1300 ppm. (Sg 1.025-1.026). Typical assay of BIO-SEA at SG 1.025-1.026 is: Ca 400-410 ppm. Mg 1300-1325 ppm. Alk. 8.5. pH 8.4. +/- 3%, at 77F.

There was an earlier thread (salt test) that demonstrated most folks that received a premixed liquid sample of BIO-SEA got results of +/- 10%-25% when posting their test results for Ca & Mg. I.e. There is more of a variable with test kit results than with the composition of BIO-SEA.

Besides mixing rapidly into a clear solution, is there any residue in your mixing bucket or vat? Residue is an indication of less than optimal ingredients in a marine salts. Usually when a residue is present, a brown algae or diatom bloom will be seen after a water change. Also, unwanted algae can develop as the aquarium seasons.

Typically when your aquarium is 25% BIO-SEA water appears to be clearer. When at 50% animals start to respond with better color and growth. At 100%, animals are naturally active with rich dramatic colors.

Any questions, comments or suggestions, please post here.

Thanks to all.

Aqua Craft Products

| AquaCraft Products

 

[Rikerbear]

I and the LFS use Elos test kits, and have gotten the same numbers. I will be at 100% Bio Salt after my next 3 WC (5th WC), I than have enough salt for two additional WC after that.....should be able to judge results better after that. So far I am happy with the salt mix :bigsmile:

 

[skinz78]

Hey Mark, if you are happy with this salt it can be found locally. I'm not sure which part of Seattle you are in or the exact neighborhood "I think U dist" there is a LFS called The Fish Store, off of Roosevelt. They carry it so you can save on shipping costs by getting it there. I need to stop in and get some next time I'm down that way.