Red Sea Coral Pro vs Reef Crystals

renato120 · Sep 14, 2015

Reduck said:
I think you missed my point. Test a fresh batch of salt water before you introduce it to the tank. I have seen very high ph and very high alk from rscp drums. Either could shock the coral and even cause regression.

Don't try to do too much at one time too. Get some gfo going before your next water change to help bring down those phosphates.

Ok I will! I do check the DT parameters a couple hours after the water change... Nothing really to worry it about... Alk/ca goes up a bit. But not much at all... Alk always at the range of 9/10... Even after the WG... I will check the water before doing the WG this wkd.

thedru13 · Sep 14, 2015

So I also may not have been clear. When I was switching salt brands in my tank it was slow. Very slow. I did it over time and did not rush it. I also used new buckets and mixing equipment.

Kungpaoshizi · Sep 14, 2015

I would think no matter the salt, if it's a higher alk salt, you really shouldn't be doing too large of water changes. Also, the temp needs to be nicer, 3+ degree swings I would consider a bad thing.
If your alk is 7-8 and you do a water change large enough to bring it to 10-11, that's a pretty big jump, compound that to every week, no wonder your tank looks good right before a water change..

Waiting on my first batch of RSCP to do a triton test on, used RC before long ago, can't stand how dirty it is. All I know is the more mud I expose my tank to, the more the algae has to use to grow.

Reduck · Sep 14, 2015

renato120 said:
Ok I will! I do check the DT parameters a couple hours after the water change... Nothing really to worry it about... Alk/ca goes up a bit. But not much at all... Alk always at the range of 9/10... Even after the WG... I will check the water before doing the WG this wkd.

Thanks. Please let us know how you make out? I have seen some mixes with extremely high dkh so that is my point. If your fresh SW has a super high dkh, it could be shocking your coral. I had a SPS stripped clean in 3 days from one WC. This is why I check the fresh sw parameters every single time I mix....

Jlobes · Sep 14, 2015

renato120 said:
No pests.... Im having some flatworms problem now but nothing major... Almost all gone... Leopard wrasse love to eat them all day long

just read through the entire thread. Im a bit confused by this statement, do you or do you not have pests!? flatworms=pests! this could be the source of your SPS issue.

renato120 · Sep 14, 2015

Jlobes said:
just read through the entire thread. Im a bit confused by this statement, do you or do you not have pests!? flatworms=pests! this could be the source of your SPS issue.

I started to have some flatworms in my refugium if it was in my DT im pretty sure its not there anymore... I have a scooter blenny, madarim and a leopard wrasse... All the corals that are bleaching im checking every day to see if there are any pests... And i say 0. I even look with the zoom in my camera. Flatworms dont kill any corals... Only if its the point of them taking over the tank... Its not my case at all...

justjes45 · Sep 15, 2015

Hey guys! So I have only been in the salt water hobby/ addiction for about 8 months now-
I was set up using a salt called "Instant Ocean". I haven't seen ANYONE here using that brand- any thoughts on that?

Kungpaoshizi · Sep 15, 2015

justjes45 said:
Hey guys! So I have only been in the salt water hobby/ addiction for about 8 months now-
I was set up using a salt called "Instant Ocean". I haven't seen ANYONE here using that brand- any thoughts on that?

Because it's not really "reef" salt. It's ok for fish only tanks though. Some mix it with Reef Crystals..
I personally don't use it because the levels are unacceptable and I do not mix salts.

BryanS4 · Sep 15, 2015

Kungpaoshizi said:
Because it's not really "reef" salt. It's ok for fish only tanks though. Some mix it with Reef Crystals..
I personally don't use it because the levels are unacceptable and I do not mix salts.

I use regular IO for an SPS heavy reef, as do a lot of other SPS reefers in my area.

The key is to find a salt that works for where you like to keep you tank levels and stick with it. As I mentioned earlier, I used RC in the past, but during water changes it would increase my Alk by just enough that I needed to skip a day of dosing. When I switched to regular IO after water change my Alk stayed right where I like to keep it, 8.3, so for me this works.

For those who don't dose, the salts that mix to higher levels is a way to somewhat maintain/replenish CA and Alk during the week.

Kungpaoshizi · Sep 15, 2015

What's the calcium/mag/strontium/potassium/iodine levels?

BryanS4 · Sep 15, 2015

I'm sitting in traffic, so going off what I remember, Ca- 400 and Mg 1350. I'd suggest looking the others up if you want to know, can't say I have. I'm sure we could find 200 different threads on this and you'll get everyone's opinion on what works best for them. I personally care about Alk the most and to find something that after 18 gallon weekly change stays spot on to where is was before the change is the reason I use the salt.

nature786 · Sep 15, 2015

I experienced issues with my sps when switching salts. I usually do a 20% water change. I went from RSCP to D&D H2O pro.
The alk difference is what i didn't pay attention to so lost some colonies.
I would say make the switch very slowly and if possible over a long period of time.

susane quinn · Sep 15, 2015

justjes45 said:
Hey guys! So I have only been in the salt water hobby/ addiction for about 8 months now-
I was set up using a salt called "Instant Ocean". I haven't seen ANYONE here using that brand- any thoughts on that?

I have been using instant ocean pro since may in my reef tank with no probe and my friend has been using it for quite a few years with no probs in her reef rank, and she has been keeping and breeding for 20 years + so in my opinion it is ok for a reef tank.