Red Sea Salt Mix

schooleyosis · Dec 7, 2012

In my quest to switch salts I found this deal:

Red Sea Salt, Aquarium Salt Mixes | PetSolutions

Is this the same salt that a lot of you are using that are running EcoBAK to keep a DKH around 8?

bknapp · Dec 7, 2012

That's the salt I am using alk was 8.12 the other night. I have five gallons mixed for a wc I can test it tonight if you'd like.

Dowtish · Dec 7, 2012

thanks for the link

fireman23 · Dec 7, 2012

I use red sea coral pro. I really liKe it.

schooleyosis · Dec 7, 2012

That site is really good because orders over $49 are free shipping and the 175 gallon bucket is $49.99!!! I think I'll order a bucket or two and sell my stock of IO to Mitch or Jay. I can't get my ALK down with IO and I know I'll be wanting to try some SPS soon!

B, thanks for the info. If you do test again please post the results!

pickupman66 · Dec 7, 2012

wow, thats a pretty good deal. only 25 gallons less than the Reef crystals

pickupman66 · Dec 7, 2012

School, what is your Alk now??? are you running Ecobak or pellets of any sort?

schooleyosis · Dec 7, 2012

I am running regular IO and it mixes at 10-11 DKH on two different test kits after circulating for 24 hours at 1.025, temp of 78-80.

My tank is stable at 10 DKH while adding 50mL per day of BRS 2-Part dosing system. I've dropped this from 70mL per day and the DKH hasn't moved... Yes, just started running EcoBAK 10 days ago. 125mL on a 150 total water volume system. Fairly light bio-load. Only 5 fish and a handful of corals.

pickupman66 · Dec 7, 2012

OH wow, I didnt know it was mixing that high. thats not good.

Montrosereef · Dec 7, 2012

I use Red Sea pro. Alk. Stays around 9 very consistent.

schooleyosis · Dec 7, 2012

pickupman66 said:
OH wow, I didnt know it was mixing that high. thats not good.

Yeah.... So, it seems like people like the Red Sea regular so I'll try some of that. Once I get the DKH down I'll try my hand at some tougher SPS colonies.

schooleyosis · Dec 7, 2012

Montrosereef said:
I use Red Sea pro. Alk. Stays around 9 very consistent.

Thanks for the reply!

bknapp · Dec 7, 2012

Test results, water has been mixed for around 24 hours.

SG: 1.025
Alk: 141ppm/7.89 dKH
Calc: 340

So the alkalinity is just a tad low for biopellet use but, calcium on the other hand is just plain low. Both tests were performed using Hanna Checkers and specific gravity was tested on a refractometer. I might look into a different salt personally if I keep testing the calcium being so low. I will retest at next water change. Hope this helps. Anyone else ever test a fresh batch of this mix?

.AcroKiller. · Dec 7, 2012

I use the coral pro

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gmoney243 · Dec 7, 2012

ive tested red sea regular before and got around 8 dkh and 420 calc @1.025. did u mix your salt up before using it? ive always heard to mix up the salt on any brand before using it to get all the elements mixed good because some can settle down in the bag.

schooleyosis · Dec 7, 2012

Thanks B! I already dose my IO to bring the CAL up when doing water changes so dosing the Red Sea to bring the CAL up won't be a big deal. I do like the low ALK. Ordered a bucket of it from the link that I posted. Will transition to it over the next several water changes and see if I can bring my ALK down.

What brand are you going to try next B?

Dowtish · Dec 7, 2012

I dont trust that hanna calcium checker at all. Too much room for error when testing using a whole cuvette full of RODI, and those 1ml syringes they supply are crap. And having your alk come out below 8 is fine because more than likely you will be dosing anyways. I was using Brightwells salt because it did mix at 7. I used to run my alk at 7.2, only since I changed salt has it creeped up to 8.2

bknapp · Dec 8, 2012

gmoney243 said:
ive tested red sea regular before and got around 8 dkh and 420 calc @1.025. did u mix your salt up before using it? ive always heard to mix up the salt on any brand before using it to get all the elements mixed good because some can settle down in the bag.

I usually shake the bucket before adding my salt to the water.

schooleyosis said:
Thanks B! I already dose my IO to bring the CAL up when doing water changes so dosing the Red Sea to bring the CAL up won't be a big deal. I do like the low ALK. Ordered a bucket of it from the link that I posted. Will transition to it over the next several water changes and see if I can bring my ALK down.

What brand are you going to try next B?

I am thinking salinity, I've been told the Alk comes in around 8 and Calcium comes in around 460.

Dowtish said:
I dont trust that hanna calcium checker at all. Too much room for error when testing using a whole cuvette full of RODI, and those 1ml syringes they supply are crap. And having your alk come out below 8 is fine because more than likely you will be dosing anyways. I was using Brightwells salt because it did mix at 7. I used to run my alk at 7.2, only since I changed salt has it creeped up to 8.2

What salt you using now? Which calcium test kit do you recommend?