Salt Mix Database

greg0385 · Jun 5, 2014

Looking at switching salt brands and been searching for one place to know what each salt brand mixes too. There are dozens of "what salt do you use?" threads, but no one place to compare the params of each salt brand.

So if everyone could post their readings of their fresh salt mix and if you would like to post your tank's params as well then that may help.

Salt Brand:
ALK:
CAL:
MAG:
Temp:
Salinity:
Test kits used:

(Optional)
Tank params:
What type of corals do you keep?
Any other helpful information.

Thanks

mberthiaume3205 · Jun 5, 2014

I use salinity, it's a very good salt at a decent price

KH: 8.5
Cal: 420
Mag: 1350
strontium: 8.4
Potassium: 380
Iodide: .06
Temp: 78
Use Seachem/salifert tests kits

Dosing: aqua vitro fuel, vibrance, mag, calc, Alk, strontium, potassium, iodide, potassium iodide

Water Change: Gravel Vac and 10% water change every 7 days

72g bowfront mixed reef with 75g fug,

Live Stock: Yellow Tang, 4 lyretail anthia, 2 clowns, leopard wrasse, 2 manderins, orchid dottyback, 8 sexy shrimp, 2 skunk cleaner shrimp, 1 blood red cleaner shrimp, 200+ cerith snails, 40 bubble bee snails, 20 astria snails, purple long tentacle anemone

No filter other than live rock/fug

racin2438 · Jun 6, 2014

We Tropic Marin with readings of ...

Sal--1.025

Alk---12.5

Cal---420

Mag---1250

But T/M is going up in price from $68.99. To. $72.99.

We have been looking into

Reef Crystals Pro.

I like the option of a smaller box 200g mix with 4--50g mix bags , so it would allow us to do a pre-measured 50g premix....

Anyone else use Reef crystals ?... How do you like it and how is coral growth ?

So we are also looking a for a good salt mix but at a decent price .

Pete polyp · Jun 6, 2014

I'll stick with good ole instant ocean.

duromega · Jun 6, 2014

Mike J. · Jun 6, 2014

Salt Mix Guide | thatpetplace.com

greg0385 · Jun 6, 2014

Pete polyp said:
I'll stick with good ole instant ocean.

What are the params of a fresh mix batch?

greg0385 · Jun 6, 2014

Mike J. said:
Salt Mix Guide | thatpetplace.com

I am getting conflicting results compared to that link. Thats why i want to see what everyone's test results were on their choice of salt.

Im out of Red Sea Pro salt otherwise i would post my test results. Looking at trying a different salt out that has Alk 9-10 Cal 450 Mag 1350/+

My friend uses I/O RC and his test results are
Alk 11.2
Cal 480
Mag 1250

That link says I/O RC mixes to:
Alk 13
Cal 490
Mag 1440

Pete polyp · Jun 6, 2014

greg0385 said:
I am getting conflicting results compared to that link. Thats why i want to see what everyone's test results were on their choice of salt.

Im out of Red Sea Pro salt otherwise i would post my test results. Looking at trying a different salt out that has Alk 9-10 Cal 450 Mag 1350/+

My friend uses I/O RC and his test results are
Alk 11.2
Cal 480
Mag 1250

That link says I/O RC mixes to:
Alk 13
Cal 490
Mag 1440

That's because reef crystals parameters will be all over the place depending on what bag yore using. I used it fit a while and went back to io because of the inconsistencies.

greg0385 · Jun 6, 2014

Pete polyp said:
That's because reef crystals parameters will be all over the place depending on what bag yore using. I used it fit a while and went back to io because of the inconsistencies.

Thats the kind of results that im interested in knowing.

I think all the brands of salt are able to substain a healty saltwater tank but i rather buy a salt thats going to be consistant everytime instead of the numbers be all over the place.

greg0385 · Jun 6, 2014

No one has salt and a cup? Doesnt have to be a water change amount to test the params.
1 cup of RODI water
add salt
Test salinty
Test params.

Im ordering salt this weekend and would love to here more test results.

duromega · Jun 7, 2014

greg0385 said:
No one has salt and a cup? Doesnt have to be a water change amount to test the params.
1 cup of RODI water
add salt
Test salinty
Test params.

Im ordering salt this weekend and would love to here more test results.

Try ESV B-ionic salt system
You will never use another salt mix after

caymanada · Jun 7, 2014

Does the amount of time after mix affect Alk and Ca?

jackson6745 · Jun 7, 2014

Salt Brand: Coralife
ALK: 9.5dkh
CAL: 420ppm
MAG: 1230ppm
Temp: 77F
Salinity: 1.025
Test kits used: Salifert/redsea

(Optional)
Tank params:
What type of corals do you keep? SPS mostly
Any other helpful information. Mixes clear quickly. I've been using this for 10 years+ and results are consistent. Cant beat the $40 price for 200g along with quality and consistency.

mcarroll · Jun 7, 2014

caymanada said:
Does the amount of time after mix affect Alk and Ca?

With a well-fortified salt mix, it's very possible that there can be some precipitation over time. I'd test just after the water gets totally clear.

-Matt

b_rad_G · Jun 7, 2014

mcarroll said:
With a well-fortified salt mix, it's very possible that there can be some precipitation over time. I'd test just after the water gets totally clear.

-Matt

I fail to see how or why any precipitation would occur with proper circulation.

I use instant ocean. It mixes to
380 ca
8.4 dkh

Those are the only 2 I concern my self with. I add about 5 tsp of reef complete to 30 gallons and bout a half cup of mag supplement. The low alk number fits my tank. this is the reason I use it.

mcarroll · Jun 7, 2014

b_rad_G said:
I fail to see how or why any precipitation would occur with proper circulation.

I use instant ocean. It mixes to
380 ca
8.4 dkh

Those are the only 2 I concern my self with. I add about 5 tsp of reef complete to 30 gallons and bout a half cup of mag supplement. The low alk number fits my tank. this is the reason I use it.

Instant ocean isn't really one of those mixes...Reef Crystals would be.

You're right that you should see very little, maybe too little to even notice, but if you leave your salt mixing, especially if it's with a heater, you're probably going to have some. A lot of folks mix their salt this way.

So, if you want to heat your water (usually unnecessary) do it before mixing - heat your RODI water instead.

You should avoid any precipitation by mixing manually with your hand or a paddle and skipping the pump and heater altogether. (Air-stones would work too in theory since there's no heat, but they really aren't very good at mixing.)

And if you don't plan to use the water right away, consider waiting to mix it until you need it. It's best fresh and can be ready in about 5 minutes. (Watch the vids on my water change thread.)

If you must premix, once your salt is mixed (water is totally clear) remove any mixing pumps or other gear and seal it up tight with a lid until you need it. Vitamins will degrade within a week or so, but it will still remain usable for weeks this way. (Maybe longer.)

-Matt

b_rad_G · Jun 7, 2014

If you get any noticeable precipitation when you mix you need to find a new salt. Calcium carbonate doesn't just precipitate for no reason. If for some reason this happens something is wrong.

If alk and can drops due to precip in new mixed water you only have a few options.

1 the mix has magnesium deficiency. Simple fix add a mag solution to the water.

2 the pH went high for some reason. Circulation will probably not cause this.

3 if the temp gets extremely high it will encourage precip.

Heating water before mixing is a horrible idea as colder water can hold more solution. Being as when you mix you will always get spots of high SG it is suggested to mix with cold water to help hold the solution in saturation.

I would also like to point out if the salt you use needs to be mixed with no pumps or heaters in order to prevent precipitation what do you think will happen when you dump this stuff in your tank with pumps and heaters? Its going to precip on the heaters and pumps in the tank and waste the calcium alkalinity and some magnesium.

I will say it again. If you mix any good salt properly and get precip.....change salt.

joekool · Jun 8, 2014

Your bag will tell you how to mix it. Red Sea coral pro has It on bag. Mine says mix min 30 min no more than 4 hours. Mix with power head.

Also salt dissolving heats up water as long as ou don't over heat it or have really cold water to start you will be good

mcarroll · Jun 8, 2014

Sorry I wasn't more clear with all that rambling....it's the heat that causes the precipitation. If you run a pump or heater for example.

More info:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-07/rhf/#2

-Matt