Salt Mix Database

Keithcorals · Jun 9, 2014

Instant ocean
Alk 8.9 (salifert)new test kit
Mg 1440 (salifert)new test kit
Ca 400 (salifert)new test kit
Potassium 390 (salifert)new test kit
Phosphate 0.067 (Hanna) new battery and new reagent
Salinity 1.026 (refractometer) calibrated with 35ppt calibration fluid

After this I don't know if I even want to use the water. I run my system at around natural sea water.
My parameters in my tank
Alk 7
Mg 1350
Ca 420
Po4 0.009 Hanna low range meter
Nitrates >.2
Potassium 400-410
Salinity 1.026
Temp 78

greg0385 · Jun 9, 2014

^^ great info!

Keep the test results coming

Pete polyp · Jun 9, 2014

The only thing that bothers me about it is the phosphate. Maybe I need to start using phosphate sponge on the fresh mixed water before I put it in the tank.

revhtree · Jun 10, 2014

bump!

greg0385 · Jun 10, 2014

Still alot of different salt brands out there that people have posted their results.

My red sea coral pro salt should be arriving soon. I will post its results when it gets here.

Captain Billy · Jun 10, 2014

I've had major inconsistencies with Tropic Marin recently and after using the salt for 10 years I've switched to E.S.V. And I really like it. Good alkalinity, calcium and magnesium levels. Something I can't say for the last 14 buckets of tropic marin that for the most part crashed my tank.

Jonreefer · Jun 13, 2014

so figure i would add to it
Red Sea Coral Pro salt
made with RODI water
tested with a fresh calibration of my refractometer with Sybon 35ppt fluid
PH 8.1
Calcium 460
Alk 12
Mag 1400

its pretty close to what the bucket says
claims at 35ppt its 12.2-12.7 alk, 45-470 calcium, 1380-1420 mag

joekool · Jun 13, 2014

Jon Do you get the gallons the container says mixing at 35ppt. Not sure if I'm getting 200gallons out of the bag of RSCP that I mix to 35ppt

Jonreefer · Jun 13, 2014

I don't know. I never really kept track to see if I am getting as many gallons as the bucket says.

Poseidon · Jun 14, 2014

greg0385 said:
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: Reef Crystals
ALK: 12-13
CAL: 580
MAG:
Temp: Room Temp (about 74)
Salinity: 1.025 (Refractometer)
Test kits used: API (Cheap, but in the ballpark of the much higher dollar kits.)

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

Thanks

This is the 2nd box of RC that I have had VERY high levels of Ca and Alk in, I do 25 gallon changes once a month on my 100 gallons of total water volume. My tank measures out to 380-400 Ca and I am a bit low on Alk at 7, I add one ounce per day of the DIY Baked Baking soda mix, and I am usually able to maintain a 400 Ca and 8 Alk which are my target numbers. I keep my tank a bit cool, at 76, so room temp water is fine for water changes, but I am worried about the drastic difference in Ca and Alk for this batch.

I am going to contact Aquarium Systems and see what they say.

mcarroll · Jun 15, 2014

Poseidon said:
This is the 2nd box of RC that I have had VERY high levels of Ca and Alk in, I do 25 gallon changes once a month on my 100 gallons of total water volume. My tank measures out to 380-400 Ca and I am a bit low on Alk at 7, I add one ounce per day of the DIY Baked Baking soda mix, and I am usually able to maintain a 400 Ca and 8 Alk which are my target numbers. I keep my tank a bit cool, at 76, so room temp water is fine for water changes, but I am worried about the drastic difference in Ca and Alk for this batch.

I am going to contact Aquarium Systems and see what they say.

I'd be interested to hear what they said if you don't mind posting it.

I haven't had an issue with settling in a long time (since they "powderized" all the ingredients a few years back) but that's what your numbers sound like. It's doubtful you'd get those numbers throughout the whole bag.

Curious, do you scoop or pour your salt when measuring? And how do you handle the "leftover" open bag of salt in between batches?

-Matt

Poseidon · Jun 15, 2014

mcarroll said:
I'd be interested to hear what they said if you don't mind posting it.

I haven't had an issue with settling in a long time (since they "powderized" all the ingredients a few years back) but that's what your numbers sound like. It's doubtful you'd get those numbers throughout the whole bag.

Curious, do you scoop or pour your salt when measuring? And how do you handle the "leftover" open bag of salt in between batches?

-Matt

I "shake" the bag before use, meaning I turn it around a few times to try and get the salt moving first.

When I do my changes, I have 25 gallons of RO water ready for the mix with a mag 5 running in the container. I found I can lay the bag flat on a counter, then I shake the bag a bit to get the salt to settle out flat and even over the bag area. Once that salt appears to be level/even I pick up the middle of the bag and create a fold that holds about 1/2 the bag in each side. I take that folded bag over to the mixing barrel, and cut a slit in the bottom of 1 side, dumping in the entire volume. So far I have been able to hit 1.025 on the dot 15/16 times.

The unused salt is then left in the bag, with the bag slack wrapped around to create a decent humidity barrier, with a large rubber band wrapped around it, and stored on the mixing station in the kitchen. This extra salt has never been lumpy or chunky the following month for the second half of the bag.

I haven't made the call to AqSys. yet, I'll do that tomorrow, and I will certainly post what they say.

mcarroll · Jun 16, 2014

I don't know that it will be your whole solution, but scooping is highly recommended vs pouring if you aren't consuming a whole container/bag of salt mix in one batch. FWIW.

-Matt