Salt mix question

[Budman's Corals]

Curious whether it would hurt to mix Reef crystal and regular IO mix.. would it hurt to do that
Like mix half/half

cut down on cost a little..

anyone?

 

[ritter6788]

You can mix them without issues. The only problem I'd worry about is mixing them the same every time and keeping the same parameters.

 

[Budman's Corals]

You can mix them without issues. The only problem I'd worry about is mixing them the same every time and keeping the same parameters.

ah i gotcha...I really need to be testing my mix ,all i test is sal,temp but im sure all the others are just as important..

 

[ritter6788]

ah i gotcha...I really need to be testing my mix ,all i test is sal,temp but im sure all the others are just as important..

Yes they are! Especially alkalinity. You don't want a drastic change in alkalinity when doing water changes.

 

[Budman's Corals]

what happens if its low how do u get it up,would u dose like 2 part similar to the display tank..

 

[fragmatic]

I assume you are talking about mixing them as in changing brands, not in the bucket before you add it to water.

As far as mixing as in changing brands. I do that on purpose. To me it is kind of like alternating tooth paste. I buy whatever is less expensive then I dose trace elements, alk, iodine, and calc. If two are the same price I buy the different one. So far, wood wood where is some wood, I haven't had any problems doing that.

EDIT: ALWAYS - ALWAYS - ALWAYs - test your change water before you use it. and not just for salinity... I do a full test. If fact, my change water gets tested better than my reef does. I want to know what I am adding to my tank. My reef tells me when it feels good, nothing in that change water trash can can tell me a thing, unless I test for it.

 

[Budman's Corals]

Yes they are! Especially alkalinity. You don't want a drastic change in alkalinity when doing water changes.

also if im only changing 15 gallons every 2 weeks could it throw it off that much..

btw 120g with 40g sump

 

[Budman's Corals]

I assume you are talking about mixing them as in changing brands, not in the bucket before you add it to water.

As far as mixing as in changing brands. I do that on purpose. To me it is kind of like alternating tooth paste. I buy whatever is less expensive then I dose trace elements, alk, iodine, and calc. If two are the same price I buy the different one. So far, wood wood where is some wood, I haven't had any problems doing that.

no Im talkking like take a 25lb bag of 1 and a 25lb bag of other...mix in bucket. then scoop out what i need then add water

 

[fragmatic]

no Im talkking like take a 25lb bag of 1 and a 25lb bag of other...mix in bucket. then scoop out what i need then add water

I don't know. I think I would leave them in their own buckets. Chemicals can do strange things, but I have no good reason for my answer other than it makes me nervous.

 

[Budman's Corals]

I don't know. I think I would leave them in their own buckets. Chemicals can do strange things, but I have no good reason for my answer other than it makes me nervous.

Well,I think im going to do a little testing making 5 gallons mixed just to see what i come up with.. I'm sure its not going to explode so I think ill be ok.

I just was seeing if anyone had done it before especially if your tank doesn't require alot of calcium but need some..

also i was just bored and thinking of stuff to ask..lol

 

[scoobzilla]

just asking i use natures ocean nutri sea water for my water changes in my 55 fish only.i use the 4.4 bottle cost about 14.00 every 3 weeks will add maybe a gal of fresh water to dilute.is this better or worse then mixing?also can i start a 26 bow reef tank with this water instead of mixing?

 

[Budman's Corals]

just asking i use natures ocean nutri sea water for my water changes in my 55 fish only.i use the 4.4 bottle cost about 14.00 every 3 weeks will add maybe a gal of fresh water to dilute.is this better or worse then mixing?also can i start a 26 bow reef tank with this water instead of mixing?

Im not sure but that seems to be more of expensive method..Im sure others will have a answer.

 

[MrG]

As long as you test them and know your parameters then you should be fine.

 

[Budman's Corals]

As long as you test them and know your parameters then you should be fine.

you talking bout mixing reef and regular IO