Salt mix question

Breakthecycle2 · Jan 31, 2015

I need to make about 200 gallons of saltwater. When I had smaller tanks, I would just buy the Carib sea ocean water. I need salt recommendations for a reef tank. Thanks.

reefndude · Jan 31, 2015

Instant ocean reef crystals is a good choice. A 200g box wont make 200g of saltwater at 1.026 though.

Breakthecycle2 · Jan 31, 2015

I've heard that Reef Crystals can sometimes contribute to cyno or diatoms. No truth to that I'm guessing? I was also thinking of using Tropic Marin.

NanaReefer · Jan 31, 2015

I've been using RC for going on 6yrs. Never read such a thing. IMO & IME There's just to many things that can cause cyano and diatoms to be able to blame it on just one thing.

Breakthecycle2 · Jan 31, 2015

NanaReefer said:
I've been using RC for going on 6yrs. Never read such a thing. IMO & IME There's just to many things that can cause cyano and diatoms to be able to blame it on just one thing.

That's kind of what I figured.

kevensquint · Jan 31, 2015

If you don't mind the French, here are the ICP analysis a chemist friend of mine did for our local forum.

kevensquint · Jan 31, 2015

Using this analysis as well as another ( which I can't find ATM) I mix IO with H2Ocean myself to have the least toxic (IO) boosted with some useful elements slightly higher in the H2ocean salt with good results. FWIW reef crystals is high in metals and Alk from the analysis I saw and I would not use it myself.

Breakthecycle2 · Jan 31, 2015

I read some people were complaining of red slime blooms with H2Ocean.

reefndude · Jan 31, 2015

I used reef crystals for quite a while. Alk definitely mixed high...around 11.
Always been good salt for me.

I ended up changing because I needed lower alk levels

Breakthecycle2 · Jan 31, 2015

reefndude said:
I used reef crystals for quite a while. Alk definitely mixed high...around 11.
Always been good salt for me.

I ended up changing because I needed lower alk levels

Changing to what?

reefndude · Jan 31, 2015

I switched to esv salt. Reason I wanted lower alk is because my tank was running low nutrients, and corals were suffering.
I chose esv is I knew a lot of guys that swore by it. Was able to get it at a reasonable price so I decided to give it a shot.
So far I like it. Alk levels are at 7.8-8.1 range and corals have responded well.
More fish has been added to system too and I believe that also factors into coral improvement