Salt that mixes near 8.5dKh

[Salt1972]

We've been using Reef Crystals for 6+ years. For the last year, we've been maintaining 8.5dKH in a 125g mixed reef. When we do a 30g water change every other week, we get an Alk spike to 9.3-9.5 and we pull the doser off line for 1-2 nights and resume.

Since we're trying to grow some SPS, we're wanting to eliminate that Alk spike on water change. Most of the salts mix WAY higher than 8.5. Why? Most reefers I see here target 7-9. Is there a reasonably priced salt that mixes to (or near) 8.5dKH at 1.025?

Thanks,

er... Salt.

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

Most any salt that mixes at 9 or up you can leave the mixing pump on and let new salt mix keep water moving. Alk will drop due to heat and precipitation.
For example if salt.mixes at 10. Leave mixing pump on for another day or 2 check alk and it will be down by several dkh.
Hope that helps.

 

[Reef Jedi]

Personally I use Red Sea Blue bucket because depending on salinity it mixes around 8-8.4dkh

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Fritz is 8.

 

[JOKER]

Personally I use Red Sea Blue bucket because depending on salinity it mixes around 8-8.4dkh

This or regular IO, Brightwell, Fritz, and some others are right around 8 usually.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

This or regular IO, Brightwell, Fritz, and some others are right around 8 usually.

IO is 13.

 

[MnFish1]

Brightwell

 

[saltyhog]

Brightwell Neo Marine, Fritz and Red Sea blue bucket are 3 that I know of. You could lower the alkalinity in any salt mix with muriatic acid if you have some reason to stick with another salt.

 

[JOKER]

IO is 13.

The regular IO mixes at 13 now??? That's crazy high! I know the reef crystals mixed that high when I used it. That's why I got away from it.

 

[Instigate]

The regular IO mixes at 13 now??? That's crazy high! I know the reef crystals mixed that high when I used it. That's why I got away from it.

IO has always mixed to 12-13 for me. But I'm moving to HW because the last box mixed to 6.7DKH/500CA and the box before that was way off at 17DKH/700CA.

Upon BRS analysis - hw-Marinemix Reefer contained Calcium at 445-450 ppm, Alk of 9.0 dKH, Magnesium at 1380 ppm.

 

[JOKER]

IO has always mixed to 12-13 for me. But I'm moving to HW because the last box mixed to 6.7DKH/500CA and the box before that was way off at 17DKH/700CA.

Upon BRS analysis - hw-Marinemix Reefer contained Calcium at 445-450 ppm, Alk of 9.0 dKH, Magnesium at 1380 ppm.

I haven't tested IO in a very long time. That goes without saying that we should test our new water before using. I am terrible about not testing, but my reef runs on AWC so I rarely have to do a manual larger water change. I just test reef monthly or so unless something looks off.

 

[TX_Punisher]

I would just add a few ml of muriatic acid, let it mix anothe day, test alk again and be done.

 

[hart24601]

I just add some acid to reef crystals and call it good. Sodium bisulfate.

 

[WWIII]

Fritz and Liveaquaria will mix near 8.5. Red sea blue bucket will be a little lower than that. 7.8ish

 

[Rick.45cal]

IO is 13.

I usually get around 10 dKh with IO, it’s weird if it’s not. But I also mix 100 gallons at a time, it’s hard for stratification to affect mixing when you use 2 whole bags at a time.

 

[jd371]

I usually get around 10 dKh with IO, it’s weird if it’s not. But I also mix 100 gallons at a time, it’s hard for stratification to affect mixing when you use 2 whole bags at a time.

I'm not mixing as much as you, but I get the same 9.5 - 10.

 

[MartyF]

I just add some acid to reef crystals and call it good. Sodium bisulfate.

I don’t trust myself with muriatic acid, sounds too dangerous. I can use sodium bisulfate to reduce DKH in reef crystals? How much should I add to 5 gallons to reduce from 10DKH to 8.5 (similar as OP was asking). Sodium bisulfate is reed safe?

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

why add chemicals (in my opinion) when one can leave a pump running in the mixing bin for extra day or 2. heat and precipitation will drop alk many dkh.

 

[Nick30G]

I had this same exact problem with reef Crystal's so I ditched it and went with fritz rpm recently. I gotta say i wish i did it earlier. The Alk spikes from doing water changes with reef Crystal's and dosing was a major pain. Now with the Fritz Rpm I can do any size water change with no fluctuations in parameters. Here's the parameters I got from my Fritz Rpm: Alk:9.0 dkh, Cal: 430 ppm Mag: 1500ppm. Perfect parameters. Not only that I have noticed it mixes faster then reef Crystal's, and does not leave that brown residue that RC does. I would recommend switching your salt it helped me maintain better stability in my tank.

 

[hart24601]

I don’t trust myself with muriatic acid, sounds too dangerous. I can use sodium bisulfate to reduce DKH in reef crystals? How much should I add to 5 gallons to reduce from 10DKH to 8.5 (similar as OP was asking). Sodium bisulfate is reed safe?

Nothing wrong with chemicals. Our reefs won't survive without chemicals (or anything else). This is the active ingredient in Seachem acid buffer I think it is. Here is screenshot of what Randy said. It's very simple to remove alk from seawater.

Once you find the amount for your mixing container and dkh you want (test alk a few times) just write it on the bottle. I think I add 1/2 tsp before I add the salt mix. Easy peasy!