Salt

[rona2035]

Want to get into mixing my own salt I plan to use ro or distilled depending on what people say is better, but my main question is what is a good salt mix that doesn’t have to much excess nutrient. I do have some corals but not enough to need a lot of nutrients in my water.

 

[NashobaTek]

Rodi water is the best. I personally use instant ocean and have since the 80's. But salt is going to be a choice for you to make because your going to get 50 types advised to use.

 

[elorablue]

Nutrients? Do you mean Nitrates and Phosphates?

 

[rona2035]

Rodi water is the best. I personally use instant ocean and have since the 80's. But salt is going to be a choice for you to make because your going to get 50 types advised to use.

oh god haha what I was hoping wouldn’t happen it’s just I se on here some people say some have excess amount and it ends up affecting their tank in a negative way your not the first to recommend io so I might actually look into it.

 

[rona2035]

Nutrients? Do you mean Nitrates and Phosphates?

No tbh I might not be saying it right but I’ve seen a thread where people where saying their mix might contain to much nutrients but they might have meant in terms of like alk maybe the salt containing to much calcium ?

 

[elorablue]

oh ok, nah just pick a salt and have at it !

 

[Reef.]

Just pick a salt at the lvl you keep your alk, or you will need to keep altering the salt to match the tank when you do water changes.

7kh Tropic Marin pro or if 8.5kh then Red Sea blue bucket are both I would recommend...you will get many recommendations from the guys on the forum, just keep in mind there isn't a major brand that makes a bad salt so you can't go wrong.

The excessive nutrients thing is just picking a salt that matches the tank parameters you want, as above no point picking a salt that is 12kh with 1400 magnesium if they are not the parameters you have chosen to keep.

 

[rona2035]

Just pick a salt at the lvl you keep your alk, or you will need to keep altering the salt to match the tank when you do water changes.

7kh Tropic Marin pro or if 8.5kh then Red Sea blue bucket are both I would recommend...you will get many recommendations from the guys on the forum, just keep in mind there isn't a major brand that makes a bad salt so you can't go wrong.

The excessive nutrients thing is just picking a salt that matches the tank parameters you want, as above no point picking a salt that is 12kh with 1400 magnesium if they are not the parameters you have chosen to keep.

Ok so I never test for alk so in my case what would my best bet be. I have the tester for it but I never trust my own readings. Would it be better to just ask the lfs what they use to just use that since I’ve been using their salt to begin with ?

 

[jurgenph]

every salt out there has been used to setup beautiful reef tanks.

pick a salt that matches what you are trying to get done, and what's important to you.

price? availability? certain levels of Ca, Alk, Mg, mixing time? mixing cleanlyness? available package sizes? etc.. etc...


J.

 

[rona2035]

every salt out there has been used to setup beautiful reef tanks.

pick a salt that matches what you are trying to get done, and what's important to you.

price? availability? certain levels of Ca, Alk, Mg, mixing time? mixing cleanlyness? available package sizes? etc.. etc...


J.

All I want is my fish to live and my corals to not die lol

 

[NashobaTek]

How long has your tank been running, and if you're happy with the water mix you've been getting from the LFS I would stick to the salt they use.

 

[jurgenph]

All I want is my fish to live and my corals to not die lol

you can do that with all of them

FWIW... my two favorites as of right now.

tropic marin pro reef
two little fishies accurasea-1


J.

 

[rona2035]

All I want is my fish to live and my corals to not die lol

I’m not trying to be picky just the bare minimum for now as long as they are happy I’m happy so I can stare at them all day haha

How long has your tank been running

ive had it about 2 and half months but I’m not new to the hobby everything is doing goood except a trumpet that I think was sick when I bought (probably got fried with my light ) lol but everything else is ok I always buy my water but I’m getting a little tired of that.

 

[Reef.]

Ok so I never test for alk so in my case what would my best bet be. I have the tester for it but I never trust my own readings. Would it be better to just ask the lfs what they use to just use that since I’ve been using their salt to begin with ?

What corals LPS or mixed or SPS? and size tank?

I would choose a salt you can pickup easy, online or from your LFS, if you don't keep SPS you can aim lower on the alk, I'm guessing you don't keep SPS with not testing.

Check what your LFS salt is and if it's a middle of the road alk wise then I would probably stick to that, but no need to if there is a salt more suitable for you, easy to just change salts to a new one.

 

[NashobaTek]

Ask them what salt mix they use

 

[rona2035]

you can do that with all of them

FWIW... my two favorites as of right now.

tropic marin pro reef
two little fishies accurasea-1


J.

you can do that with all of them

FWIW... my two favorites as of right now.

tropic marin pro reef
two little fishies accurasea-1


J.

Ima have to look into Tmp your the third person to recommend it I was told io is ok too.

 

[rona2035]

How long has your tank been running, and if you're happy with the water mix you've been getting from the LFS I would stick to the salt they use.

2 and a half mo. I might go that route but I honestly never asked what they use. Whoops.

 

[rona2035]

What corals LPS or mixed or SPS? and size tank?

I would choose a salt you can pickup easy, online or from your LFS, if you don't keep SPS you can aim lower on the alk, I'm guessing you don't keep SPS with not testing.

Check what your LFS salt is and if it's a middle of the road alk wise then I would probably stick to that, but no need to if there is a salt more suitable for you, easy to just change salts to a new one.

I think it’s mixed I can take a pic it’s just some gsp birds nest I think , I think it’s a chalice the guy at lfs said it was a monti but I don’t think so , carnation coral and another weird one that looks like mini anemones

 

[Reef.]

Ima have to look into Tmp your the third person to recommend it I was told io is ok too.

I use that salt but it has a low alk of 7.
Many recommend not going lower on alk than 7kh, so you would have to start testing your alk regularly to keep it at at least 7.
As your corals grow they will use it up...even with other salts at higher alk you still need to test your alk anyway, the aim is to keep the alk in your tank at a steady lvl.
With TMP you have to keep it steady and also make sure it doesn't go much below 7 as well.

 

[rona2035]

What corals LPS or mixed or SPS? and size tank?

I would choose a salt you can pickup easy, online or your LFS, if you don't keep SPS you can aim lower on the alk, I'm guessing you don't keep SPS with not testing.

Check what your LFS salt is and if it's a middle of the road alk wise then I would probably stick to that, but no need to if there is a salt more suitable for you, easy to just change salts to a new one.

I honestly don’t know that stuff cause I’ve already been traumatized by the nitrates

I use that salt but it has a low alk of 7.
Manyrecommend not going lower on alk than 7kh, so you would have to start testing your alk regularly to keep it at at least 7.
As your corals grow they will use it up...even with other salts at higher alk you still need to test your alk anyway, the aim is to keep the alk in your tank at a steady lvl
With TMP you have to keep it steady and also make sure it doesn't go much below 7 as well.

so the ideal number to have is 7 ?