Salt

[rona2035]

So the ideal number is 7 ?

 

[Jekyl]

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

so the ideal number to have is 7 ?

Alk is probably the parameter that needs to be watched the most. Nitrates you will get a feel for as the tank matures. I would try to keep it in the 8 to 9 range and stable

 

[Reef.]

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

so the ideal number to have is 7 ?

lol there isn't an ideal number, we don't know the answer to that, most agree the ideal lvl is between 7 and 12, the higher the alk the faster the sps corals can grow but some say they are not as strong or as colourful as corals grown in lower alk...so it's just a case of reading a lot and coming to your own decision what alk you think is best.

My reasoning for my choice is I want slow growing corals as I have a small tank and also want my corals as colourful as possible, also the sea is around 7kh so that seems a good lvl to aim for.

 

[jurgenph]

So the ideal number is 7 ?

personally, i don't believe there is an ideal number.
more like an accepted range. the key is keeping it stable, and not let it swing up or down.

natural seawater is around 7dKH.

J.

 

[rona2035]

Alk is probably the parameter that needs to be watched the most. Nitrates you will get a feel for as the tank matures. I would try to keep it in the 8 to 9 range and stable

Yea I’m a really starting to not worry about nitrates anymore every time I go I’m good and the basics which was my biggest problem but I think I got that down now. So am essentially going to have to start dosing then ? I was hoping I can find a salt that would minimize that as I’m scared to dose and mess things up

 

[rona2035]

lol there isn't an ideal number, we don't know the answer to that, most agree the ideal lvl is between 7 and 12, the higher the alk the faster the sps corals can grow but some say they are not as strong or as colourful as corals grown in lower alk...so it's just a case of reading a lot and coming to your own decision what alk you think is best.

My reasoning for my choice is I want slow growing corals as I have a small tank and also want my corals as colourful as possible, also the sea is around 7kh so that seems a good lvl to aim for.

Is that where dosing starts coming into play or can I find a salt sufficient enough

 

[Reef.]

Is that where dosing starts coming into play or can I find a salt sufficient enough

no not really, you can do water changes for a bit until your corals are using so much alk you need to start dosing.

Even with water changes if you have a big tank, you would have to do a big water to to put back all the alk that is being used up, with a small nano tank we do a lot of water changes anyway so we can start dosing way down the line, but you will be dosing sooner or later, it's easy enough don't let that idea scare you, one step at a time.

 

[Screwgunner]

7 8 9 pick one and try to stay as close as you can. Io has a alkalinity of 10

 

[rona2035]

no not really, you can do water changes for a bit until your corals are using so much alk you need to start dosing.

Even with water changes if you have a big tank, you would have to do a big water to to put back all the alk that is being used up, with a small nano tank we do a lot of water changes anyway so we can start dosing way down the line, but you will be dosing sooner or later, it's easy enough don't let that idea scare you, one step at a time.

Ok sounds good I’m just trying to stay away from dosing for now since I don’t know much about it. Also when I come to that point would you guys say the all in one are the same as 2 part?

 

[rona2035]

So I went with aqua vitro has anyone tried it before

 

[vetteguy53081]

YOU WILL GET VARYING ANSWERS AS EVERYONE HAS A FAVORITE SALT.
My preference is Tropic Marin Pro but truly, Instant ocean meets all needs including those of public aquariums and zoos respectively

 

[vetteguy53081]

So I went with aqua vitro has anyone tried it before

I love this stuff and its' sister called " salinity". It was hard for me to get so I went to Tropic Marin which is also getting hard - Luckily I have 3 buckets on hand

 

[rona2035]

I love this stuff and its' sister called " salinity". It was hard for me to get so I went to Tropic Marin which is also getting hard - Luckily I have 3 buckets on hand

Yea my lfs had a lot they say they use that so I gave it go hopefully I mix it right lol

 

[Jekyl]

Is that where dosing starts coming into play or can I find a salt sufficient enough

Dosing only comes into play when you're testing and notice levels are falling. This will start to happen as corals grow larger and you have more of them. Keeping track of your parameters and when water changes just aren't keeping them stable is when you dose certain things. The smaller the tank the harder it will be also.

 

[rona2035]

Dosing only comes into play when you're testing and notice levels are falling. This will start to happen as corals grow larger and you have more of them. Keeping track of your parameters and when water changes just aren't keeping them stable is when you dose certain things. The smaller the tank the harder it will be also.

My tanks not that big so it might be tougher. for now though everything is fine but I will look into it more as time progresses

 

[Jekyl]

My tanks not that big so it might be tougher. for now though everything is fine but I will look into it more as time progresses

Keeping a record of testing your parameters is the best way. Once you see a trend, you can do things to account for it.

 

[rona2035]

Keeping a record of testing your parameters is the best way. Once you see a trend, you can do things to account for it.

I’m going to begin testing for alk starting today

 

[Jekyl]

I’m going to begin testing for alk starting today

Alk, phosphate and nitrate are the big ones when first getting going. Once you get into sps and lps then calcium and magnesium will need to be tested also. I wouldn’t recommend trying those until the tank is 6 months old or so.

 

[Reef.]

Ok sounds good I’m just trying to stay away from dosing for now since I don’t know much about it. Also when I come to that point would you guys say the all in one are the same as 2 part?

similar, the difference is two part comes in...two parts, whereas AFR is just in one bottle, I use AFR, just means I only have one thing to dose and worry about, it also has added minor elements your tank needs.

 

[rona2035]

Alk, phosphate and nitrate are the big ones when first getting going. Once you get into sps and lps then calcium and magnesium will need to be tested also. I wouldn’t recommend trying those until the tank is 6 months old or so

How do you know what an sps is. I know it sounds stupid but I seen many videos and can’t really figure what the diff is