Switching Salt?

[Jekyl]

Now I'm not advocating going crazy with parameters at this point either. At 5 weeks there's a long way to go before stability will be achievable. However in the long run, dosing is much cheaper, more efficient, and far less time consuming than doing water changes.

 

[Jekyl]

My 90g is about 5 years old now. Once a day I add a little bit of the soda ash water I have mixed up. I don't even really measure it, just a pump from the BRS jug I have. This little bit of effort has it so that I do maybe 3 or 4 water changes a year.

 

[Scottrshoe]

OP only has a 5 week old tank though...how could he have enough corals to warrant dosing without those parameters getting out of control? @Scottrshoe how many corals do you have that you would have a need to dose at all in a 5 week old tank?

I have a handful of tiny soft coral frags. (and a monti that isn't doing so hot...lessons learned/ing)

I do have a couple of shrooms coming soon.

 

[Jekyl]

Here is a simple calculator that can be used for dosing.

Reef Chemistry Calculator

 

[Scottrshoe]

Even the cycle or maturing of a tank will consume alkalinity, as his test shows. Instead of feeding more, water changes weekly, and trying to dial in the unknown amount that over feeding will increase numbers. Simple baking soda and neophos could accurately get him what ever numbers he wants.

To be honest, this was the first time testing Alk and Ca, so my use of the Salifert tests may not be super accurate.

 

[Jekyl]

To be honest, this was the first time testing Alk and Ca, so my use of the Salifert tests may not be super accurate.

You're probably pretty close. At this point you shouldn't have any calcium uptake. As I said earlier the cycle and maturing process will consume alkalinity. Using the baking soda you most likely already have, some RoDi and the calculator I posted, it's easy to get alkalinity back to where it should be. In a mature system with lots of coral, water changes won't be enough anyway.

 

[Scottrshoe]

I should also mention that I am running a small HOB refugium with some chaeto in it...probably contributing to the low nutrients.

 

[Jekyl]

I should also mention that I am running a small HOB refugium with some chaeto in it...probably contributing to the low nutrients.

Which isn't a problem at all. However it forwards my mention that water changes aren't the best course of action. The key is stability. In my system I would have to do a water change every 2 days if it were my only means of managing alkalinity.

 

[Reef.]

Cross post:

Doesn’t matter which salt you choose, all salts require dosing to replace lost elements, if you were to move to a salt with already low calcium etc then you not only run into a stability issue but also dropping too low on magnesium, calcium etc

TMP does have low alk but good on the other elements (not saying alk is bad at 7 as I run my tank at 7) so yes that would drop under a safe range than say instant ocean but with alkilinty you are aiming for stability, so even the instant ocean with alk at 11+ would need to be dosed for stability.

If you love TMP salt you would be mad for moving away from it, all you need to do is buy some All For Reef and add a few mls a day, you don’t even need to buy a doser.

 

[Scottrshoe]

Doesn’t matter which salt you choose, all salts require dosing to replace lost elements, if you were to move to a salt with already low calcium etc then you not only run into a stability issue but also dropping too low on magnesium, calcium etc

TMP does have low alk but good on the other elements (not saying alk is bad at 7 as I run my tank at 7) so yes that would drop under a safe range than say instant ocean but with alkilinty you are aiming for stability, so even the instant ocean with alk at 11+ would need to be dosed for stability.

If you love TMP salt you would be mad for moving away from it, all you need to do is buy some All For Reef and add a few mls a day, you don’t even need to buy a doser.

My question about something like ALL For Reef is, for instance, my Ca is already 450, If I dose a combination product like this, won't my Ca consequently go too high? Especially since I don't really have any Ca uptake at the monet?

 

[Jekyl]

My question about something like ALL For Reef is, for instance, my Ca is already 450, If I dose a combination product like this, won't my Ca consequently go too high? Especially since I don't really have any Ca uptake at the monet?

Alk and cal have a balancing act with each other. You are correct though, without something that consumes calcium this wouldn't be the ideal product. However once LPS, SPS, or coraline are introduced, this may change. Even then, I have coraline everywhere and still dose far more alkalinity than anything else.

 

[Jekyl]

This is what I use.

2-Part Pharma Calcium & Alkalinity Starter Package

Start Replenishing Calcium and Alkalinity in your Reef Tank! Keep your corals growing with the BRS 2-Part Calcium & Alkalinity Starter Package. The kit includes everything to make one gallon of calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium and to start daily dosing, it even includes mixing jugs, dispensing...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Then here's the BRS calculator for the products

Aquarium and Reef Calculators - Bulk Reef Supply

Bulk Reef Supply - Saltwater Aquarium Supplies for Reef Tanks

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[agame2021]

Cross post:

Alrighty, I don’t have time to read all these comments. But for the most part I have to say most of the stuff on salt is just opinion. I work at a fish store full time and I see people using a ton of different salts everywhere. Doesn’t make one more successful than another.

my two cents, I prefer instant ocean reef crystals and so do two of my co workers. We have used it in all of our personal reefs and haven’t switched ever and have no problems. I see people who use fritz blue box and Red Sea and we all get the same amount of coral growth. The reason I use instant ocean is because they haven’t changed their formula in 40 years and I have never had a bad batch.
We use fritz blue box at our store on all the reef tanks because the owner likes his higher end salts.

while switching salts if you have a ton of coral it is better to slowly change the brands thru water changes. Regular water changes of around 5%-20% are fine but any more than that with a ton of coral could tick off the coral if it is not used to it. If it’s just fish and softies doesn’t matter how fast you switch it out. Mainly lps and sps have issues mainly because the PH and Alk changes with different salt brands.
Hope this helps and let me know if you have any further questions or need me to better explain anything.

 

[Shadows Reef]

The only true lab grade quality salt mix that is consistent batch after batch after batch is this one I’ll link to below.

most people do not need this But if you have a fully loaded tank with over $10,000 $20,000 of coral you may think twice about using other salt mixes and stick to this one instead

Formul8 Reef: 35.4 ppt, Enhanced Coral Culture Ionic Values

Captiv8 Aquaculture Sea Salt Blend; Complete artificial seawater salt blend with an ionic composition formulated for coral growers. Concentrations of Mg, Ca, K, and Sr are linearly increased, while Na is decreased to maintain appropriate salinity value. Enhanced alkalinity. Mixes to a final...

portal-captiv8aquaculture.com

 

[Reef.]

My question about something like ALL For Reef is, for instance, my Ca is already 450, If I dose a combination product like this, won't my Ca consequently go too high? Especially since I don't really have any Ca uptake at the monet?

No, it’s designed to only replace what the corals use at the correct ratios, calcium and alk are normally used at the same rate, so you dose to keep your alk stable then your calcium will also be adjusted at the same ratio.

Even if you choose to add it yourself daily without a doser, and forget the odd time, that would still be better than not dosing at all.