Torn, need some opinions on salt.

[MDeVito]

Hey guys,
Been reef keeping for roughly 7 years and I am having a little issue with my new reef tank. I had to break down my beautifully established biocube 29 that was 4 years old and my newer 20g drop off and combined the two tanks into a IM 30l (mixed reef lps, softies,sps). So far, the tank is about 6 months old and still establishing. It seems to be taking its time. I recently picked up a large algae reactor to help the process hopefully.

My debate and where I am torn is what I should be using for water changes. I am a college student that lives away from my tank monday-friday. I currently use nurti-sea and this is my first time using, I am not too happy with it. It costs me about 15 dollars a week for my weekly 5 gallon water changes. That can be a pain. I also feel that this water is not supplying my reef with enough essential trace elements.

I have always mixed my own saltwater using aquaforest and I think my tanks have benefited and looked healthier.

I'd like to get some opinions on if I should switch back to aqua forest salt mix and how bad this would be for my reef to switch suddenly if I were to. Or if I should just continue using nutri-sea.

What do you guys think,
Happy reefing.
mdevito

 

[EmdeReef]

I can't imagine any issues switching salts especially gradually, only concern would be alk swings so may have to adjust alk dosing.

 

[Wiskey]

I make my own RO/DI water and mix my own salt water using Reef Crystals. That way I can control the quality myself. I see many posts from people saying LFS water or boxed water is high in this, or low in that etc. Most people also find that boxed water is mixed up with a lower SG than they want for a reef.

Whiskey

 

[Wiskey]

P.S. The first time I read this I thought you were considering making your own dry salt mix from scratch vs using boxed salt like Reef Crystals. If other people read it the same way I did the results to your poll might be skewed.

Whiskey

 

[Greybeard]

This seems to be one of those 'I recommend whatever brand I use' subjects. Honestly, I don't care for IO or RC. They seem to mix up a bit inconsistent for me, but others around here swear by them. Other than that, most every brand I've ever tried seems to work just fine. Find one that results in conditions you like (Calc/Alk/pH), and go with it. If you can DIY a salt for the same money (or less), then I don't see why not... but I likely wouldn't want to go to the trouble myself. Oh, and I'm using Fritz RPM

I've changed salts several times over the years, never seen an issue doing so. Stability is key, try to keep the 'big three' pretty close, I doubt you'd have a problem.

 

[Brew12]

I recommend finding a mix that comes closest to matching the Alk and Calc you want to run your system at.

 

[Gareth elliott]

I recommend finding a mix that comes closest to matching the Alk and Calc you want to run your system at.

This is what i did, tested alk, ca, mg for 2 months. Then picked a salt that when mixed to 35ppt salinity most closely matched the average of all the tests. Made mixing a little easier as no more adding x amount of this and that to the mix. Just match salinity. Happened to be an expensive salt but less time so kind of pay for it with that.

 

[HB AL]

My current tank I started on Red Sea pro and continue to this day. My local lfs I've been going to for 30+ years is really reliable. My current tank is only 92g and I only change 20 gallons every 2 months so I buy it premixed from them. The fish and corals really seem to thrive with this salt in my system.

 

[MDeVito]

Anyone use aqua forest? I was using that, I liked how quickly it mixed.

 

[GoVols]

Anyone use aqua forest? I was using that, I liked how quickly it mixed.

I'm with @Brew12

Find the right salt mix, that mixes to the parameters that you like.
Mix your own and buy an RO/DI unit.

Used regular IO most up my life, but always had to dose up cal and mag while mixing.

No "magic" salt mixes out there

 

[kenniole]

I currently use Red Sea coral pro to mix my water and use aqua forest 1+2+3+.

 

[jda]

I do somewhat the opposite. I just want a salt mix that mixes exactly the same every time. I can use Dowflake and Muratic Acid to move the calcium up and alk down.

Some salts really need to have the whole container/bag used or they need dry mixed to stay consistent. I use IO, but I use the whole 50g bag at a time and I have had rock solid parameters for years, but this is a salt that needs dry mixed. I would dry mix any salt personally - even if they have uniform particle sizes, the weight can be different.